CORRECTS SPELLING OF LAKE GENEVA - In this photo taken Jan. 29, 2015, in Lake Geneva, Wis., sculptor David Andrews, of one of the Wisconsin teams, carves a nine-foot high block of snow during the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship. He and his various teams have won seven national championships. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (AP) - A Wisconsin snow sculpting team that won the last two national championships is trying to defend its trophy in Lake Geneva.
The U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship began Wednesday, with judging set for Saturday along Geneva Lake.
David Andrews, Jason Anhorn and Steve Bateman make up one of the Wisconsin teams. They are following up their last two wins with a sculpture of two connected trees this year. Andrews has been part of seven championship teams altogether.
The 15 teams from 10 states receive a cylinder snow block 8 feet in diameter and 9 feet high. They can use saws, axes, files, scaffolding, shovels and other homemade implements.
They will be judged on creativity, technique and message. The winner also gets an invite to an international snow sculpting competition.
CORRECTS SPELLING OF LAKE GENEVA - In this photo taken Jan. 29, 2015, in Lake Geneva, Wis., sculptor Jenna Odhner, from the New Hampshire team, carves a nine-foot high block of snow during the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press
CORRECTS SPELLING OF LAKE GENEVA - In this photo taken Jan. 29, 2015, in Lake Geneva, Wis., sculptor David Andrews, of one of the Wisconsin teams, tries to carve a nine-foot high block of snow to look like the gray model of trees shown during the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship. He and his various teams have won seven national championships. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken Jan. 29, 2015 in Lake Geneva, Wis., sculptor George Harnish, from the Illinois team, carves a nine-foot high block of snow during the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press
CORRECTS SPELLING OF LAKE GENEVA - In this photo taken Jan. 29, 2015 in Lake Geneva Wis., artists from 10 states take part in the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship. They started sculpting the nine-foot high blocks of snow on Wednesday and judging is set for Saturday. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
The Associated Press