By Bill Barth and Stephanie Klett
Think of two points in the United States that are farther apart than anywhere else on the continent.
And there you have it, for Lake Geneva’s upcoming Winterfest, as Team Alaska and Team Florida join 13 other three-person squads competing for honors at the America’s Snow Sculpting Invitational.
This year is a big deal – the 30th annual Winterfest, scheduled to take place downtown along the lakefront from January 29 to February 3. The centerpiece will be 15 sculptures carved from massive blocks of human-stomped packed snow. The Invitational is a juried competition with teams coming from across America. Visit Lake Geneva and the City of Lake Geneva partner to stage the show.
We thought it would be fun to chat with sculptors – many of whom have been involved with Winterfest for years – about their craft and why they want to compete in Lake Geneva. No better to hear from than those who travel the longest distances.
“The biggest draw for us to come to Lake Geneva is to congregate with the other artists,” said Paul Hanis, captain for Team Alaska, adding Wisconsin is the furthest destination for his group. “It’s amazing to be around a group that has that much talent. It’s a real inspiration for us and makes sure we are continuing to challenge ourselves.”
He said the team has been working hard to develop the model for its carving and they’re ready to go. Starting from a block of snow, the team gradually shapes the sculpture leading to fine detail work.
“Sometimes it comes easily, sometimes it’s a bit of a struggle,” Paul told us. “The model is really the most important part of the process because that lets you know exactly what you’re doing. The detailing phase is where the magic really happens.”
Like many returning artists, Paul’s fond memories of previously competing in Lake Geneva pull him back.
“Folks there have a hardy happiness to them,” he said. “You can tell they really appreciate that we’re here, and we feed off that.”
Amanda Bolduc is Team Florida’s captain. She’s competed in Lake Geneva several times, despite living in a community between Fort Myers and Naples, where there’s plenty of sand but no snow.
She’s originally from Maine. While vacationing several years ago in Florida she and her mom decided to try their luck in an amateur sand sculpting competition and enjoyed themselves. Later a friend from sand sculpting visited Maine for a snow competition and challenged her to give it a try. She and mom did. And won. That qualifier sent them packing for Lake Geneva in 2016. She remembers it was relatively warm and “cars were going through the ice into the lake.”
Amanda’s mom has retired from the team, but Team Florida is excited to be back in Lake Geneva.
“I love going to Lake Geneva because it’s such a community when you’re there with other sculptors,” Amanda told us. “Everyone is so friendly and helpful. Over the years I’ve built some great relationships with many of the teams that go there.”
During Winterfest, competitors get to experience the community when they’re not working on the sculpture.
“I love the town itself,” she said. “I love the shops, and the restaurants. Every business owner I’ve ever met is so welcoming and friendly.”
Winter is fun but, hey, Amanda lives in Florida. She wants to see Lake Geneva when the temperature is a little higher.
“It’s such a beautiful place to visit,” she said with a laugh. “I need to go there in the summer because the only time I’m there is in the winter when it’s freezing. It would be nice to see how beautiful it is in the summer, because I can only imagine.”
Brie Pacey came aboard with Visit Lake Geneva this year, as the organization’s events manager. She’s been immersed in everything Winterfest, making sure arrangements are ready for both artists and audience.
“I’ve always enjoyed puzzles throughout my life and Winterfest is just that – a large puzzle,” she said. “Putting all the pieces together is both exciting and motivating as I see the whole puzzle coming together one day at a time. Also motivating are the relationships I’m creating along the way, meeting new people, business owners, city workers, learning who does what, when they do it, how they do it.”
She’s excited, and “looking forward to meeting all the sculptors who are traveling from all over the country and making Lake Geneva their home for a few days.”
Yes, we know, trusting the weather forecast is a bit like asking the wolf to babysit your lamb. Nevertheless, as it stands now, the long-range forecast says it will be chilly – but not frigid – and mostly dry, with plenty of sunshine January 29 through February 2.
That’s just about perfect for snow sculpting. See you at Winterfest.
(For more information go to visitlakegeneva.com/winterfest/)
The column is produced by the husband and wife team of Bill Barth and Stephanie Klett. Bill is the former Editor of the Beloit Daily News, and a member of the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame. Stephanie is the President and CEO of Visit Lake Geneva, and the former Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.
