|
Daniel Rebholz
Owner, World Class Ice Sculpture, Inc., Chicago, IL/ http://www.worldclassicesculpture.com
Certified Master Ice Carver by the N.I.C.A.
Four Time International Champion
*N.I.C.A, 1996 International Ice Carving Classic
*Pro Ice Tour, 2000 World Championship
*Ice Live, 2001 Ice Art "Speed" World-Cup,
*Turin Olympic Qualifier, Cernusco ,Italy 2003
Past Vice President/ Lead Judge N.I.C.A.
Currently ranked 3rd in the U.S. - N.I.C.A 2004
2002 & 2006 U.S. Olympic Ice Carving Team
18 Years of Professional Ice Carving Experience in Chicago
10,000 Sculptures Completed
4 Million Pounds of Ice Sculpted to Date
Veteran of over 100 Competitions
Champion of over 50 Events
Second or Third Place in over 50 Events
Extensive Training with 15 Time World Champion, Junichi Nakamura of Japan
Experienced with one of a kind Monumental Ice Sculptures and Unique Performance Ice Sculpting
Requested to Travel the Globe Performing Demonstrations, Ice Shows and Competitions
Owner/Lead Instructor- American Ice Carving Academy
Jeffery W. Stahl
Owner operator Artic Diamond Inc., Cincinnati, OH / www.articdiamond.com
A devoted husband, father of two, ice sculptor, business owner, woodworking hobbyist and barefoot waterskiing enthusiast.
Jeff started his culinary career in 1986 at Joliet Jr. College. He learned the basic skills of ice sculpting via courses offered at the school as well as participating in student ice sculpting competitions. After two years of college Jeff spent several years working in the culinary field. In every job Jeff worked at honing his ice sculpting skills by sculpting buffet sculptures for the property and participating in ice sculpting competitions. In 1998 he and his wife Michelle purchased Artique Ice Company in Cincinnati Ohio from Glen and Linda Motley. In 1999 Artique Ice Company merged with Custom ice and formed Artic Diamond Inc. Since that time Jeff has always been focused on the growth of Artic Diamond as well as his personal Ice sculpting disciplines.
Accomplishments
Associates degree in culinary arts
N.I.C.A. board of directors
20 years of competition sculpting nationally and internationally
Participates in the World Ice Art Championship in Fairbanks annually
Placed second in Masters Tournament in Ottawa 2004
United States National Champion 2002 and 2003
Participated in 2002 winter Olympics
Numerous Gold and silver medals (N.I.C.A.)
Richard D. Bubin
Owner of Ice Creations Inc., Pittsburgh, PA / www.icecreations.com
International Champion *N.I.C.A, 96 International Ice Carving Classic
"Worlds Fastest Ice Carver" - 61 full block sculptures in 4 hours 22 minutes 50 seconds
Past Board Member/ Lead Judge N.I.C.A.
Ranked 1st in the U.S. - N.I.C.C. 2000
2002 U.S. Olympic Ice Carving Team
25 Years of Professional Ice Carving Experience in Pittsburgh
Over 15,000 Sculptures Completed
Over 5 Million Pounds of Ice Sculpted to Date
Veteran of over 150 Competitions
Champion of over 40 Events / Second or Third Place in over 50 Events
Experienced with one of a kind Monumental Ice Sculptures and Unique Performance Ice Sculpting
Requested to Travel the Globe Performing Demonstrations, Ice Shows and Competitions
Chef Garde Manger with a talent for fruit and vegetable carving
Jeff Bleier
owner Glacier Art, West Henrietta N.Y.
I've been carving ice for over twenty years. It all started at the Rochester Hilton Hotel when the Chef broke his leg. We had an ice sculpture on every Sunday brunch. The General Manager was looking for someone to step up and carve for the brunch. I was going to college for the Fine Arts Program at the time. I found it fascinating to watch the Chef carve and asked if I could give it a try. All we had to work with was a chain saw, a six point pick and some rusty chisels. I'll never forget my first attempt. The block started out as a rooster, then a fish, and ended up as a squirrel. The General Manager took a look on Sunday and was thrilled. From that point on I would work from the saut station to the loading dock between orders for the next three years.
