Team Oregon takes gold in snow sculpture competition

BRECKENRIDGE — Team Oregon took home the gold Saturday in the 2007 Budweiser Select International Snow Sculpture Championships for “They Call him Old Man Winter”, a sculpture of an older man reflecting on his life with a satisfied grin. Silver went to Team Minnesota with “Cool Jazz,” a complex shape resembling a music note. Team Canada captured bronze with “Almost There,” a sculpture of a hand making the last fold in an Origami squirrel. Honorable Mention was given to Team Switzerland for “Rock ‘n Roll” a sculpture of four cones balancing on a base.

Thousands of spectators watched this week as 14 teams from six countries participated in the event, now in its 17th year. Artists have been working since Jan. 23 to create these sculptures. The finished pieces are achieved without the use of power tools, internal support structures or colorants. With a cold front in the wings, the sculptures should remain in display at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge until Sunday, Feb. 4.