We went to Breckenridge.  I, Zeb Duck and Soapy Smith Duck went with my mom to Breckenridge.  They have international snow sculpture championships here.  Saturday, January 25, 2014 the sculptures were finished and judged.  We went Sunday, January 26, 2014 to see them.

Here we are in Breckenridge.

In Breckenridge Colorado

Budweiser sponsors this competition and they have a great snow sculpture featuring a Clydesdale horse and Spuds Mackenzie, the dog.

Budweiser snow sculpture with Spuds

This year 16 teams from 14 countries, including the United States, were scheduled to compete.  One team withdrew due to illness.  Here are a few photos of the finished work.

Team Lithuania. “Once upon a time here was a forest…”

Team France. “Dark Side of the Moon”

Team Germany. “Apecheta The source where the flow begins”

Thursday, January 16, we went to Breckenridge to see them make the snow blocks.  The blocks of snow are 10’ x 10’ and 12’ tall.  They weigh 20 tons each.  Huge!!

20 ton snow block and 2 small ducks

Breckenridge ski area makes snow.  The ski area makes extra snow that is trucked to the snow sculpting contest area.  Snow is put into frames, stomped on for packing

Humans stomping on snow in wooden frame to pack it hard

and placed in the sculpting position.

Snow blocks ready for the artists

Because this is made snow, the consistency is the same throughout the block.  That is important for the artists.

Here are more finished sculptures.

Team Great Britain “The Somerset Hunky Punks”

Team USA Colorado. “Must be using the wrong bait

Team USA Colorado. Maybe we are the bait

The artists have only 65 hours to complete the masterpiece and no power tools are used.  Some teams use potato peelers and some used cookie cutters for finishing touches.

This is the first place entry.

Winter Fun is the winner in 2014

Team USA from Breckenridge, Colorado created this.  It was inspired by the simple pleasure of winter.

Sledding is fun

Team Breck competes internationally and is recognized as one of the best in the world.

Yesterday we enjoyed warm sunny weather in Breckenridge; so if you want to see these sculptures, go today.  They will melt soon.