**SATELLITE UPLINK** International Snow Sculpture Championships

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. – Jan. 23 – Each winter, the mountain community of Breckenridge, Colo. hosts the visually spectacular International Snow Sculpture Championships (ISSC). The 2012 event takes place between Jan. 24 and Feb. 5; artists sculpt from Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 11 a.m. MST until Saturday, Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. MST. To assist the media in coverage of the event, the Breckenridge Resort Chamber (BRC) is hosting satellite uplink opportunities on Friday, Jan. 27, beginning at 6 a.m. EST. The uplink day is one day prior to sculpture completion, which will ensure intense action and spectacular detail work from the event site.

Satellite Uplink Information:

• To reserve sat time: Please contact Rachel Zerowin (970-453-5064) at the BRC to reserve.
• On-site talent: Freelance reporter Jim Hooley will host live reports tailored to each station.
• Uplink details: Provided per station as times slots are reserved.
• Sculpture/Event location: The snow sculptures are located in the area around the Riverwalk Center in the heart of downtown Breckenridge, Colo.
• Event b-roll: Preview and download b-roll of the 2011 event above; 2012 footage will be available by 7:00 a.m. EST on January 26, on this same page. For information contact Rachel Zerowin: 970-453-5064

2012 Event Details:
This signature Breckenridge event features 15 teams with artists from 12 countries including Australia, Canada (Ontario, Quebec, Yukon), China, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland and the U.S. (Alaska, Breckenridge, Idaho, Wisconsin-Franklin). The event draws approximately 30,000 people and this year marks the 22nd anniversary.

Event Background:
Four-person teams are assigned 12-foot-tall, 20-ton blocks of snow, which are built the week prior to the event. The machine-made Colorado snow is ideal for packing due to Breckenridge’s humidity and temperature. Teams work within a five-day period to create sculptures based upon a pre-submitted and approved sketch. No power tools, internal support structures or colorants may be used to create the snow sculptures. View the media release: http://tinyurl.com/6lr9abw or visit the event website: http://tinyurl.com/BreckSnowSculpt.

Awards & Display:
The ISSC awards ceremony is held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29 and sculptures remain on display, weather permitting, until the night of Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012. Typically cold temperatures during the month of January ensure a longer life for the sculptures.

Jim Hooley (On-Site Reporter) Bio:
Jim Hooley is a veteran television and radio reporter based in Colorado. Jim’s twenty-plus years of experience includes working in newsrooms in Denver, Cleveland and Milwaukee. Jim was among the first reporters to break the news of the tragic shootings at Columbine High School and has interviewed the likes of President Bill Clinton and Rolling Stone Keith Richards. Jim lives in Boulder with his wife and three children.

Media Contact Information:
Rachel Zerowin
Breckenridge Resort Chamber / GoBreck.com
rzerowin@gobreck.com
Office: 970-453-5064

GoBreck is the destination marketing organization for the Town of Breckenridge. Connect on Facebook or Twitter for destination news and updates or download the Breckenridge mobile application by texting BRECK to 25827.