National Ice Carving Association's (NICA) Team Winners was Announced for the Ice Carving Competition held at The Greenbrier on Saturday, January 8.
1st Place: $3,000.00
Team Winners: Aaron Costic and Jeff Meyers
Sculpture Title: “Gazelle”
Aaron Costic is from Broadview Heights, Ohio, where he is a full time ice sculptor. As a Certified Master Ice Carver with over 20 years of experience and a certified Lead Judge, he has judged over 30 regional ice carving events. He won the bronze medal in 1998 from the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, and a 4th place finish in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. In 2006, he took home the goal medal from the Torino Winter Olympics. In addition, he has won 11 World Champion medals and ten medals from the National Championships.
Jeff Meyers has been carving ice at Elegant Ice Creations in Cleveland, Ohio, for nine years. He has participated in competitions in New York, Michigan, Chicago, Ohio and Alaska. He was a competitor on two different teams at the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks where his talents helped earned the teams 1st and 2nd place prizes. Jeff is passionate about ice carving and can’t wait to get to work every day to begin his next project.
2nd Place: $2,000.00
Team Winners: Mike Stoddart and Rich Daly
Sculpture Title: "Life Under the Pier”
Mike Stoddart has been in the culinary industry for more than 24 years. In addition to managing his own company, he’s an active member of the American Culinary Federation, NICA, Catersource, Commerce Lexington and alumni of the Culinary Institute of America. As an ice sculptor, he has created works from simple swans and vases, to the most intricate, gravity-defining pieces. He has also won many bronze and silver medals in competitions across the U.S. With his commitment and shared interest in catering and ice, he continues to set new standards of excellence in the industry.
Rich Daly along with being owner and President of Ice Melodies Inc. in Long Island, NY, he is a 7th grade Home and Careers/Health teacher. In the winter, he travels to local and nationally sanctioned ice carving events around the U.S. In addition to NICA competitions, which include Crystal Cabin Fever in PA, Fire and Ice in NJ, Thayer Ice Competition in NY, Newport Winter Festival in RI, he was named overall 2010 Champion at Ice Wars in Ithaca, NY. Over the past eight years, his ice sculptors have earned him over 25 NICA awards. He also placed 5th at the U.S. nationals in 2009 Professional division.
3rd Place: $1,000.00
Team Winners: Art Hongpong and Joe Albertelli
Sculpture Title: “Winter Sails”
Art Hongpong was born in Bangkok, Thailand and moved to New York City at the age of three. His father taught him the craft of creating ice sculptures at an early age. His lessons began modestly with sweeping ice chips off the loading docks at events. Art later learned to use chisels and chainsaws. He routinely placed in the top three at every amateur contest he entered before competing professionally against top chefs and cooks at age 14. After graduating from college, he returned to his father’s ice carving company to learn the business of ice sculpting. In 2002, he and his father were selected to represent Thailand in the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City and receiving the gold medal for their sculpture titled “Sounds of Paradise.” After the Olympics, Art returned to Bangkok to become a monk. Refreshed from his hiatus, he relocated to Washington, DC and started an ice sculpting company called Cold Fusion.
Joe Albertelli Chef Joe has held positions with famous hotels and restaurants, including apprenticeship with Master Chef Peter Timmins CMC The Greenbrier, Trellis Restaurant and the Dover Downs International Speedway. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America CIA. He has been a member of the NICA since 2004 and his passion for ice carving and culinary competitions have earned awards such as ACF medals in Cold Platters and Ice Carving and Ice Carving and Hot Food competitions. He participated in his first NICA competition in January 2010 in New Jersey and was awarded 2nd place. Chef Joe is the current Chef de Cuisine of the Westchester Country Club.
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