Much more than tug-of-war: Mas-wrestling championships return to Calgary

Spectators gather along Stephen Avenue to watch competitors demonstrate an emerging sport.

Stephen Avenue set the stage for an emerging sport and show of strength called Mas-wrestling, over the weekend.

Organizers say it’s quite different than Olympic wrestling.

Competitors sit across from each other with their feet against a board while grasping a wooden dowel or stick, called a mas.

At the referee’s signal, it becomes a tug-of-war type of match.

Often one of the wrestlers is launched into the air.

Mas-wrestling is the national sport for an Indigenous population in the northeast region of Siberia, called the Sakha Republic.

“Since its a new sport people don’t really know what it is,” said Andrew Bolinger, Mas-wrestling North American Championship tournament organizer.

“They are kind of unsure to try it,” he added. “But when people sit down and try it, its really easy to learn, it’s simple -- and people love it.”

Calgary hosted the first North American championships in 2024.

Winners from Saturday’s competition will move onto the world competition in Mongolia July 30 to August 3rd.