ROGER LEU

Roger Leu and his team have been responsible over the past week for turning the O'Neill Evolution 2009 slopestyle course into a work of art. The snow sculptures adorning the course have been created by the team at www.sculptura.ch. The final results were unveiled at the final.

How does working at this event differ from what you are used to?
Doing the sculptures at this event is a bit different because we have been doing it throughout the competition. Usually we do the sculptures, leave and then that's when everything happens so we don't get to see people enjoying it. This is a lot more fun because there is something happening and we are part of it and building around it. And we can stay and watch people enjoy it, which is great.



What have you built here?
We've built two logos at the top of the slopestyle course then we built the face of Jack O'Neill on the first kicker, and then we have a solar system at the bottom of the course - taken from the logo.



Which was the most enjoyable to build?
Jack was definitely the most interesting. We had a lot of fun building it and it has a special place built into the course. We have been working on them all for a week - with the idea to finish for the finals on Friday and Saturday nights.



What do you like about the job?
The best bit is the fact that you are working and using your body to do it, doing exercise almost and we are always having fun. Also I love that you can be an architect in the same place over and over again. So you can build something, knock it down and then build something totally new.



What skills do you need to make snow sculptures?
Most of us who area making the snow sculptures are masons and craftsmen. It's really easy to convert to working with snow. It's so easy working with snow. If you make a mistake you just put on some new snow. Everyone does it. Everyone starts with a snowman and then the thing is nobody progresses from there. All we have done is develop that a little more.



What's the difference between a snow sculpture and an ice sculpture?
We are making snow sculptures, not ice sculptures. The difference with snow sculptures is you can build them up and then take them away again. Ice sculptures are more like stone works.



What's craziest snow sculpture you have built?
The most interesting snow sculpture we did was for a carnival in Basel. We worked to produce a sculpture on a truck which was 20m long. It was full of all the monuments of Basel, and then went through the streets with people on it and stuff for the whole day. It was great.



Is there anything you can't build?
We never say no to anything. Everything is possible… unless it is too thin and too high. We did a snow-bar in Zurich once in the middle of August… it only lasted for a few hours.