Imagine carving a monolith of hard-packed snow into a work of art using only chisels, saws, chicken wire and carrot scrapers. To experienced snow sculptors, it’s an anticipated challenge.
For 15 years, Breckenridge has hosted teams of artists from around the globe who have created dramatic, albeit fleeting, winter sculptures.
This week, the Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships returns to Breckenridge beginning Tuesday and ending Sunday. Thirteen teams of sculptors from six countries will produce museum-quality works of snow in 65 hours or less. This year’s contestants come from the People’s Republic of China, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Russia and the U.S. Unquestionably, this is Colorado’s most sensational winter event.
Work began last week readying 12-foot-high, 20-ton columns of man-made snow. Each four-person team will begin sculpting at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Absolutely no power tools, internal support structures or colorants may be used; artists must rely on their own ingenuity and hand tools. Work continues Wednesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; on Friday, artists are permitted to work through the night, up to their 65-hour limit, in preparation for Saturday morning’s judging.
Some of the past sculptures have represented enormous creations of whimsy, although others have delivered powerful political or social commentaries.
It may seem unusual for the desert country of Morocco to send a team to snowy 9,600-
foot Breckenridge. But team captain Hussein Ibrahimi is an architect and graphic artist who sculpts wood, limestone and is a master sand sculptor. This will be his fourth season sculpting snow. Morocco’s entry is titled “Neptune’s Throne.”
The first of Russia’s creations is called “Saint Whitsunday.” Team captain Viktor Solomennikov said the sculpture will present a scene of alliance of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. It personifies a longing of people to find perfection in life’s truth and quietness.
Russia’s second team, captained by Igor Penkin, will sculpt the “Tower of Power,” representing the work of administrative bureaucrats and how they manage their command at all levels in the hierarchy.
Italy’s team captain, Corado Clerici, titles his country’s sculpture “Old Memories, Part 1.” The sculpture is intended to represent a moment of relaxation immediately following a children’s game.
The story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, known as the butterfly lovers, inspired China’s entry “Liang Zhu.” Team captain Wang Jianhna said the sculpture is based on the historical legend about the couple whose love plunged them into fatal tragedy. Both metamorphosed into butterflies when they died for their love.
Isabel Santamaria Torres is the captain of Mexico’s team. A want or need to perceive time and history will be realized in the sculpture.
Seven entries come from the U.S. Rob Neyland heads the Breckenridge team effort with “Water Song.” Water, giver of life, carver of continents, will be captured and suspended against the sky during its journey to the sea.
George Hyde captains Alaska’s entry, “Hunter of the North.” Nanook, the polar bear, is constantly on the hunt for a seal. An Eskimo hunter will be seen on the bear’s reverse side, carved in bas-relief.
“Ghost Ship” is the Caon City entry. According to team captain John Henley, the sculpture depicts attempting the impossible with such heart and soul that no troubled waters will keep you ashore, and, no matter what comes your way, you never give up. It will reveal that mistakes are the portals of discovery.
“River’s Surprise” is Idaho’s entry. Lee Harris and his team humorously depict a white sturgeon caught unexpectedly by a fly fisherman. Some sturgeon measure 16 feet; their prehistoric looks and long life span make then an unusual fish.
Minnesota team leader Stan Wagon admits his “Knot Divided” is unique. The simple overhand knot will be split lengthwise along the whole strand that forms the three loops. However, the knotted strand is actually a triple-twisted Mobius band.
Klaus Ebeling of New York presents his team’s entry, “Kaleidoscope.” Although the familiar kaleidoscope is rotated by the viewer, this sculpture instead invites the viewer to rotate around it.
From Tennessee, co-captains Mike Klamann and Leo Medina Rodrigues present “Nautilus.” A relative of the octopus, the nautilus is the only cephalopod to have an external, asymmetrical shell. Its perfectly proportioned spiraled shell has been a fascination of naturalists, mathematicians and physicists.
None of the contestants receives any compensation or prize money for their creations. They work in frigid conditions simply for the glory of bringing home a winning ribbon.
The sculptures may be viewed in the parking lot behind the Riverwalk Center in the heart of Breckenridge. They will remain for about a week following the competition, with the cooperation of the weather depending, before they are taken down.
Lillian Ross is a freelance writer who lives in Howard.
The details
Breckenridge is about 90 miles west of Denver via Interstate 70 to Frisco, and Colorado 9 south into town.
For more information about the Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships, call 970-547-3100, or visit
For information on lodging, call 877-593-5251.
