Winter Vaasa offers ice art works

International ice sculpturing has come to stay in Vaasa. The international ice sculpture competition Winter Vaasa is one of the most important winter events in Finland. The location of the competition in the city centre is unique and from the participant’s point of view comfortable as the hotel is situated nearby, service is taken care of and a numerous audience during the whole competition guarantees a great atmosphere. Ice sculpture competitions have been organized in Vaasa annually since 1999. Before that we arranged snow sculpture competitions, but due to the warm winters with a shortage of snow it was considered more meaningful to organize ice sculpture events, because thick ice is standing thaw much better than snow. Winter Vaasa can as a member of the international ice sculpture association arrange international ice sculpturing competitions. The competitions in Vaasa have been extensive. In 2003 totally 17 teams from ten countries participated in the Vaasa competition. Our goal is, however, to keep the number of teams at ca. 15. 

Future prospects

We aim at creating as good sculpturing conditions as possible for the ice sculptors. Vaasa city centre offers all possibilities for this. High-class accommodation, good food and also spare time for the competitors are things that international top level sculptors appreciate. In the next future we are also going to develop the actual competition as well as the judging. In 2004 the number of jury members will be increased from three to five, which diversifies the judging of the sculptures.

Cancellation of Winter Vaasa Ice Sculpture Competition 2007

The traditional Winter Vaasa Ice Sculpture Competition will not be held this year because of poor ice conditions. At Kalajoki, where ice for the competition is usually obtained, the ice was only 5 cm thick in the first week of January, whereas it would be 30 cm thick during a normal winter. In mid-February, when ice for the competition is usually raised, it should already be 45 to 50 cm thick. According to Raimo Vahtera, chairman of the Winter Vaasa committee, the decision to cancel had to be made in good time because the itineraries of teams from abroad cannot be changed quickly. Teams from nine countries had registered for this year’s competition.