Frequently Asked Questions

How long has the competition been going on?
2008 marks the 22nd year of the Illinois competition, which began in 1987.

Where does the snow for the sculptures come from?
The snow comes from the Greater Rockford Airport. When the runways are cleared of snow, the snow is piled up adjacent to the runways. The pile helps to insulate the snow. About a week prior to the event, trucks bring the snow to Sinnissippi Park, where it is poured into wooden forms through the courtesy of Area Erectors and Creative Enterprises.

What is the cost to enter the competition?
There is no entry fee for the competitors. Once they arrive at the competition, their meals are provided by SwedishAmerican Health System, Stockholm Inn, and Arby's.

What do the teams win?
Trophies or awards are given to the first, second, third, fourth, people’s choice, and committee’s choice sculptures. The first place team from the preceding year is eligible to compete in the national competition – the 2008 winner is eligible to compete in the 2009 National Event in Lake Geneva, WI. There are no cash prizes.

What kind of tools do the teams use?
The sculptors may not use any power tools or pre-fabricated molds. Teams will use axes, machetes, water buckets, shovels, ice chisels, and homemade scraping tools. Barbed wire has been used as a flexible saw. An aluminum cake pan has had holes punched in it so that the jagged points could be used to scrape away the snow.

How many people are on a team?
The state teams have three people, and it must be the same three people who start working on the project. The high school teams have four people on a team. The international teams will usually have three members.

How much time do the teams have to work on their sculptures?
They may start work on Wednesday and they have until that Saturday morning at 10:00 AM to finish. Some teams will work in the evening, depending upon weather conditions, their individual work schedules, and the complexity of their piece. The international competitors follow the same schedule. The high school teams start their work at noon on Thursday.

How big are the blocks of snow each team starts with?
The state and international teams have blocks that are 6 ft x 6 ft x 10 ft high. These blocks weigh about 2-1/2 tons. The high school blocks are 4 ft x 4 ft x 6 ft high.

Are there any restrictions on the size of each finished sculpture?
The length and width of the block may be expanded to 12 feet, and there is no height limitation. One year, there was a piece that was nearly 25 feet high! (No direct advertising will be allowed as part of the sculpture.)