Jamie Thingelstad

Writer of the Weekly Thing. Blogger. Explorer of tech, the open web, AI, and a good escape room. Maybe a podcast? CTO of SPS Commerce, Board Member of MnTech, Former Board Member Minnestar. Minneapolis is home.

Jan 17, 2026 ∞

World Snow Celebration

It was a very cold morning but we made it out to see the World Snow Celebration and the snow sculptures. Teams were working towards the deadline of completing their sculptures. They were amazing. We also did the Peoples Choice votes. I voted for Team Falcon of Mongolia and Tammy went for Team Warm Your Cold Brits.

Sculptor in a gray Striker jacket crouches at the base of a large snow sculpture covered in carved hands, tools and a shovel nearby. Two sculptors on ladders carve a large snow sculpture of an embracing figure near a gazebo and green steel structure. Two sculptors in gray jackets work on a large snow sculpture of a figure resting in a crescent moon, beside a river and lift bridge. Person in gray Striker jacket kneeling to carve a large snow sculpture of a cowboy riding a bucking bull outdoors. Large snow sculpture of a segmented robot figure emerging from a diamond shape, displayed on a frozen lake on an overcast winter day. Two sculptors work on a large snow sculpture of a sleeping figure cradled in a lotus flower, on a snowy riverbank. Two people in gray Striker cold-weather suits carve a large snow sculpture of a winged figure outdoors on a frozen shoreline. Large snow sculpture of an astronaut in a spacesuit with both arms raised, set on a snowy lakefront with scaffolding nearby. Sculptors in winter gear carve a large snow sculpture of leaping figures outdoors, with the Mongolian flag visible nearby.