International Snow Sculpture Competition winners announced in Breckenridge
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Team Vermont won first place in the International Snow Sculpture Competition on Saturday, Jan. 30, with their piece "Rhonda and her Recycling Robo-Octopus." Team Vermont consisted of team captain Michael Nedell and members Brooke Monte, Adrien Tans and Dave Rothstein.
Carl Scofield / Breckenridge Tourism Office |
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Team Switzerland came in second with âConverse.â Captain Michael Wymann led the team, with members Daniel Christen, Marcel Freiburghaus, Daniel Kaelin.
Carl Scofield / Breckenridge Tourism Office |
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Team Loveland came in third place with "Bolting From Extinction." The four-person team consisted of captain Garett Dreiling and members Randy Amys, Steven Carmer and John Smith.
Carl Scofield / Breckenridge Tourism Office |
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Team Breckenridge with their sculpture "The Widow Maker." From left to right Margo Jerkovitz, Tim West, Keith Martin and Tom Day.
Heather Jarvis / hjarvis@summitdaily.com |
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A member of Team Mongolia, Bayanmunkh, puts the final touches on the piece Friday night.
Heather Jarvis / hjarvis@summitdaily.com |
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Teams worked late into the night Friday to finish sculptures.
Heather Jarvis / hjarvis@summitdaily.com |
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Team Breckenridge with their sculpture "The Widow Maker." From left to right Margo Jerkovitz, Tim West, Keith Martin and Tom Day.
Heather Jarvis / hjarvis@summitdaily.com |
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Sculptors work to finish the Budweiser sculpture Friday night.
Heather Jarvis / hjarvis@summitdaily.com |
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The Fire Arts Festival continues Sunday in Breckenridge from 5â9 p.m.
Jenise Jensen / Special to the Daily |
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The Fire Arts Festival continues Sunday in Breckenridge from 5â9 p.m.
Jenise Jensen / Special to the Daily |
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The Fire Arts Festival continues Sunday in Breckenridge from 5â9 p.m.
Jenise Jensen / Special to the Daily |
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The sculptures will be on display for viewing until Feb. 7, weather permitting.
Heather Jarvis / hjarvis@summitdaily.com |
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Team Breckenridge created "The Widow Maker." Voting for People's and Kids' Choice awards ends today at 2 p.m. The sculptures will remain up for viewing, weather permitting, until Feb. 7.
Heather Jarvis / hjarvis@summitdaily.com |
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The sculptures will be on display for viewing until Feb. 7, weather permitting.
Heather Jarvis / hjarvis@summitdaily.com |
Team USA-Vermont won gold in the 26th annual International Snow Sculpture Competition with “Rhonda and Her Recycling Robo-Octopus,” a piece that depicted 14-year-old science whiz Rhonda riding inside her invention — the Robo-Octopus — which helps clean the ocean floor. Judges appreciated the piece’s achievements both technically and conceptually, and the appeal for audiences on multiple levels.
Along with 15 other teams, Vermont sculptors worked with only hand tools for 65 hours across five days to create a temporary outdoor art gallery. Sculptures will remain on display at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge until Sunday, Feb. 7 (weather permitting).
Team Switzerland won silver with “Converse.” The sculpture depicted two structures, almost identical, yet converse.
Team USA-Loveland won bronze with “Bolting from Extinction,” a piece rooted in the idea that nature does not know extinction because it only knows transformation.
Team USA-Wisconsin won Artists’ Choice with “Dia de los Muertos,” which represented an altar seen during the Mexican holiday.
People’s Choice and Kid’s Choice will be announced Sunday, Jan. 31.
Beginning Monday, Feb. 1, fans can vote for Social Media Fan Favorite on Facebook.com/GoBreck
Jenn Cram, judge coordinator and director of public programs and engagement for Breckenridge Creative Arts commented on behalf of the judging panel: “Vermont’s sculpture is visually delightful, it appeals to the child in all of us while addressing a serious global issue. The piece combined both technical risk and a high level of detail. It is superbly executed in 360 degrees.”
Artists battled a mix of conditions — sunshine, varied temperatures and wind — during competition week. Several pieces partially collapsed shortly after the sculpting deadline of 10 a.m. on Saturday. It was a reminder of the temporary nature of the medium and just how willing teams are to push the limits of snow. Judges recognized both German teams (whose pieces fell prior to the deadline) for their willingness to take risks.
“We know that they are always contenders for this event,” said Cram.
An official awards ceremony took place today at the Breckenridge Riverwalk Center. Winners receive medals and recognition from the international snow sculpture community — though no prize money is awarded, all teams receive travel stipends, meals and lodging.
Teams competing included Canada (Yukon), Estonia, Finland, France, Germany (Agrawal), Germany (Theil), Great Britain, Mexico, Mongolia (Batmunkh), Mongolia (Bayanmunkh), Switzerland, USA (Breckenridge), USA (Loveland), USA (Vermont), USA (Wisconsin), and Ukraine.
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