Donate
Search wpr.org
Banner with text: Lets Keep WPR Strong Together! Goal: 500 donations by Feb. 12. Visual shows 12 stick figures, 10 in red, 2 in white, and a Give Now button.
, ,

Wisconsin snow sculpting team defends national title at Lake Geneva’s Winterfest

Father-son duo expects 'top notch' weather conditions for sculpting

By
Three people in winter clothing sit atop a large snow sculpture shaped like a throne, with snow and trees around them under a clear blue sky.
The Wisconsin snow sculpting team, Sculptora Borealis, sits atop their large snow block at America’s Snow Sculpting Invitational at Winterfest in Lake Geneva. The team (from left) consists of its captain Joshua Jakubowski, Mike Lechtenberg and co-founder Bob Lechtenberg. Photo courtesy of Bob Lechtenberg

The three-members of Wisconsin snow sculpting team Sculptora Borealis think of themselves as having a fourth teammate in every sculpting contest: Mother Nature.

For the 31st annual Winterfest at Lake Geneva, Mother Nature should be a strong team player. Founding member of Sculptora Borealis, Bob Lechtenberg, says the weekend weather for snow sculpting looks to be “top notch.” 

“We have plan A, plan B, sometimes plan C, depending on if it’s going to be warm, cold, too cold or just right,” Lechtenberg told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today.” “The conditions [in Lake Geneva] should allow us to be able to make everything come to life.”

News with a little more humanity

WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” newsletter keeps you connected to the state you love without feeling overwhelmed. No paywall. No agenda. No corporate filter.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Fifteen teams from the U.S. — and for the first time from Mexico and Turkey — are carving from a “canvas” that is a large 8x8x10-foot snow block. The teams will be judged for their creations on Jan. 31.

Sculptora Borealis has won five national titles for ice sculpting at the Lake Geneva event — every year since 2021.

Lechtenberg, who has a career as a project planner, helps the team break down its sculpture design into a step-by-step plan, and each team member executes a specific part of it. He brought his father, Mike Lechtenberg, onto the snow sculpting team nearly 20 years ago.

Named after the Northern Lights, the Sculptora Borealis team captain is Joshua Jakubowski, who has been sculpting since 2015.

This weekend, the team is carving a depiction of a young alien playing a video game called “Controller of Worlds.”

Ink drawing of an alien with headphones sitting in a chair, using a game controller. Text below reads: CONTROLLER OF WORLDS SCULPTORA BOREALIS.
A rendering of the sculpture “Controller of Worlds,” by the Wisconsin snow sculpting team, Sculptora Borealis. Courtesy of Bob Lechtenberg

“What is he playing? What is he controlling? It’s kind of Matrix-ey,” Bob Lechtenberg said, referring to the sci-fi action movie franchise where Earth is dominated by machines and artificial reality. “We like to do these pieces that make people think a little bit — in a fun, playful manner.”

“Fun” is also how Mike Lechtenberg describes the community of ice sculptors who also share a competitive streak.

“We all want to do our best,” Mike said. “Everyone is willing to share and show you what tools they have… and how to improve what you’re doing.”

The Lechtenbergs appreciate being able to make art together in their favorite medium: snow. But finishing the sculpture before the clock runs out creates pressure, Mike admits. 

“It’s a pleasure to get to work with my son, but we have to communicate well to make sure we’re on the same page,” he said.

The sculptures will remain on display at Riviera Plaza and Flat Iron Park on the shore of Geneva Lake through Feb. 1. And until they melt.

Pair of green and white Wisconsin Public Radio wool socks on a wooden surface, with text offering them for a new monthly donation.

Related Stories