Canadians are usually known for all things winter and Team Canada - Quebec certainly proved this by winning the 22nd annual International Snow Sculpture Championships in Colorado.
They designed and built a complex and detailed piece that depicts ice houses once used to preserve meat, poultry and fish in central Quebec called "Great Expectations".
The Quebec team beat out 15 other teams from 12 countries to take the top prize at the competition, which took place in Breckenridge.
"Team Canada - Quebec created a sculpture that demonstrates all virtues of carving snow: clean execution, anatomically correct figures and animals, texture, balance and more," said Jenn Cram, judge coordinator and Arts District administrator for the Town of Breckenridge, to the Summit Country Voice.
Team Germany won second place with a piece called "Dancing Screens" and Team Baltic captured third with a spherical creation called "Discover the Edge of the World".
Team Canada - Quebec was not the only Canadian team competing. A team from Ontario designed and built a sculpture of a rocket ship blasting off called "Ode to NASA" and a team from the Yukon created an Inuit standing in front of an inukshuk called "Throat Singers".
While Mexico may not be thought of as a haven for winter activities, they entered a team and created a statue of a horned head with multiple arms called "Satyagraha".
Participants must create their sculptures without the use of power tools or internal support structures. The Quebec team worked 65 hours over five days chipping and carving an enormous 20-ton block of snow.
(CP photo)
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