Slicing the ice

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - The first-ever Mat-Su Northern Ice Challenge will take place this Saturday at the Best Western Lake Lucille Inn.

Event organizer and coordinator, Marty Metiva, said the idea of an ice-carving competition came to him as a way to provide Valley residents with a mid-February winter carnival.

"Anchorage has an ice-carving competition, Fairbanks has one and now the Mat-Su will have their own," he said. "We want to make this bigger next year. We want twice as many carvers next year, but we are doing this in steps."

Five local ice carvers, who have competed in the World Ice Carving Championships in Fairbanks, will be on hand for the Saturday event. They will shape a 300-pound block of ice, compliments of S & S Fine Catering, into the image of their own choosing and the public will cast ballots for their favorite sculptures. Judging starts at 2 p.m.

The sculptures will be displayed on the frozen lake and coffee and hot chocolate will be provided by First National Bank. At 1 p.m. kids's games will start, including frozen chicken bowling, frozen fish toss and frozen horse- dropping hockey.

Later in the day, at about 7 p.m., lights will illuminate the carvings for an evening display.

Sponsors for the free event include: Frontiersman, Best Western Lake Lucille Inn, 99.7 KMBQ Radio, Wasilla Mayor Dianne M. Keller, Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, Lowe's, Denali Harley-Davidson, Home Depot, MTA, Northrim Bank and the Iditarod Trail Committee.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.