| Salt Lake City |
 |
 |
| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
 |
| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
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| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
|
| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
|
| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
|
| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
|
| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
|
| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
|
| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
|
| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
|
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Ice artisans race against the sun
Festival features sculptors from around the world
By Sharon Haddock
Deseret News staff writer
PROVO — Sculptors were busy Friday with Styrofoam and duct tape at probably the only Olympic event where it's OK to bring along a chain saw and a variety of sharp blades.
But the sculpting teams at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Arts Festival Ice Carving Competition in Provo were not carving ice in the morning. Instead, they were making makeshift freezers to protect their precious 300-pound blocks of ice from the sun. The blocks would be transformed into delicate and stunning works of art in 17 hours.
Judges select the gold medal sculptures at 10 a.m. Saturday, based on attention to detail, evident technical skill, creativity and good use of the ice.
"Yes, the sun is our enemy," said Kevin McDonald, owner of Damenti's Restaurant in Pennsylvania, where the ice carving competition has its origins. "We want to start and end with crystal clear ice. They'll use whatever it takes, dry ice, gas, shelters, to protect the ice. Gene Puryear is worried because the 14 foot block that is the centerpiece of his "DayDreams" creation with Buddy Rasmussen will balance entirely on an 8-inch stand of ice.
"If it melts, we're in trouble," he said.
This is Puryear and Rasmussen's first Olympic contest.
They're one of a dozen United States teams hoping to win honorary gold medals against teams from all over the world including Japan, Belgium, Italy, France, Russia and Thailand.
Lee Ross and Mike Mackasey are from Calgary, Alberta, and have competed in 14 ice carving competitions. They've won one major contest and placed well in several, but they realize the competition in Provo is extraordinary.
"We're just glad to be in an Olympics," Ross said.
They expect to take every second of the 17 hours allowed for carving the 10 ice blocks to create "Captain Hook's Escape."
And they don't expect to rest or eat much.
"The secret to ice carving is to practice lots. We've practiced this," Mackasey said. "We've actually made this in Lee's garage."
Ross and Mackasey have both been chefs who became interested in ice carving years ago. Now Ross owns an ice carving business.
Puryear and Rasmussen brought five different kinds of saw blades for their work. They are ice buddies from way back who've been taught by the same mentor.
Rasmussen owns his own ice business, which donated all of the ice.
"That's why I'm confident that we're using the best ice available," Puryear said. "It's perfectly clear and perfect, no air bubbles."
"Believe it or not, you've got to be pretty delicate with a chain saw on ice. It's easy to make a mistake," he said.
McDonald said the teams of sculptors are skilled showmen who not only work feverishly but efficiently.
Most of them even have a sense of humor — sometimes pretending to drop a critical piece at the last minute only to produce a duplicate just before the clock goes off.
"The last hour of this, I can't even watch. It's heart-stopping," McDonald said. "If Michelangelo could see what these guys are doing in ice, he'd be impressed."
E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com
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February 16, 2002
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