âIce Man Skiâ braves extreme cold to compete in ice sculpting event in Alaska
âIce Man Skiâ braves extreme cold to compete in ice sculpting event in Alaska By Ashlea Kosikowski | January 29, 2021 at 2:34 PM EST - Updated January 29 at 6:14 PM
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Michael âSkiâ Kowalski, of Castle Hayne, shrugged off getting frostbite as he pursues his passion.
Kowalski is one of the artists competing in the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, AK.
When he spoke to us on Thursday, the temperature was 10 below, as he helped volunteers and organizers set up for the event, which lasts from Feb. 15 to March 3.
New Hampshire Magazine
January 25, 2021
We may be sick of winter, but as the saying goes, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”
Harping on the dreary days, freezing temperatures and icy snow (or lack thereof) doesn’t help, but embracing all that winter does have to offer helps the days go by a little quicker. Skiing, skating, snowboarding, ice climbing, fat biking and cross-country skiing are all great, but winter festivals, like the 3rd Annual Winter Fest in Concord on January 29 and 30, take outdoor fun to another level.
This year’s event might look a little different due to COVID-19, but there will still be plenty of events to enjoy. A few of New England’s most talented ice carvers will kick off the weekend with ice carving demonstrations on Main Street. As you marvel at sculptures ranging from snowmen to butterflies, feel free to take a winter shopping stroll and visit one of the many unique boutiques downtown like Gondwana Divine Clothing Co. or Granite State
50 Amazing Snow and Ice Sculptures From Around the World
By Hannah Lang, Stacker News
On 12/19/20 at 9:00 AM EST
Ice sculptures have a rich history, and evidence suggests people may have been carving ice as early as 600 B.C. However, as tools and technology advanced, ice sculptures did as well. In the 1600s, fishermen in the China province of Heilongjiang would freeze water inside buckets, and then remove the buckets and put a candle inside to create ice lanterns a tradition still celebrated today at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival.
Later, in 1739, Russian empress Anna Ivanovna had an ice palace built out of ice from the Neva River to host special events. Artist Valery Ivanovich Jacobi memorialized this ice palace in an oil painting in 1878.