by Afreen Ashraf
SRINAGAR: Team Snow India has won the Bronze Medal at the Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championship 2026, held in Breckenridge, Colorado, USA. The achievement once again places India among the leading countries in the field of international snow sculpting. The team includes two members from Kashmir, Zahoor Lone aka Zahoor Kashmiri and Suhail Mohammad Khan.
The four-member team, Zahoor Kashmiri, Mridul Upadhyay, Suhail Mohmad Khan and Matt Seeley (USA), created their sculpture titled “Corn: The Ultimate Domesticator — Who Is Truly in Control?” The artwork was hand-carved from a 25-ton block of snow over a period of four days. As per the competition rules, the artists used only hand tools. The use of power tools was strictly prohibited at the championship. The team worked in extreme cold conditions, with temperatures dropping to minus 31 degrees Celsius, making the carving process difficult.
The idea behind the sculpture was inspired by Yuval Noah Harari’s book Sapiens. Through their work, the artists wanted to convey the idea that while humans believe they domesticated crops, it may also be possible that crops have, over time, shaped human life. Explaining the concept, one of the team members said that humans often think they created crops, but it could also be that crops created human lifestyles. “We do not know whether we are eating them or whether they are letting us use them. In many ways, we work for crops in all situations, even if we are ill, because we have become dependent on them,” the artist said.
27 January 2025
The sculpture drew attention and appreciation from visitors and judges for its message and presentation. Team Snow India competed against several international teams and stood on the podium alongside Korea, which won the Gold Medal, and Mongolia, which secured the Silver Medal.
This Bronze Medal marks Team Snow India’s second consecutive international win at the Breckenridge championship. The team continues to be recognised as South Asia’s first snow sculpting team to achieve such success at this global level.
Speaking after the results, sculptor Zahoor Kashmiri said the competition was intense. “Our goal was first position, and we tried our best, but everybody had made marvellous artwork, and it took time for the judges to decide,” he said.
Recalling his journey into snow sculpting, Zahoor said that in Kashmir, children usually begin this art by making a snowman. “I also got into this rare art the same way,” he said. He added that he gradually understood the finer aspects of snow sculpting after formally joining the Fine Arts Department at the University of Kashmir, where he received professional training and completed his Bachelor’s degree. “It was during my Master’s studies at Jamia Millia Islamia that I realised what Kashmiris colloquially call sheen mohniv, or snowman, is actually a sophisticated art form in Kashmir,” he said.
The artists said they hope their work will help inspire a new snow art culture and give young artists a new avenue for creative expression.
A team member expressed gratitude for the experience of competing on such a global platform. “Standing among the world’s best snow sculptors, we feel immense gratitude. Every flake of snow here tells a story of teamwork, passion and India’s creative spirit,” he said.
The team thanked the organisers for their hospitality and once again requested institutional support from the Government of India and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Despite the lack of sponsorship or financial backing, Team Snow India continues to represent the country with dedication and creativity.