I then moved to a Banquet Conference Center to apprentice under a master Chef. We went under renovations and along with that came a Grand Reopening Party. The new General Manager wanted several ice sculptures to really wow the new and existing clients.. He took one look at my tools and within days I had a new chain saw and most importantly a set of chisels. After the opening the sales department started pushing the ice to book weddings and events. We had huge sweets tables with three to four carvings nearly every Saturday night.
I thought I was a good carver until I went to my first Ice Festival in Mountain Top Pennsylvania. I was carving my block straight from the book, a beautiful angel fish and was pretty proud by one am that morning. When we went to the hotel. When we came back the next morning my memories are still to this day as fresh as can be. I met Mark Daukas, Vivat Hong pong, Dean Carlson, Steve Rose, and Kevin Rosco. These were the t Ice Gods! None of these carvings were in the books. I may not have placed in the top twenty but I was hooked from that moment on.
In the years to come I couldn't wait for February and Mountain Top. I joined N.I.C.A. and started designing my own pieces. Each year I learned new techniques and met many new carvers. That event in Mountain Top turned into the National Championships. In 1993 the Championships moved to Youngstown, Ohio. That year I jumped to fourth place with the Ice Gods Mark Dawkes, Dean Carlson and Steve Rose out in front of me. That honor and rush is what drove me to be the competitor I am today.
In the years to come I went to every event within a twelve hour drive. I began to make a name for myself as a competitor and mentor. My van was nick named "The Mystery Van" and my style was known to be whimsical. My focus and goal was and still is to be the National Champion. In my trophy case today are four second place wins, one third, two fourth, one fifth and one eighth for the National Championships. I've never missed the Nationals from year one. It's something I look forward to each year. Through the years of carving I've brought aggressive competition, whimsical style, dedication and most of all a how to explode a block of ice in a matter of hours crowd pleaser to the table...
My goal in 2001 was to qualify for the Winter Games in Salt Lake 2002. My last chance was at the Nationals in Chicago. Once again I was defeated by Aaron Costic at the awards ceremony. At the end the judges Larry Malchek, Glen Motley, John Cartier,Georgen O'Planic, and Alice Conley called me up and presented me with the last American spot as Aaron had already qualified. My feelings and emotions can't be written down for that night. The following year I picked my number one helper brother Tim to carve with me in Salt Lake. My goal was to be in the top ten of thirty teams. We placed tenth at the winter games. A mere six points out of first. It was a definite personal victory for me. .
As events and time passes, I still maintain the role of Executive Chef and owner of Glacier Art. One event in Ottawa years ago, a judge told me after a heartbreaking fourth place, that if you don't carve for yourself and you're not happy with what you do, don't do it! All carvers know you're not just competing with each other. That Mother Nature, location, planning, design and most importantly Art is subjective.
My latest achievements have been aimed towards the World Championships in Fairbanks Alaska. I've teamed up with some great carvers and have experienced some awesome carvings. When ice runs through your blood for six days and your standing in front of a twenty six foot carving, words just can't express the rush of emotions..
I have been working with the Community College in the culinary department to teach young entrepreneurs the fundamentals of ice carving. Many are very interested in the techniques and are amazed with the end results. Hopefully they will pick up the art and will want to be competitive as well.
Currently I am working as Executive Chef for Marriott in Rochester New York. My passion for ice carving is carried throughout the city with my business Glacier Art for weddings and special events.
Photos, memories, satisfaction, camaraderie, travel, and passion for what you love to do come from freezing water into ice and into art. These are some of the things I have learned about ice carving over the past 20 years.
.unter Ice |
