Gallery: The Quirky World of Competitive Snow Carving Comes to California

  • rising tide
    01

    rising-tide

    *Team Truckee entered the competition late, after Team Russia was unable to get visas in time. Their sculpture: "Rising Tide."*
  • heart to heart
    02

    heart-to-heart

    *Team Japan's "Heart to Heart," based on an anatomical heart, with the original sketch of the design (below)* ![](http://blog-admin.wired.com/design/wp-content/gallery/carve-tahoe/img_539711.jpg?i=54736549?i=692007126)
  • team finland
    03

    team-finland

    *Team Finland works after sundown*
  • secret forest
    04

    secret-forest

    *Team Finland's "Secret Forest," with original sketch below* ![](http://blog-admin.wired.com/design/wp-content/gallery/carve-tahoe/finland-sketch.jpg?i=692007126)
  • spire
    05

    spire

    *Team USA/Canada's Bob Fulks carves a spire from a discarded chunk of snow*
  • the stand
    06

    the-stand

    *"The Stand," with one spire attached, extending the sculpture beyond the height of the block*
  • USACanada
    07

    usacanada

    *Team USA/Canada's finished product, "The Stand," with the original sketch below* ![](http://blog-admin.wired.com/design/wp-content/gallery/carve-tahoe/usacanada-sketch.jpg?i=692007126)
  • Endangered Bears
    08

    endangered-bears

    *"Endangered Bears," by Team Idaho-Bonner's Ferry, with original sketch below* ![](http://blog-admin.wired.com/design/wp-content/gallery/carve-tahoe/idaho-harris-sketch-2.jpg?i=681784751?i=54736549?i=692007126)
  • sweet house
    09

    sweet-house-of-madness

    *Team Idaho-Dunham's "Sweet House (of Madness)" with Team Germany's "Four Elements" in the background. Below: Germany's original sketch.* ![](http://blog-admin.wired.com/design/wp-content/gallery/carve-tahoe/germany-sketch.png?i=240341181?i=681784751?i=54736549?i=692007126)
  • dance of the firebird
    10

    dance-of-the-firebird

    *Team Wisconsin's "Dance of the Firebird"*
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