LAKE GENEVA, Wis. — Fifteen teams of snow sculptors from 11 states have gathered in Wisconsin to compete to be named the best in the nation.

The U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship began Wednesday with judging set for Saturday morning along Geneva Lake.

The Wisconsin team that won with “Arbor Amor” depicting two intertwined trees last year has split into two and are competing against each other in this competition.

The teams receive a cylinder block of snow eight feet in diameter and nine feet high. They can use only saws, axes, files, scaffolding, shovels and other homemade implements.

They will be judged on creativity, technique and message.

The winner gets a trophy and an invite to an international snow sculpting competition.