Artists Sculpt Snow in Wisconsin

The U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition will be held in February in Lake Geneva, Wis., with teams of competitors from nine states including Alaska, New York, Wyoming, and Wisconsin.
Artists Sculpt Snow in Wisconsin
SAPPORO, JAPAN - A Narnia snow sculpture is displayed at Odori Koen during the 57th Sapporo Snow Festival February 12, 2006. The annual week-long festival features snow and ice sculptures from around the world. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
1/9/2011
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/56916089.jpg" alt="SAPPORO, JAPAN - A Narnia snow sculpture is displayed at Odori Koen during the 57th Sapporo Snow Festival February 12, 2006. The annual week-long festival features snow and ice sculptures from around the world. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)" title="SAPPORO, JAPAN - A Narnia snow sculpture is displayed at Odori Koen during the 57th Sapporo Snow Festival February 12, 2006. The annual week-long festival features snow and ice sculptures from around the world. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1809921"/></a>
SAPPORO, JAPAN - A Narnia snow sculpture is displayed at Odori Koen during the 57th Sapporo Snow Festival February 12, 2006. The annual week-long festival features snow and ice sculptures from around the world. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
While some dream of balmy tropical weather during the winter season, some artists are hoping for nothing other than frozen temperatures and heavy snowfall.

This winter has seen plenty of heavy snow; the perfect conditions for sculptors across the nation to create frozen works of art.

The U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition will be held in February in Lake Geneva, Wis., with teams of competitors from nine states including Alaska, New York, Wyoming, and Wisconsin.

This year, 13 teams will compete. Each team will be provided with a nine-foot tall cylinder of snow that will be chiseled, carved, and hammered into ornate creations. Tools used include shovels, machetes, axes, buckets, and occasionally an ice cream scoop.

The winners will be judged based on imagination and technical skills in working with snow.

The contest is determined by weather and the condition of the snow. According to the competition’s website, an ice-carving contest will be held instead if snow is unavailable.

Snow and ice carving festivals are held around the United States and internationally, including the World Ice Championships in Alaska, and the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan.