Saskatoon set to host inaugural YXE Urban Games

The inaugural YXE Urban Games will take over Saskatoon’s Victoria Park this weekend.

Over the weekend, the event will feature a wide range of competitive sports – from wakeboarding nationals to competitive spike ball, rock climbing, dodgeball and more.

The centre piece of the Games will be held on the hardcourt where organizers have convinced FIBA to bring their 3×3 basketball women’s circuit to Saskatoon.

The 3×3 basketball in Victoria Park will feature Team Canada, which includes Humboldt’s Paige Crozon along with Michelle and Katherine Plouffe, and Kacie Bosch. The Canadian team is playing their first event since the Paris Olympics where they finished fourth in the tournament.

There will also be seven other countries worldwide who will be represented – some of whom will also be competing in the Paris Games.

“YXE Urban Games is a convergence of athletics, sport, culture and art all in one space. Of course, the 3×3 women’s series is anchoring it. But right now, there are 10 other urban sports that are going to be competing throughout the weekend in this space,” explained Discover Saskatoon CEO Stephanie Clovechok.

One of the fields of play areas where some of the YXE Urban Games sports will take place. (Shane Clausing/650 CKOM)

“The tournaments that are happening for the new generation sports are all competitive leagues. Yes, there are competitive leagues for dodgeball, spikeball, futsal, and climbing. I think that we’ll see a next level of these sports outside of just recreation,” she added.

According to Clovechok, over 60 people from out of province attended this event, and over 100 people from Saskatchewan competed.

The event begins tonight at 6 p.m. with the opening ceremonies.

Clovechok suggests the action on the hardcourt should be the place to be this weekend.

Food trucks and beer gardens set up ahead of the YXE Urban Games (Shane Clausing/650 CKOM)

Entry into the YXE Urban Games for Friday night is free but will be $15 for adults on Saturday and Sunday. The price for kids is $5 for those aged 7-12. It’s free for kids six and under.

If you don’t want to pay to get into the Urban Games, Clovechok said there is some free entertainment around the Spadina Crescent area.

“We have a local 3×3 tournament happening on the Pawâtêtân courts and the streets of Spadina Crescent, wakeboard nationals in the river and Red Bull motocross is happening in the streets of Spadina,” she said.

A full schedule of the tournament can be found here.

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