Snow Sculpture Contest

Throughout the history of the Sourdough Rendezvous Snow and Ice Sculptures have been a mainstay.  While they would disappear for a period of years, they would make their way back... In 1994 the festival started again with small Ice Sculptures on First Avenue.  Unfortunately, the cost of shipping in the specialized ice (yes... special ice...) meant that the festival could not sustain it.

In 2004 we saw the inaugural event of the Snow Sculpture Challenge. Sponsored by ZIP Airlines, seven teams competed for the Challenge. Large sculptures as diverse as a huge Trojan horse to an aquarium full of tropical fish took shape in the four days of sculpting. Crowds of visitors went through the "Snow Pavilion" and many voted on the last Sunday of "Rendezvous" to choose their favourites.

In 2005, Air Canada became the new sponsor and they brought in the Canadian teams from across the country to compete with a team from Alaska and a team from Japan. This challenge is an International event again! Air Canada continued to sponsor this event flying in teams to Whitehorse through 2006 and 2009 with a break for the Canada Winter Games in 2007 where all of the carvers who compete against each other normally, worked together, to create a beautiful piece outside the Main venue for everyone at the Games to enjoy.

The 2010 Air Canada International Snow Sculpture Challenge will start on February 24th when the teams fly in just in time to attend the Rendezvous Civic Dinner with Mayor Buckway and an array of other dignitaries. At this event each team is introduced and a draw will take place for the blocks of snow. Then it's all hands to the snow shovels as carving begins. Each team will be given until Sunday at 11am to complete their sculptures and if they wish they can work around the clock. Judging by the public, on site from 11am to 1:30 pm, with prizes awarded at 2pm- 2:30 in front of the sculptures. There's no theme but there were lots of different sculptures.

Its always fun with sculptors attending lots of the Rendezvous events when they're not too busy, or just need a rest. And although there's a prize for the winner, this Challenge is definitely about creating beautiful pieces and sharing tips and stories so the spirit on site is one of camaraderie rather than competition.

Confirmed Entries for 2010:

Alaska
Detroit
Idaho
Alberta
Quebec
Manitoba