University of Michigan 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 Michigan Ice Carving Team at the University of Michigan, a previous participant in the Plymouth Ice Festival, to find out more about some of the ice carvers.

Lucy Yuan

18-year-old freshman studying Neuroscience

Hometown: Princeton, New Jersey

Number of ice carving competitions: 1

First time competing at Plymouth Ice Festival

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

An abstract horse. 

What are you looking forward to? 

I am looking forward to seeing everyone's beautiful works.

Why do you compete? 

I compete to challenge myself and see where my imagination brings me.

James Hamet

18-year-old freshman studying Electrical Engineering

Hometown: Riverside, Conn.

Number of ice carving competitions: 1

First time competing at Plymouth Ice Festival

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

I would still like to do a city-themed piece, but I may do another sea animal. It really depends on weather predictions and whichever design I am most inspired by as we get closer to the competition. Both themes appeal very much to me.

What are you looking forward to? 

At every competition I look forward to the opportunity of appreciating the pieces made by some of the more experienced carvers. You really never know what to expect or what designs you may discover you like a lot.

Why do you compete? 

I compete mostly because it makes for great practice and the pressure pushes me to really try my hardest at what I'm doing. Each time I compete, I feel the need to meet a new plateau in my learning, and push further still.

Stephanie Chen

21-year-old senior studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Environment

Hometown: Novi

Number of ice carving competitions: about 7

Third time competing at Plymouth Ice Festival

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

It’s a surprise! 

What are you looking forward to? 

Finishing my piece and seeing how the crowd responds to it.

Why do you compete? 

For the opportunity to carve something new and complex.

Evan Batzer

21-year-old senior studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Hometown: Newtown, Conn.

Number of ice carving competitions: 3-4

First time competing at Plymouth Ice Festival

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

I’m planning on carving a moose for singles competition, still deciding on my team competition design.

What are you looking forward to?

Seeing the other carvers’ pieces and watching my team show how far they’ve come over the past year.

Why do you compete?

It gives me an opportunity to be creative.

Joshua Tan

18-year-old freshman with an undecided major

Hometown: Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia

Number of ice carving competitions: 1

First time competing at Plymouth Ice Festival

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

A rose. A really simple one.

What are you looking forward to?

Looking at the other experienced carvers complete their masterpiece.

Why do you compete?

To improve my ice carving skills.

Isabel Geracioti

18-year-old freshman with an undecided major

Number of ice carving competitions: 0

First time competing at Plymouth Ice Festival

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

A seahorse.

What are you looking forward to?

Participating in my first competition and hopefully not ruining my sculpture!

Why do you compete?

Ice carving is a nice creative outlet outside of my school work. 

Alicia Chiaravalli

21-year-old senior studying Art and Design and Environment

Hometown: West Bloomfield

Number of ice carving competitions: 2-3

Second time competing at Plymouth Ice Festival

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

Some sort of a narrative.

What are you looking forward to?

Working with a new partner, Josh.

Why do you compete?

I think it is awesome to work in a medium of ice and fun to use power tools!