The heart of the operations for carving ice and why everything works efficiently is because of Sculptor Support. For 25 years, one name is synonymous with Sculptor Support and that is Joan Foote. Everything that comes under helping the ice competition and the sculptors themselves be successful is Joan’s responsibility.

Her job normally starts in January with getting the sites presentable for carving. She helps pick out each site for the Multi Block, Double Block, and Single Block competitions. The ground crew works on them to clear them and to make sure the snow is solid enough for heavy equipment and human traffic. Each site needs to be the right size for the event it is intended.

The sculptors register on the Ice Alaska website, usually by the 1st of September. They must pay their fee and submit a drawing of their planned sculpture along with their bios. Joan then assigns each person his/her site. They are assigned by number of events for which they have registered. If they are carving in three events, the sites will be bigger than if they have registered to carve in only one or two events. Electricity plays a part in it also. Different countries use different voltages, so the sculptors’ countries must be considered. One side of a path may use a different type of electrical power. And then, of course, you have to contend with “juggling frenzy”. If teams are sharing tools, sites need to be near each other.

Enter Eva Hanson, Joan’s “right hand man”. Eva makes sure each sculptor has a hotel room and food assigned to him/her. Between the two of them, medallions need to be ordered, name tags must be made and connected to lanyards. All sites must have a sign saying what event is to take place there and who will be carving.

Joan is responsible for obtaining the judges, a major undertaking. She also processes the winners and prints certificates for all who participate in the events. She gives these out during the Awards Ceremony.

Each sculptor receives a sweatshirt-another challenge, as they don’t always arrive on time. Just reading about Sculptor Support is exhausting-and I’ve probably left some chores out. The World Ice Art Championships could not function without it and without the tireless work of Joan and Eva. Thank you, ladies.