A whole lot can change in 35 years, but you can always count on the Breckenridge snow sculptures.
The International Snow Sculpture Championships celebrates 35 years this winter, Jan. 24 to Feb. 3, when 10+ teams of the world’s elite snow sculptors gather in Breck for a week of planning, carving and showcasing works of living art.
This year’s team roster includes Team South Korea, led by the event’s only female captain, and Team Ukraine, with a sculpture inspired by the ongoing conflict with Russia. They’re joined by perpetual favorites like Team Germany, bringing its signature precision artwork, plus multiple teams from Wisconsin, and, of course, the hometown favorites, Team Breck.
ISSC then and now
When the ISSC started in 1991, a lift ticket to Breck was less than $60. The Bergenhof Restaurant was the place to be on Peak 8, and the T-Bar was the highest ride on the mountain.
It didn’t take long for the ISSC to go global. The 1996 championships were featured on the Discovery Channel, with Team Canada winning the inaugural title and Team Breck claiming the People’s Choice award, led by event co-founders Rob Neyland and Ron Shelton.
The town and the snow blocks are bigger these days – five tons bigger to be exact – but the spirit of the ISSC is rooted in friendly competition.
This year every team begins with a block of snow measuring 12 feet tall and weighing 25 tons. Beginning Jan. 24, artists spend 94 hours turning their blocks into living snow art using hand tools and imagination. Many use files, saws and chisels – the same kind you find in a hardware store – but this year, Team Lithuania arrives with tools made just for snow sculpting.
Past artists tell Krystal 93 the Breck snow is some of the finest on the snow sculpting circuit. Unlike smaller contests, where the snow contains gravel and dirt, this snow is blown and formed specifically for the championships – like marble as opposed to concrete.
Spectators can watch the entire process for free in the Tiger Dredge Lot by the Riverwalk Center in downtown Breck.
At 9 a.m. on Jan. 28, teams must put down their chisels and present their finished artwork for a week of free viewing. The sculptures look even better under the lights at night.
For the first time in several years there are no reservations required for Saturday viewing.
Preview images by Aaron Dodd for Breckenridge Tourism Office.
