By Holly Shanks
STLCC-FV The Forum Student Newspaper - February 2013
Photo By Holly Shanks
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| "Castle Fight" Ice Carving Winner Photo by Holly Shanks |
A frozen castle, scuba diver, and three chilly pigs emerged on the street in historic downtown St. Charles
The St. Charles Historic Downtown Association started the yearly ice festival in 1998 and the “Fete de Glace” Ice Carving Competition has been a hit ever since. The competition consists of two categories, the single block and the two-man Monster Carver Class. The attending crowd pick the winners by casting votes for their favorite sculptures. The competitors compete for cash prizes and bragging rights.
According to Vice President of the St. Charles Historic Association Mike Maurer, the competition has seen Olympic ice carvers compete, as well as many local ice artists over the years.
The Monster Carvers Class begins with five blocks of ice weighing 260 pounds each, three and a half feet tall, twenty inches across and ten inches wide. The blocks can be stacked on top of each other giving the artist a large canvas to work with depending on the design being carved.
“When the ice first starts taking shape, people really gather around to watch the carvers with their electric chain saws and all their tools,” Maurer said. “Its fun and some of them are really spectacular looking.”
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| Photo by Holly Shanks |
Elbow to elbow crowds gathered around each of the seven carving stations, covered by canopies, to watch the ice being manipulated into different designs. Cold weather is great for the event, but keeping the ice shaded from the sun is important because ultra-violet rays can crack the ice internally.
The starting bell is followed immediately by the vibrating buzz of chain saws breaking through the air as the rough cutting work begins. Carvers send a shower of pulverized ice into the sky that falls like snow while wasting no time sawing off any larger chunks of ice not needed.
Bill Melson, a 30 year veteran ice carver from Hot Springs , Missouri St. Charles
“I started out as a chef. That’s how I got into it. That’s how most of the guys get into it,” Melson said. “I keep doing it because it is fun.”
The event’s first place winning sculpture, named “Castle Fight,” belonged to the team of Russell and Helms. Dremel tools, hand chisels and drills helped to bring the medieval carving to life with visible rock walls, soaring towers and a draw bridge.
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| Photo by Holly Shanks |
White ice crystals were frozen and hanging in the castle’s artist hair while they happily shared informational tidbits about the art of ice carving to an attentive audience.
The team also offered treats of gold foil covered chocolate coins to a delighted crowd from inside a carved ice chest. The words etched on the front of the chest read, “Vote for Castle Fight.”
The team of Snider and Phetsedesak won second place with “The Reef” an underwater scene that included a swimming scuba diver, sea weed and a large fish. The diver was complete with fins, air tank and mask and the scales of the fish glistened while hiding in the seaweed.
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| Photo by Holly Shanks |
Angie Snider and her ice carving husband, Eric, own Chip Off The Block Ice Carvings in Staunton , IL Illinois
“Most people have seen an ice carving, but have never seen one made,” said Angie Snider. “Its fun and its exciting to watch somebody use a chain saw to make something. You don’t see that everyday.”
One of the world’s largest ice carving contest is held yearly in Fairbanks , Alaska
The St. Charles Fairbanks Alaska
Photos by Holly Shanks
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