Information for Sculptors
Competition and Contest CultureVulcan Snow Park is a family-friendly event. Please comport yourself with conduct and language appropriate to the presence of children.
We pride ourselves in a friendly, supportive competition environment. Have fun, visit with your fellow sculptors, and feel free to lend and borrow tools as needed. Watch out for the safety of yourself, your fellow sculptors, and visitors and alert them to potentially dangerous situations. When possible, take time to greet, welcome, and thank visitors. Tell them about your sculpture and your team and answer questions about the competition. Encourage visitors to attend the small-block contest awards presentation on Saturday, vote for their favorite state competition sculpture on Sunday, and attend the state competition awards presentation on Sunday. At your discretion, and as safety permits, you may invite site visitors closer to your sculpture for photo opportunities. Friends and family members may also join your team behind the safety rope at your discretion. (Remember that your team may not receive any outside assistance.) |
Important Things to KnowBe familiar with the rules.
Each state competition team receives a block of compacted snow measuring eight feet long, eight feet wide, and eight feet high (8' x 8' x 8')*. Blocks are assigned by random drawing during the Thursday night sculptors’ welcome reception. Teams may exchange blocks at that time by mutual agreement. Each small-block contest team receives a block of compacted snow measuring four feet long, four feet wide, and six feet high (4' x 4' x 6')*. Blocks are assigned by contest organizers. *The actual dimensions of the block may be smaller than specified due to the nature of block construction and weather conditions. We try to provide the best block we can for your use. However, we are not responsible for the weather conditions or the condition of the snow, should it warm up. Compacted snow is heavy! One cubic foot (a square block that measures 1' x 1' x 1') weighs 15-20 pounds. Do not use your body to support, receive, or brace chunks that are falling from or being lowered down your sculpture! (Fun fact: The initial 8' x 8' x 8' block equals 512 cubic feet and weighs between 7,680 and 10,240 pounds. That’s 4-5 tons!) A warming trailer is available for sculptors and volunteers from approximately 7:00 am to 10:00 pm each day of the competition. It will be well stocked with hot and cold beverages, snacks of all kinds, and ready-to-heat frozen food like pizza. Take time away from your sculpture to warm up, relax, chat with your fellow sculptors, and grab a bite to eat. |
Tools and EquipmentEach team must provide their own tools and equipment. Teams may design and use their own tools at their own risk and liability.
Snow pushers, buckets, and water are available for the shared use of all sculptors. Teams may ask competition personnel for mechanical (front-loader) assistance in moving large amounts or chunks of snow. Competition personnel will regularly use heavy equipment to remove unwanted snow pushed into the plow lanes by sculptors. Imagination is the limit when it comes to snow sculpting tools! Common tools include:
|
Other helpful equipment includes:
|
Sculptors’ Schedule
|
Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition
Thursday
The times for this day may change. Stay tuned!
*Site conditions permitting, teams may work through the night at their discretion. Check with the competition organizers. |
Small-Block Snow Sculpting Contest
Saturday
Welcome Reception for State Competition SculptorsOn the Thursday evening prior to the competition, all state competition sculptors are invited to a sculptors’ welcome reception. We use this time to:
|
