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QUEBEC CITY
A Fort Simpson artist was part of a three-person team that won third place in the Telus International Snow Sculpture Event at the Quebec Winter Carnival.

Randy Sibbeston of Fort Simpson stands in front of the snow sculpture he helped carve that won third place in the Telus International Snow Sculpture Event at the Quebec Winter Carnival. - photo courtesy of Randy Sibbeston

Randy Sibbeston of Fort Simpson and Dewey Smith and David Maracle of Ontario represented Canada at the event that included 11 international teams. The team had earned a spot in the international competition after finishing first in the national event at the carnival last year.

The competition was a challenge in part because the snow block the team was given to work with was four by three by three metres large, approximately twice the size of last year's, said Sibbeston.

Over the course of five days, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, the team transformed the block into a sculpture of a mother polar bear with two cubs, one climbing on her side and one between her front paws, with Northern lights in the background.

"I'm very proud of it," said Sibbeston.

"It's almost hard to describe in words how much effort I put into it. It was a major accomplishment to be able to finish it."

Polar bear pulling a seal

The sculpture was a modified version of a design Sibbeston suggested to the team, which was of a polar bear pulling a seal out of the ice. At the competition, the team used architectural drawings of the design to stay on track.

When the event started on Jan. 31, the team started at the top of the block to avoid using scaffolding. Sibbeston began on the Northern lights and marked out where the mother polar bear's head would be and then the team carved downwards.

Because the snow is blown into a form, the blocks are fairly dense. Similar to sculpting in stone, if you make a mistake you can't just put the piece back, said Sibbeston.

For the first three days, the team worked eight to 10 hours a day using customized shovels and chisels as well as tools designed specifically for snow carving. The easy start allowed the team to warm up their muscles, Sibbeston said.

Snow sculpting is an intense physical activity.

"You really have to be able to shovel snow," he said.

Some people have trouble shoveling their driveway but snow sculpting is like shoveling 30 driveways a day for a week, Sibbeston said.

"It's a unique event, it's a unique sport," he said. "If you want to win you have to be strong."

Sibbeston, 41, said his team was the oldest in the winners' circle.

On Feb. 3 the team took it up a notch, putting in a 16 hour day. On Saturday morning, the last full day of the competition, they were left with the bottom cub to carve as well as lots of touch ups.

To finish on time, the team worked for 24 hours straight and put their tools down on Feb. 5 at 6 a.m. just before the judging.

"It's a race to get it finished," he said.

The area where all of the sculptures were located was opened to spectators while the carving was underway.

"The emotional response we got from people was excellent," said Sibbeston. "People really loved the piece."

Sibbeston said the fans who cheered the team on helped them finish the sculpture.

"I took it to heart that I was representing a lot of people," he said.

Sibbeston said he wanted to build on what the team had accomplished last year but knew they had some stiff competition. The Quebec team, which took first place, was very confident and strong and the team from China, which finished in second, was incredibly motivated and serious, he said.

Although he was disappointed to be beat by China, Sibbeston said he was proud of the sculpture and coming in third.

"I did it to the absolute best of my abilities," he said.

The carnival likely hasn't seen the last of Sibbeston. He hopes to put together a team from the Northwest Territories and compete in the national level competition next year. To get a spot, the team's design will have to be approved by the event's submissions' committee.

Looking for sponsors

Sibbeston said he will be looking for sponsors for the team because most of the competitors at the event are heavily sponsored. This year, the Fort Simpson Metis Nation helped Sibbeston attend the international event.

This was the 40th year the snow sculpture event has been part of the Quebec Winter Carnival. Teams are allowed to choose whatever theme they like but many of this year's entries dealt with climate change, said Elizabeth Perreault, the communications co-ordinator for the event.

A four-member jury, who are all sculptors, judged the carvings based on technique, creativity and how closely the sculptures followed the plans the teams submitted, Perreault said.

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