The 2011 Budweiser International Snow Sculpting Championships got under way at Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge Tuesday morning, January 25, at 11 a.m.
This is the first installment in my video log (VLOG) of the 2011 Breckenridge International Snow Sculpting Championships.
Sunday, January 23
Late Sunday afternoon, two days before the start of the contest, I stopped by the Riverwalk parking lot, thinking that the snow blocks were probably ready to go, and indeed they were. The volunteers during technical week had done their job well, and the parking lot was lined with two rows of large white monoliths. Shooting video of the blocks in the absence of any activity seemed like an uninteresting proposition, but there were some neat lenticular clouds in the background, so I took a few stills, trying to get some interesting angles, lighting and textures.
Click to view slideshow.
Tuesday, January 25
On a very cold and cloudy Tuesday morning, the rows of giant white monoliths I first saw on Sunday loomed against the gray sky. This time the parking lot was filled with spectators, artists, event organizers, and camera people, all milling around, talking, and waiting for the opening ceremony to begin. It began with the marching of the Color Guard and the singing of the National Anthem, followed by introductory remarks by event founder Rob Neyland. Then, with the ceremonial firing of a rather adorable little cannon, the sculpting got underway. The artists will be working from now until Saturday morning, January 29, at which time judging will commence.
Check out the video for Rob’s opening remarks about the wonderful forms lurking in the monoliths, waiting to be revealed by the artists, the firing of the cannon, and the initial hustle and bustle of sculpting.
