Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards will be created out of snow during the international Shapes in White competition in Ischgl, Austrian Tirol
Sparkling white snow sculptures will decorate the slopes of Ischgl in the Austrian Tirol to mark the 28th anniversary of the resort’s Shapes in White competition between 10-14 January 2022.
A variety of topical themes have been used over the years, and this year it‘s Winter Sports. It’s up to the sculptors to interpret the brief how they see fit.
Justin Scott (50) and Martin Sharp (45) will travel from the UK to Austria to compete in Ischgl’s international snow sculpture competition against some of the top figure sculptors in the world. Over five days, they will work with their 100 tonne snow pile to create Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards soaring over the Alpine mountains once more…
Harking from Driffield in Yorkshire, Justin Scott is a trained sculptor who graduated from Carmarthenshire college and now runs his own gardening and tree-surgery business. He has been competing in Shapes in White since 2001, choosing – when possible – to bring a British influence to the mountain tops, previously achieving second place with his model of Elton John.
This year, Scott will be assisted by Martin Sharp from York, a business consultant and fitness coach. Together, they aim to create the best sculpture possible, battling not only against fierce competition, but time, the elements, and occasional mishaps.
When asked what the secret is to being able to compete at such a high level coming from a country not well known for quality snow, Justin says: “I guess I’ve been lucky to have been naturally gifted. I also have a keen eye and great friends to help me along the way”.
Asking Michael David Edwards, aka Eddie The Eagle his thoughts on this homage creation, he says: “I’ve had a few statues and busts made of me in the past, but never in snow and ice…..so this is a first for me. I thought ice was just for putting in my gin ‘n’ tonic!”.
Justin and Martin are happy to talk frankly about the competition, the issues being brought up with COVID-19, and share the day-by-day progress of Eddie The Eagle during the entire event.
International teams of sculptors will be spending five days creating a total of five snow sculptures across the ski resort, working with spades, chisels, and carving tools to create impressive works using a total of 100 tonne of snow, in piles of up to 10 metres high.
Winter sports fans can watch the industrious sculptors as they work in the Silvretta Arena. The most attractive work of art will be crowned the winner by the Ischgl jury on 14 January. The sculptures will remain on the slopes to be admired by skiers and boarders until the spring thaw.
Compilation video from previous years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF6WR6CvhDs&list=LLDkvikS2-NhlwGq3n4idiwg.
Shapes in White was launched in 1994 when Tourist Association bosses invited sculptors to make creations from the abundance of snow that was piled up after snowmachines had groomed the pistes. The concept proved to be hugely popular and became an annual event, demonstrating the resort’s snowsure reputation. More on Ischgl on www.ischgl.com
Direct image downloads here: Shapes in White 2022
Captions:
Formen in Weiß_2021_1: Under the motto “Winter Sports”, the snow sculpture competition “Shapes in White” will take place in Ischgl from January 10 to 14 © TVB Paznaun – Ischgl
Formen in Weiß_2021_2: 10 artists from five nations compete for first place in snow sculpture carving competition “Shapes in White” at the 28th in Ischgl © TVB Paznaun – Ischgl
Formen in Weiß_2021_3: The “Shapes in White” snow sculpture competition has been held in Ischgl for 29 years © TVB Paznaun – Ischgl.
Formen in Weiß_2021_4: From January 10th to January 14th, 2021 artists from around the world will once again create a galler of beautiful snow shapes in the Silvretta Arena © TVB Paznaun – Ischgl
