A sculpture of a milky sea monster described as a “unique algivorous cow from the abyss of the Saguenay fjord” won first place in this year’s World Snow Sculpting Championship, which was held Wednesday through Saturday in Lowell Park in downtown Stillwater.

A team of three women from Quebec called the FjordWitches – Fanny-Fay Tremblay-Girard, Joelle Gagnon and Marie-Claude-Paris-Tanguay – won the $4,000 prize.

Team Fjordwitches, from left, Joelle Gagnon, Marie-Claude Paris-Tanguaya and team captain Fanny Fay Trembley-Girard, won $4,000 on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, for their sculpture entitled “FJCOWRD, la vachoune de mer, a milky sea monster.” (Courtesy of Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce)

They beat out 11 other teams to take home top honors with “FJCOWRD, la vachoune de mer,” a sculpture of a milky sea monster whose “salty fresh cream is the secret ingredient for making the best poetic aurora borealis tasted cheese in North America,” according to the team’s description posted on the event’s website.

Sculptors had 64 hours to carve their pieces out of 10-by-10-by-10-foot blocks. Spectators were allowed to watch the entire process, visit with the teams and vote for their favorite. The sculpture with the most spectator votes — Pok-Ta-Pok: The Ball Game from Team Colima from Mexico — won “The People’s Choice Award” and $1,000.

The second-place winner was Team Izmit from Turkey, and the third-place winner was Team North Dakota. They won $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.

The sculptures will remain up for viewing in Lowell Park as long as weather permits and as long as it is confirmed safe by city officials in Stillwater, said Robin Anthony, executive director of the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce.

Viewing is accessible during park hours, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Night viewing will be accompanied by lights through Sunday, she said.

For more information, go to worldsnowsculptingstillwatermn.com.

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