Two and a half days left in the Multi-Block competition. Today, as I walked into the woods, the Connie Parks Karl Enchanted Forest, I noticed a change in energy. It didn’t feel like worker bees were buzzing everywhere. There was a feeling of confidence and calm as the teams worked diligently on their creations, each member concentrating on his or her specific task. The sculptures are coming together and are morphing into something recognizable.
There are six all American Teams. Among these six teams are many carvers whose multi-block sculptures have won prestigious awards at this Fairbanks ice carving championship. There is one all Japanese team. One of these carvers, Junichi Nakamura, is a legend in the ice carving genre and has been competing here since 1996. He says Fairbanks is his favorite place to “express his appreciation for the art”.
There is one team whose members are all from the Russian Federation. One member shared that he was born in Siberia where the winter temperatures dip down to -76 degrees. Another team boasts two Americans, one Canadian and one from the Philippines. In 2016 he was on the multi-block team which won first place. The sculpture was called “A Fairy Tale Goodnight”. It depicted Cinderella leaving the Ball and is one of my favorite pieces.
One team is made up of three carvers from the Russian Federation and one lady from Canada. The final team competing in the Multi-Block competition is a new team at the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks. They are from Latvia. Welcome to Fairbanks, Team Latvia. And best of luck in the competition. I love a quote one of the team members shared about carving Ice, Snow, Fire and Sand: “I like how the primeval force of these natural materials along with the magic of the moment makes energy vibrate.”
Good luck to all the teams.
As a fun tidbit today, I saw a worker with a hose spraying water on the ice rink. He said he was leveling the rink, readying it for the Zamboni to come and smooth it out. You just never know what you will see at Ice Alaska.
