Ice Carvers
National Champions
2009 Kevin Gregory
2008 Aaric Kendall
2007 Jeff Stahl
2006 No Champion
2005 Aaron Costic; Certified Master Carver
2004 William Covitz
2003 Jeff Stahl
2002 Jeff Stahl
2001 Aaron Costic;Certified Master Carver
2000 Junichi Nakamura
1999 Buddy Rasmussen
1998 Aaron Costic;Certified Master Carver
1997 Steve Rose
1996 Dean Carlson
1995 Kevin Roscoe
1994 No Champion
1993 Mark Daukus
1992 Mark Daukus
1991 Mark Daukus
This section will continuously feature different carvers that are coming up through the NICA ranks. Chefs, student, and young up coming professionals. If you are interested in having your name and information shared on this section, then please contact us.
In January of 1987 a group of carvers went on a bus ride to Plymouth Michigan to compete in an ice-carving contest. Chuck Wagner organized the trip and along went; Maurie Pierson, Larry Malchick, Scott Erwin, Don Miller, Larry O'sullivan, John Kartje, Joe Aiello, Tom Bohem, Gino Fontana, James A Nadeau, and John Onofrio. This group is what started it for all of us.
The idea of an association to standardize judging was brought up after the competition ended and we were on the way home. We had done well as a group but were unhappy with the results. At this time each event was judged by there own rules and the outcome usually favored the local players.
After much discussion on the bus Chuck Wagner said he would help to organize the association. Chuck felt that that he could get it together and said we could set it up like the national chili cook offs.
We got together at the Willow Brook Holiday Inn for the first couple of meetings. It was at the second get together on sunday,November 22 ,1987 the members in attendance were involved in the organizational structure. It went as follows;
Featured Carvers
NICA Contributors:
Michael Pizzuto
Dawson List
Larry Malchek
Stephan Koch
Kevin Mcdonald
Robert Childers
Mike Clinebell
John Onofrio
James Ottens
Travis Dale; Certified Master Carver
Alice Connelly
Glen Motley
Joe Rimer
John Zehnder
Ernie DiMartino
Ken Berkemper
Jeff Petercsak
Industry Contributors:
Mac Winker
Julian Bayley
Randy Finch
This is just a start of a great list of past competitors and NICA contributors. If you know of some
carvers we have missed please email us the name and some of their accomplishments.
Officers elected for a two year term.
Larry Malchick (president),
Yasuo Mizuchhi (vice-president)
Maurie Pearson (Treasure/secretary)
Officers were elected one year term.
Joe Mastro
Gil Gatian
Jim Nadeau
John Kartje
The first chairmen
Dean Jaramillo (judging chairman)
Tom Boehm (membership chairman)
Gary Cuprisin (budget/finance chairman)
Instructors/Coaches:
Richard Alford
George O’palenik
Richard Teeples
Doug Ganhs
Tom Recinella
Jeff Wolf
Bob Schultz
Kristian Smith
Leonard Bailey
William Rose
Greg Beachey
Brian Beland
Competitors:
Vivat Hong Pong
Richie Bubin
John Lacintosh
Joe Hakim
Naomi Hamamura
Steve Brice; Certified Master Carver
Dan Rebholz; Certified Master Carver
Peter Slavin
Maurie Pearson
Matt Williams
Chuck Wagner was unanimously elected Executive Director for his efforts in bringing the idea of an association to reality.
Jan Pearson was appointed Executive Secretary and also became membership/event co-ordinator/editor of the news letter.
Other members in attendance on this event full day was;
John Onofrio
Larry O'sullivan
Karl Lindal
Gary Summers
Michelle Bouit (ambassador at large).
This bit of History was brought to you
by Johnny Onofrio, NICA’s Historian
and one of our founding fathers.
Thanks Johnny O!
Do you know who was our actual first board of directors? Follow the link to find out!
Tour Champions
2009 Gregory Butauski; Certified Master Carver
2008 Derek Maxfield
Since then the National Ice Carving Association has had some world class talent pass through the ranks and we would like to name some of the past and current contributers that have made the NICA circuit so great. You may or may not see these people, but if you do, you should know how they helped NICA weather they know it or not.
There are many ways to contribute to the circuit, so we will not just talk about carvers. We need to mention Judges, promoters, board members, industry leaders, instructors etc...
Do you know of the NICA Hall of Fame?
It is not just for NICA members, it covers the entire industry.
FACT. Anyone can nominate a person to be inducted into the hall of fame.
FACT. The Hall of Fame members and the NICA Board of Directors votes on who actually gets in.
