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16 teams from around the world begin carving in Breckenridge for International Snow Sculpture Championships

Summit Daily staff report
Jan. 22-26: Sculpting Week
Sculpting begins at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 22 with a gun shot start and sculpting ends on Friday, Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. The awards ceremony will be on Friday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 is one of the best times to visit. Artists are preparing to stay up all night to do detail work and the atmosphere is celebratory. Jan. 27: iFurnish Children's Snow Sculpting Imagination comes to life through the magic of snow, and little hands. The Main Street Station Junior Snow Sculpture event is open to children, ages 9 and up on Saturday, Jan. 27 to help kick off the International Snow Sculpture Championships presented by Breckenridge Brewery and Your Hometown Toyota Stores viewing. This year’s theme will focus on animals. Young participants will use the same type of snow that the big competitors use, and will learn the basics of snow sculpting in an enjoyable environment. Instruction will be led by one of Breckenridge’s own artists and sculpting extraordinaire, Mauricio Meneses. Participation is free and open to all kids. Free. Space is limited and registration is recommended. Register HERE or at https://rockymtnevents.com/winter-events/kids-snow-sculptures/. Jan. 25-29: Viewing Weekend Jan. 26 at 6 p.m.: Awards Ceremony followed by a professional acrobatic Cirque Show
Jan. 27 7 p.m.: Laser Show (Please note that visitors are welcome to the event anytime from Jan. 22 to Jan. 29). During viewing weekend, the artists are done sculpting but the sculptures are here for your viewing pleasure. Weather permitting the snow sculptures will stay up until the night of Monday, Jan. 29.
Source: gobreck.com

The International Snow Sculpture Championships returns for its 28th year in Breckenridge, Colorado, as 16 teams from around the world hand-carve 25-ton blocks of snow into larger-than-life works of art. The Challenge commenced today as teams of four began work on the carvings. As the week progresses, the blocks of snow will slowly take shape, giving visitors the chance to watch the work unfold. 

The artists are allowed to use only hand tools such as vegetable peelers, chicken wire, small saws and more. Power tools, colorants and internal support structures are prohibited. There are no cash prizes; artists compete only for glory. The first, second and third place winners each receive a medallion, a trophy and a ribbon. Awards are also presented to the winners of the People’s Choice, Kids’ Choice and Artists’ Choice. The Snow Sculptures are located in the area around the Riverwalk Center at 150 West Adams Avenue, Breckenridge. Event headquarters are in the Riverwalk Center and referred to as the Thaw Lounge + Music. The artists will continue working until Friday, Jan 26, and finished sculptures will be on display through the weekend until Monday night, Jan. 29, in Tiger Dredge Lot. Story continues under video.
Footage provided by Breckenridge Tourism Office.

HISTORY OF THE EVENT

Before growing into the well-attended event that it is today, the snow sculpture competition began as a sidebar to Ullr Fest, Breckenridge’s annual celebration of snow, with businesses, individuals and kids creating the snow art. In 1979, a group of locals formed the town’s competitive snow sculpting team after a coin toss decided for them whether to create a float for the Ullr Fest parade or a snow sculpture. Over the years, Team Breck progressed and they competed in the Colorado State Snow Sculpture Championships held in Breckenridge, eventually setting their sights on international competition. They worked hard to establish Breckenridge as a name associated with world-class sculpting as they continued to take awards locally and even nationally.

In 1990, the town and Breckenridge Ski Resort, along with Team Breck’s Rob Neyland, Ron Shelton, Randy Amys, and Bill Hazel, hosted the inaugural International Snow Sculpture Championships. In the last 28 years, the town has received competitors from countries such as Morocco, Switzerland, Russia, China, Argentina and Canada.



INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTURE FACTS 

  • 4: artists per team
  • 12 feet: height of each blank block before sculpting begins
  • 250: teams invited to compete; only 16 are selected
  • 11: countries represented
  • 400 tons: total amount of snow to create blocks for 16 teams
  • 1990: first year of the Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships
  • 50,000 pounds: weight of each block before sculpting begins
  • 0: power tools allowed
  • For a full list of events and more information, visit SculptSnow.com 

 


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