The town of Stillwater is gearing up for the prestigious World Snow Sculpting Championship, set to kick off this week despite a lackluster winter that's been short on the white stuff. Facing below-zero temperatures, the city streets have been filled, not by nature's grace, but by the ingenuity of locals and a snowmaker from Afton Alps, according to FOX 9.
Chuck Dougherty, a member of the steering committee for the event, and owner of the Water Street Inn, relievedly stated, "There were some worries that it wasn't going to get cold enough to make snow." However, with the cold front now firmly in place, organizers are confident that the conditions are ideal for transforming heaps of manufactured snow into blocks for the competition. Robin Anthony, president of the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the event about the anticipation of watching the snow pile grow into 'a whale of snow' in preparation for the sculptors, as per KARE 11.
The necessary preparations for the event required volunteers to endure freezing conditions as they loaded snow into large wooden cubes and condensed it. One such volunteer, Michael D'Ambrosio, praised the peculiar experience, saying, "It's like nothing I've ever experienced before," sais, as stated in FOX 9.
Dougherty also commented on the economic boost the event brings during a typically slow season. Over 50,000 visitors are expected, which means bustling hotels, fully booked restaurants, and a skating rink that should be frozen solid by the weekend. The event is not just a celebration of art, but a significant economic stimulant for the small Minnesota city, reported by KARE 11.
