Ready, Set, Carve!

Snow sculpting competitions last two-and-a-half days. Teams spend most of that time outside in intense winter conditions. (They can warm up in heated tents.) Sometimes Team Kwe works through the night to finish their sculptures on time. The coldest temperature that the team  competed in was -60 degrees Fahrenheit!

But the weather can change a lot throughout each event. That’s part of what makes snow sculpting challenging, the team explains. Changes in temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind affect the consistency of the snow they’re working with. When it’s really cold, the snow becomes hard and difficult to sculpt. Warm snow can be molded like mashed potatoes. “Mother Nature is our fourth teammate,” says Friedli.

Math helps Team Kwe’s members plan their sculptures and tackle problems. First, they draw a grid on the 8-foot cube of snow to visualize where each part of the sculpture will be. They mark each spot, like plotting points on a coordinate grid.

Next, they shape the block using hand tools like saws, chisels, and more. While sculpting, each team member is always thinking about the shape and the weight of the snow left behind. If they carve out too much in the wrong place, their sculpture might fall over! When time’s up, a panel of judges chooses the winning sculpture.

Snow sculpting competitions last two-and-a-half days. Teams spend most of that time outside in the snow. Sometimes Team Kwe works through the night to finish their sculptures. They take breaks to warm up inside heated tents.

Their coldest competition got down to -60 degrees Fahrenheit. But the weather changes throughout each event. That’s part of what makes snow sculpting challenging, the team explains. Temperature, moisture, sunlight, and wind all affect the snow. Extremely cold snow is hard and difficult to sculpt. Warm snow can be molded like mashed potatoes. “Mother Nature is our fourth teammate,” says Friedli.

Math helps the sculptors plan and execute their pieces. First, they draw a grid on the 8-foot cube of snow. That helps them see where each part of their design will be. They mark the spots they need to carve. It’s like plotting points on a coordinate grid.

Next, they shape the block. They use tools like saws and chisels to remove snow. As they carve, they keep an eye on the shape and weight of the sculpture. If they carve out too much in the wrong place, it might fall over! When time is up, the team stops carving. A panel of judges chooses the winning sculpture.

Team Kwe’s sculptures are often inspired by their Indigenous roots. The teammates are Anishinaabe (ah-ni-shin-AH-beh), a people that includes related tribes from around the Great Lakes region.

One of the teachings from their culture is that women are the keepers of the water. (Kwe means “woman” in Anishinaabe.) Since snow is a frozen form of water, snow sculpting makes them feel connected to their heritage.

Team Kwe often sculpt images from Anishinaabe culture, such as a jingle dress dancer, which is a woman in a dress believed to heal the sick. “We bring certain visuals or ideas to life in the snow that might not have made it there otherwise,” says Welter.

Team Kwe’s sculptures are often inspired by their background. The teammates are Anishinaabe (ah-nish-in-AH-bay). This Indigenous group includes related tribes from the Great Lakes region. Kwe means “woman” in the Anishinaabe language.

Anishinaabe culture teaches that women are keepers of the water. Snow is a frozen form of water. So sculpting it helps Team Kwe feel connected to their heritage. They often sculpt images with Anishinaabe origins. For example, they once carved a jingle dress dancer. That’s a woman in a traditional dress believed to heal the sick. “We bring certain visuals or ideas to life in the snow,” says Welter. “They might not have made it there otherwise.”

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