YELLOWKNIFE - When Randy Sibbeston returned to the National Snow Sculpting Competition at Ottawa's Winterlude festival this year, he knew something had to change.

"We had a good piece, but we got outdone," he said of his team's 2006 effort. "We just didn't put in the hours."

Team NWT's first place at the 29th-annual National Snow Sculpture Competition at Winterlude in Ottawa. The five-metre-tall creation (called Take Time to Dance) took more than 50 hours to complete. - photo courtesy of Randy Sibbeston

This time around, the NWT team of Sibbeston, John Sabourin and snow sculpting veteran Eli Nasogaluak planned their piece out in great detail, and returned to Ottawa prepared to "work (their) asses off."

And it paid off. Not only did the trio take first place over Nova Scotia and British Columbia, they won the Artists' Choice Award, selected by their fellow sculptors.

"I feel proud," Sabourin said of representing the territories at the national competition.

"Going in and winning in our second year - it just blew my mind."

Their winning five-metre-tall piece portrays an exquisitely detailed polar bear and a classic Northerner (complete with trapper hat and beard) dancing in the snow.

Carved out of a 40-ton block of snow, the piece (appropriately called Take Time to Dance) took around 50 hours of grueling work and over four-and-a-half days to complete.

"You work morning to night, have a big meal and go to bed early," Sibbeston said of the intense shoveling, chain-sawing, carving and detailing needed to win.

"Then you wake up feeling like you've been hit by a truck."

Aside from hard work, Sibbeston said favourable conditions, generous sponsors and good team chemistry contributed to their win. But there was also their ace in the hole: Eli Nasogaluak.

"He brought a wealth of experience," Sibbeston said. "We inherited a lot of great techniques and great tools from (Nasogaluak and his brothers)."

While this was Sibbeston and Sabourin's second year at Winterlude, competing (and winning) is nothing new to Nasogaluak.

He has participated in the competition every year since 2000; winning in 2002; coming second in 2000, 2001 and 2005; and winning the Artists' Choice Award in 2000, 2002 and 2005, along with his brothers, Bill and Joe.

"It feels great," Nasogaluak said of his second first-place finish.

However, this might be his last year at Winterlude.

"My goal is to move on to international competitions."

Nasogaluak said he hopes to re-unite with his brothers to represent all of Canada in future years, joining competitions at the Winter Olympics and other international events.

"I'm confident that we can compete at that level."

However, he said Team NWT is in good hands with Sibbeston and Sabourin.

Regardless of what happens with the makeup of the team, both Sabourin and Sibbeston are excited to see what they can do next year.

"We're our own competition," Sibbeston said. "Now how are we going to outdo ourselves?"

"We have to go back to defend the title," Sabourin said with a laugh. "We're not about to give that up."