Whirled White Web; Second place, US Snow Sculpture of the Year (January 2003)

Whirled White Web, completed.

Team: Brent Collins (co-designer), Dan Schwalbe, Stan Wagon, Steve Reinmuth; wih Carlo Séquin (co-designer). This shape was a vertically oriented minimal surface that was then bent around to form a circular torus-like object. For more information see https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~sequin/SCULPTS/SnowSculpt03/

I always made a 5-foot high practice block, which the teams works on for a day or two before the start. Carlo shown working on the torus. Note the 3D printed model at top.
The first step was to turn the giant cube into a giant torus. We had specialized wooden tools to help with that aspect.
The team was very strong, and the finished piece was wonderful to look at.
Side view.
This is what the judges saw before they began their deliberations.
But after the judges viewed it, some cracks started to appear. It collapsed at around noon on this warm Saturday.
But the judges awarded us second place!