Ischgl’s "Shapes in White" 2022 competition saw a bob ride to victory

Ralf Rosa and Peter Fechtig from Germany won this year’s Shapes in White competition with their incredible bobsleigh sculpture. Four pairs of artists from Germany, Great Britain, and Italy took part in the 28^th renowned snow-sculpture competition – creating spectacular winter-sports visions up to 10 metres high.

Art and winter sports joined hands again on Ischgl's slopes for the 28^th "Shapes in White" snow-sculpture competition, which took place in Ischgl, the Austrian Tirol.  From 10-14 January 2022, four international artist pairs transformed Ischgl's slopes into an open-air gallery for winter-sports visions.

The four finished spectacular snow sculptures, reaching up to ten metres in height, comprise "Speed", a speedy bob ride in the bobsled run; "Ice Skates", a pair of oversized ice skates; "Big Air", which shows a snowboarder performing aerial acrobatics; and the figure "Eddie the Eagle", which portrays the English ski jumping idol on the ski jump.

After careful consideration, the Ischgl jury chose the sculpture "Speed" by Ralf Rosa and Peter Fechtig from Germany as the winner. Guests in Ischgl can admire the icy winter sports landmarks on foot or on skis as they enjoy the resort. A map with explanations and locations of the "Shapes in White" is available free of charge on site.

Dietmar Walser, Managing Director of the Paznaun - Ischgl Tourist Board, and jury, says: "Every year, the artists impress us anew with their creative interpretations of the motto and their skilled implementation. This year, the four pairs of artists made our choice particularly difficult".

The jury's verdict: 2022 Ralf Rosa and Peter Fechtig from Germany won gold for their bobsleigh run "Speed". Second place went to Vladimiro Tessaro and Giovanni Fabiani from Italy with their "Ice Skates". Bronze was secured by Simon Rauter and Peter Waldboth from Italy with their "Big Air" snowboarder. Fourth place went to England's Justin Scott and Martin Sharp with their interpretation of Eddie the Eagle.

"Shapes in white" - the idea behind the art project

What to do with all the snow? Art - what else!? That is how the idea for the snow sculpture project, “Shapes in White”, was born in Ischgl. Since then, sculptors from all over the world –  on a previously announced, annually changing motto – send their designs to the jury of the snow sculpture competition in Ischgl every year. The jury selects the best ideas and invites the artists to the Silvretta Arena to create their visions. The snow artists then have five days to build their masterpieces from snow in the 239-kilometer Silvretta Arena. Ischgl is an ideal resort for the competition thanks to a location mostly above 2,000 metres altitude and sites directly on and next to the slopes, meaning the sculptures last, and can be admired, by winter sports enthusiasts for a long time. The event will take place again in January 2023.

More information: www.ischgl.com/en.