Step into a world of frozen artistry as Snowkings’ Winter Festival proudly presents the 9th Annual International Snow Carving Symposium! This year, the competition is bigger than ever, featuring ten talented teams—our largest lineup yet—bringing together local legends, national talent, and international snow carving masters.
For 2025, the symposium embraces the enchanting theme of “Medieval Lore,” inviting carvers to transform massive snowblocks into breathtaking sculptures inspired by knights, castles, mythical creatures, and legendary tales.
This beloved event takes place in the week leading up to the festival’s grand opening in March, setting the stage for an unforgettable 30th-anniversary celebration of Snowkings’ Winter Festival.
Among this year’s teams, you’ll find:
- NWT carving veterans John Sabourin and Derrald Taylor teaming up with renowned Saskatchewan artist Patricia Leguen.
- A dynamic reunion of Yukon artist Leslie Leong with Kris Schlagintweit (a Snowking veteran turned expat) and Yellowknife’s own Adam Pucek.
- The return of Joel Maillet and Myka Jones to Yellowknife, joined by none other than King Joe Snow—a nickname earned by one of the castle’s master builders.
With a mix of returning champions, fresh talent, and boundary-pushing designs, this year’s snow carving showdown promises to be one for the history books. Stay tuned as teams wield their chisels and imagination to bring medieval legends to life—one frozen masterpiece at a time!
Witness the magic at the Snowcastle. The countdown to carving begins! ❄️✨
Snow Carving Teams
Snow Spirit
Is made up of Saskatchewan sculptor Patricia Leguen, who has an extensive artistic resume dating back to the 80s, teaming up with NWT carving veteran John Sabourin. Sabourin has carved in the Symposium before and was also a participant and a judge in the Long John Jamboree ice carving competition.
Y2Yx, Yukon to Yellowknife
Reunites Yukon artist Leslie Leong with Snowking veteran (and now ex-pat) Kris Schlagintweit, who recently moved to the United Kingdom. They have a new partner this year, Yellowknife’s Niki McKenzie, who’s recently been carving at events in Europe. Y2Yx’s sculpture “Coming Up for Air” won the Symposium Artists’ Choice Award in 2024.
Cryolights
Is a team of true Castle veterans. Avalanche Kid Joel Maillet and Lady Icicle Myka Jones, return to Yellowknife after some years away. They will team up with veteran castle-builder and annual Symposium participant Sir Joe Snow.
Sun Dogs
Marks the return of Larry MacFarlane from Winnipeg, Manoj Khorugdharry from Ottawa, and Cliff Vacheresse from Edmonton. Last year they carved “the Spirit of the North.” MacFarlane and Khorudgdharry were also participants in the Long John Jamboree’s ice carving competition.
Raga-dass Road Crew
Brings back Isabelle Gasse, partnering with castle builder ‘Eugele’ from Fort Smith. They’re joining the Symposium for the third year, accompanied this time by Isabelle’s brother D’jef Gasse. Raga-dass were winners of the Peoples’ Choice in 2023 for their sculpture, “Don’t Answer to Hunger.”
The Board
Will join again for the second year in a row, featuring Albert Lucio, Bruce Peck and Abram Waterman from Texas. The Board was here in 2024 as well, with the gravity-defying “Tranquil.”
Nomad’art
Marks the return of Fabien Champeval, from France, who has attended the Symposium numerous times in past years. He will be joined this year by Jacques Flores, also from France, and newcomer Estonian Ines-Issa Villido.
Ukraine/USA
Won the “Peoples’ Choice” award in 2024 with their sculpture “Vortex Flower.” The team is led by Bogdan Kutseyvich from Ukraine with the USA’s Dave Rothstein and Canadian Matt Morris.
Barcelona Forever
Is a newcomer to the Symposium. Team members Emiliano Lorenzo Vicente, Josu Gonzalez Ruiz and Dario Reina Gonzalez hail from Barcelona, Spain.
The Dutchies
Is another newcomer, a two-member team led by Peter van Borssum Waalkes and his partner Mark Sanders from Haarlem, Netherlands. They are joined this year by Netherlands native Stephan Folkers who now makes his home in Yellowknife.
Snow Carving Symposium SCHEDULE
Wednesday, February 26
Arrivals in Yellowknife by 1800 MT
1600 – Site orientation doe early arrivals
1900 – Welcome Banquet
Thursday, February 27
Carving Day 1:
0900 – Site orientation, Draw for blocks
1000 – 1800 – Carving
1200 – Lunch delivered to site
1900 – Dinner Provided, location tba
Friday, February 28
Carving Day 2:
0900 – 1800 – Carving
1200 – Lunch delivered to site
1900 – Free night for carvers
Saturday, March 1
Carving Day 3:
0900-1800 – Carving
1200 – Lunch delivered to site
1900 – Dinner provided, location tba
Saturday, March 2
Carving Day 4:
0900 -1500 – Carving
1200 – Lunch delivered to site
1530 – Carvers complete Artists’ Choice ballots
1600 – Artists’ Choice Award Announcement and Presentation
1630 – 1800 – Final Site Cleanup, Scaffold dismantled, Tools Stored
1900 – Wrap-up Banquet (Bullock’s Bistro tbc)
Saturday, March 3
Departures from Yellowknife
