Teams Selected for Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships

Media Contact: Rachel Zerowin, 970-453-5064 or rzerowin@gobreck.com

Teams Selected for Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships

Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland and U.S. invited to Jan. 24-28 event in Breckenridge, Colo.

BRECKENRIDGE, COLO. - Oct. 12, 2011 – Sixteen teams with artists from 12 countries have been selected to compete in the 22nd annual International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge, Colo. Jan. 24-28, 2012. Of the 35 countries invited to apply, teams selected include Argentina, Australia, Canada-Ontario, Canada-Quebec, Canada-Yukon, China, Finland, Germany, Latvia/Estonia, Mexico-Ulises, Spain, Switzerland, USA-Alaska, USA-Breckenridge, USA-Vermont and USA-Wisconsin-Franklin. Many of the 2012 artists have medaled at major snow sculpting events around the world.

During the Breckenridge competition, each team creates an enormous work of art from 12-foot-tall, 20-ton blocks of machine-made Colorado snow. Artists achieve finished pieces after a total of 65 intense hours of work without the use of power tools, internal support structures or colorants – just the ingenuity of the sculptors and a medium that lends itself, if only temporarily, to the persuasion of hand tools. The free event gives rise to a temporary outdoor sculpture gallery in the center of downtown Breckenridge.

“Winter travelers are often looking for free or low-cost activities off the slopes and the International Snow Sculpture Championships allows all ages to experience Breckenridge’s winter season for free,” said Sandy Metzger, events director for the Breckenridge Resort Chamber.

Snow carving in Breckenridge began as a local pastime during the town's winter carnival – Ullr Fest – in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The founders of Breckenridge’s International Snow Sculpture Championships are still involved in the event, which is today attended annually by more than 30,000 people.

International Snow Sculpture Championships Stay and Ski Lodging Packages
Stay four nights in a 2-bedroom condominium and get four days of lift tickets included for as low as $120 per person, per night. Available through Feb. 10, 2012. Call the Breckenridge Resort Chamber at 877-864-0868 or visit GoBreck.com for more information on the 2012 International Snow Sculpture Championships and January lodging packages in Breckenridge.

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Editor’s notes:

• Professional photos and broadcast-quality b-roll of 2011 snow sculptures are available for editorial use.
• New photos will be available during and following the Jan. 24-28, 2012 competition; contact Rachel Zerowin at rzerowin@gobreck.com to receive daily photo updates