UK Stonemasons Craft Epic Kraken Snow Sculpture and Win Hearts

At the World Snow Festival in Grindelwald, Switzerland, two stonemasons from Sheffield, Lily Marsh and Steve Roche, joined Team Great Britain to create a remarkable snow sculpture. Their team, led by sculptor Christine Close, included four members in total. The competition's theme was myths and legends, so the British team decided to sculpt a kraken, a legendary sea monster, attacking a ship. They started by making a small model to plan their design, then used a large block of snow to build the final sculpture. To shape the snow, they used big chisels attached to broom handles, which worked like gardening tools. For the larger parts, they used a chain with nuts and bolts, holding it with two handles to saw off big chunks of snow. This creative approach helped them bring their idea to life. The festival featured teams from ten different countries, each working hard to impress both the public and the judges. The British team was thrilled when they won the public vote, meaning the audience liked their sculpture the most. They also placed third in the technical judging, which was decided by a panel of experts who looked at the skill and detail in each sculpture. The Spanish team took first place in the technical category. Working with snow was a new experience for Marsh and Roche, who usually carve stone. Marsh said it was refreshing to work with snow because it was less dusty and much faster to shape. Roche mentioned that even though it was cold outside, the hard work kept them warm. In fact, he got sunburned because the sunlight reflected off the snow, making it very bright. After the competition, the sculptures were left to melt back into the snow. Marsh found this freeing, saying it was good to make something without worrying about it lasting forever. She thought it was a valuable lesson for artists to let go of their work and not be too attached to it. The festival was held in a beautiful mountain town, with snowy peaks all around. Visitors came to see the sculptures and vote for their favorites, creating a lively and supportive atmosphere. The British team was proud to represent their country and show their creativity. They enjoyed working together and learning new techniques for snow sculpting. The event brought together artists from different backgrounds, all sharing their passion for art and storytelling. The British team hopes to take part in more competitions and continue exploring new ways to make art. Their kraken sculpture was a great example of teamwork, imagination, and the joy of creating something unique, even if it only lasted for a short time. The festival showed that art can bring people together and inspire new ideas, no matter what materials are used.