Team Mexico won first with “Alebrije,” a highly-detailed piece depicting three mythological beings of Mexican culture.

Team Canada Yukon won second with “Spirits of the Aurora,” a mystical piece that rendered the Northern Lights.

Team Breckenridge made the Summit locals proud, taking the bronze in the annual event with its piece entitled “Underwater,” using the 12-foot-tall starting block to act as a frame for a below-the-sea scene.

While some of the 2011 team members have competed as part of Team Breck in the past, this year marks a new generation of artists for Team Breck. Captain Keith Martin joined forces with Tim West, Rob Baker and David Pfau for 2011.

“We've been competing against one another in the Snowflake Challenge for years and now we're all carving together,” said Martin. “I think you can plan on seeing Team Breck all together again next year doing another exciting, unusual piece.”

“We went out of the box by staying in the box,” said David Pfau, longtime Team Breck member and owner of Breckenridge Photographics.

“Team USA Breckenridge took some risks with the overhang created for their underwater scene and the suspended shark,” said Jenn Cram, judge coordinator and arts district administrator for the Town of Breckenridge. “Underwater' displayed great attention to detail; both the face behind the frozen mask and the ice details on the octopus tentacles were superb. We also liked that they kept the form of the starting block, giving a hint of the original canvas.”

The sculptures will remain on display at the Riverwalk Center until Feb. 6.