Buddy chefs Terry Reis and Rob Graham have been chiseling, sanding and chainsaw-hacking ice sculptures for the 48-hour St. Paul Winter Carnival ice-carving competition longer than most can remember.
OK, it’s been 28 years.
But that’s still a long time, and they’re both feeling like what they are — the senior sculptors of one of the Winter Carnival’s most celebrated contests.
“He’s 80,” said Reis, 53, describing Graham, who is 56.
The two picked up their ice-carving training in culinary school and have been winning contests ever since, though it’s been a few years since they notched the top Winter Carnival prize.
“The young kids are coming up,” quipped Reis, motioning to the five competing carving teams at St. Paul’s Rice Park on Thursday. “Us old guys can’t roll anymore. … I have to sleep, because the doctor tells me. And I get crabby.”
For the carnival’s 125th anniversary celebration, the pair are sculpting a grandfather clock surrounded by giant Winter Carnival buttons dating back to 1899.
The annual contest got under way at 9 a.m. Thursday and closes at 9 a.m. Saturday. Sculptors are expected to carve 20 blocks of ice into a Winter Carnival-themed exhibit, and will be judged on design and execution.
“You don’t get any additional ice if you break something,” said Graham, who teaches culinary skills at Hennepin Technical College in Eden Prairie.
Reis, who is originally from the Twin Cities, owns two restaurants in Mediapolis, Iowa.
First-place ice-carvers will receive $2,000, with lesser prizes awarded for second and third place. There’s also a $250 public’s choice award and a $250 carver’s choice award. Weather permitting, the sculptures will be on display until Feb. 6.
A one-day carving competition featuring single blocks of ice takes place Sunday. For more information, go to winter-carnival.com.
Frederick Melo can be reached at 651-228-2172.
Copyright 2011 Pioneer Press.