Yellowknife (Feb 03/06) - Eli Nasogaluak will fly to Ottawa this week for the annual Winterlude festival snow carving competition.

Bill Nasogaluak, Joe Nasogaluak and Eli Nasogaluak won the artists choice award at last year's snow carving competition in Ottawa. - NNSL file photo

He and his brothers Bill and Joe have placed strongly in the contest for the past five years, winning first place in 2002 and receiving the artist's choice award last year.

This season, Nasogaluak will compete in the festival's VIA National Snow Sculpture competition with fellow carvers John Sabourin and Randy Sibbeston.

They are working with the theme Winter Sports Mania.

The three carvers will have 40 hours spread over four or five days to shape a 16-foot-high block of snow into a frozen work of Northern art.

"A structure that size is brutal work," Nasogaluak said.

The artists are permitted one chainsaw and a variety of custom-made shaving tools donated by Paul Brothers.

Their design involves an open record book and three eight-foot-tall speed skaters banking on a sharp turn.

Checkout Monday's News/North for full coverage of the team's winning strategy.