Among the top entries in last week’s 29th Illinois Snow Sculpting Competiton were overall champion: “Shot of Whiskey…Leave the Bottle” (above); second place “Hugh Manatee” (below); and third place “Dancing with the Saurs,” (bottom). (Winnebago Chronicle photos)

Sculptors show off creativity at annual contest

It was among the most elaborate and creative entries in last week’s 29th annual Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition at Sinnissippi Park.

“Shot of Whiskey … Leave the Bottle” was also among the first to tumble as last Saturday’s warmup and bright sunshine wreaked havoc on some entries.

But before portions of “Whiskey” keeled over just before noon, contest officials had the chance to take a close look and make their call.

Their verdict? Best of snow and show.

Created by the Kilted Snow Weasels team of George Harnish, Grant Rundblade and Randy Tackett, “Whiskey” and the trio advance to the 2016 U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting competition in Lake Geneva, Wis.

The Rockford-based team also won the hearts and minds of park visitors with a People’s Choice honor from votes cast by some of the estimated 40,000 visitors.

The competition drew 13 teams plus a high school division featuring 15 entries.

Last Saturday’s relative warmth — temperatures hit the lower 40s — was a far cry from 2013. That contest was held while Rockford and the Midwest were mired in last year’s Polar Vortex.

The extreme cold offered the advantage of preserving sharp details on snow sculpting entries while this year’s warmth led to melting and softened details.

“Watch out, they’re very fragile,” warned a parent as a child approached a sculpture.

An elephant — part of  “Can I Borrow Your Suitcase I Only Have a Little Trunk” sculpture — had a dripping ear.  An elaborate battle between a lion and wolf-like creature broke in half even before judging.

“Shot of Whiskey … Leave the Bottle” — featuring a cowboy and bartender in a saloon scene — held on long enough for judging.

But when it tumbled, the end came quickly.

“They patched some stuff — these guys are experts and they know what they’re doing,” said a Rockford Park District supervisor. “(But) the back fell on the cowboys and that was it,”

A steady stream of visitors — on foot and in a slow-moving line of vehicles — wended their way through the park throughout the day.

“Ooh, a butterfly,” said one little girl as she popped her head out of a van.

Despite worries about lack of snow in the run up to competition, enough fell before the competition to drape Sinnissippi Park in winter beauty.

Each team worked with a 10-foot block of snow and individuals were  allowed to use only simple tools to carve their creations.

No power tools were permitted.

Second place went to The Band of Misfit Boys’ “Hugh Manatee” creation. The team included  Dan Berry, Keith Pliml and captain Scott Triplett.  “Dancing with the Saurs” the by Quatsh-Men team of Jack Gerard, captain Peter Hermann and Doug Scherrinsky took third.

The top high school entry was “A Hot Encounter,” by the Byron team of Brian Hardeman, Erin Hays, Miles Lindholtz and Kjia Welte.