SWOCC’s International Ice Sculpting Team Begins the Season Strong, Jan. 28

Captain of the SWOCC/OCCI International Ice Sculpting Team Chef Chris Foltz returns from the first Ice Sculpting competition of the season. This was the 20 year anniversary of the Lake Louise “Ice Magic” competition in the Banff National Park in British Columbia and was appropriately themed Olympic Freeze to commemorate the Sochi Winter Olympics 2014. Only the 1st place winners from the last 20 years were invited of which only 10 teams were selected from the submitted designs. Chef Chris teamed up with a Pastry Chef & friend from Atlanta, GA, Victor Dagatan for this event and the team brought home not only the 1st Place Medals but also the People’s Choice Award. The Competition was one of the most difficult ever as the roster for competitors included nothing less than World Class Champions in all Categories.  The winning sculpture was a 3D snapshot of an Olympic Diver entering the water. The design was unique and difficult, combined with the incredible backdrop of the Banff National Park the pictures from the event are breathtaking – see attached. This was the first event the team is attending this year leading up to the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks Alaska where the team including Chef Chris and the two returning students from 2013, Amelia Rombach and Jillian Howell, will be competing for two weeks with 80,000 pounds of Ice.  The Ice Team wants to thank the incredible support from the community & Southwestern Oregon Community College. The main fundraising event “The New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball” becomes more popular every year and the guests help sponsor this team as well as experience some of these incredible ice sculptures, live music, dancing and great food every New Year’s Eve.  The team is proud to stand tall in the international line up at these events every year next to these great teams representing cities and countries from around the world as we represent the USA via Coos Bay and North Bend, Oregon. Chef Chris Foltz says, “That always makes me smile!”