Ski-towns across Colorado afford adults ample opportunity to act like kids. Breckenridge’s annual Snow Sculpture Championships give grown-ups a solid weeks’ worth of fun. Their achievements? Twelve-foot tall snow sculptures, which are far from child’s play.

This year – the 25th annual – drew 64 competitors from 10 countries. Each four-member team meticulously chiseled, shaved, and smoothed a 40,000 pound block of snow into a singular work of art.

“Finding the piece in the block is part of [the process,]” said four-time participant Steuart Bremnar who helped judge this year’s field. “You just sort of tackle it.”

With 65 hours to transform a 10x12 foot block the undertaking is formidable. The victors go home with a medal, (and bragging rights.)

Risk, implied movement, and contrasting texture were three distinct elements displayed by the work of this year’s Gold medal winner – Lithuania. An abstract and pristinely engineered sculpture by Germany-Agrawal took the Silver medal. And Minnesota garnered the Bronze medal for its Ojibwe-inspired rendering of Mother Nature.

For the second consecutive year Arts District host Carrie Saldo was invited to sit on the five-member judges’ panel.

Pending weather, the sculptures will remain on display outside of the Riverwalk Center through February 8. If you can’t make it in time, don’t worry. Check out the photo slideshow below for details. It’s the next best thing to visiting.