I didn't realize how profound this relatively simple idea was until I went back to work. My vacation mode faded back to reality and I found myself daydreaming about the sculptures.

The process of casually watching these guys make artwork out of snow made me really think about the stuff I was skiing on -- the very texture of it. How different it is at high altitude, and on powder days, it was the stuff I was skiing in, and moving through. Heck, the stuff even fell out of the sky!

Kids of all ages are fascinated throughout the process as these creations evolve from the huge blocks of snow. Perhaps vacations allow us the childhood freedom to dream of growing up and becoming professional snow sculptors as I did when I saw magicians as a child. Or maybe . . . an Olympic skier.

What an unexpected surprise for anyone in Breckenridge for the week.

This "sport" of carving snow sculptures started at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games, Breckenridge, with its abundance of snow, sponsored the first American International Snow Sculpture Chamnpionsihp in 1991. Since then it continues to grow, with more international teams competing each year.

We were amazed at the size and intricacy of the giant snow sculptures--some 12-feet high with many details. Some are serious, but most are whimiscal figures. Well-known artists serve as judges for the event, which has attracted people from Morocco, Belize, Japan, Canda, Scandinavia, Russia, China and Wales.