Henry Ford Community College Ice Carvers to Watch at Plymouth Ice Fest

Attendees of the 2013 Plymouth Ice Festival, which takes place this Friday through Sunday in Kellogg Park, can watch live ice carving as college students compete to win in their sculpture category.

Professional judges determine the winners, and placing a win at the festival means students can move forward to regional competition status. The College Individual Carving Competition is Saturday, and the College Team Carving Competition is Sunday.

Patch reached out to the culinary program at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, a long-time participant in the Plymouth Ice Festival, to find out more about some of the ice carvers.

Paul Nuznov

28-year-old senior studying Art Foundation and Culinary Arts

Hometown: Dearborn

Number of ice carving competitions: 14

Second time competing at Plymouth Ice Festival

What designs do you have planned for the Plymouth Ice Fest?

Single: "Ruckus Roboticus;" Team: "Fight the Nightmare"

What are you looking forward to?

I am looking forward to a weekend full of awesome Ice Sculptures, the cheers of the crowd, and the thrill of competition.

Why do you compete?

The exhilaration of being on display and showing the crowd the skills that I have honed over the last three years is an amazing feeling in itself. The tension and stress of building something awe inspiring out of a frozen block of water with such a limited amount of time really gets the blood flowing. I was always told that "If it's not fun, you are doing it wrong." I think about that before every event and, whether I take first place or last place, I always have a great time along the way.

Christopher M. Burnash

30-year-old third-year student studying Culinary Arts

Hometown: Flint

Number of ice carving competitions: 7

Second time at Plymouth Ice Festival

What designs do you have planned for the Plymouth Ice Fest?

Single: "Lady of the Lake;" Team: "Fight the Nightmare" 

What are you looking forward to?

This season, I'm looking forward to carving ice in Canada at the Bloor/Yorkville Ice Fest in Toronto. 

Why do you compete?

I compete because it drives you to be a better ice carver. It pushes you to try new things you never thought was possible with ice.  

Lanier Duren

30-year old third-year student studying Culinary Arts and Hotel Restaurant Management

Hometown: Detroit

Number of ice carving competitions: 2

First time at Plymouth Ice Festival

What designs do you have planned for the Plymouth Ice Fest?

Team: "Angry Birds"

What are you looking forward to?

Having fun!

Why do you compete?

I just love ice carving!  

Robert Speeks

23-year-old second-year student studying Culinary Arts and Hotel Restaurant Management

Hometown: Detroit

Number of ice carving competitions: 2

First time at Plymouth Ice Festival 

What designs do you have planned for the Plymouth Ice Fest?

Single: "T-Rex;" Team: "Angry Birds"

What are you looking forward to?

I just want to have a good time. 

Why do you compete?

It's fun.  

William Byrd

20-year-old freshman studying Computer Information Systems

Hometown: Detroit

Number of ice carving competitions: helper at 2

First time at Plymouth Ice Festival

What designs do you have planned for the Plymouth Ice Fest?

I'm carving a ram for singles.

What are you looking forward to?

I'm looking to compete against carvers with more experience than me.

Why do you compete?

I compete because it's fun. If I make a mistake when I carve, I just laugh and keep going.

Jeffrey Lao

Adjunct Instructor/Club Advisor for HFCC Ice Carving Club