Sculptor Colin Henderson carved the Gamecocks mascott in under an hour in a demonstration for Good Day Columbia. He says it normally takes him around six hours.
/ Ivory Hecker
COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Ice sculptures rely on cool temperatures to keep from melting, so you might think record breaking high temperatures over the past week would slow a sculptor's business.
The manager at Westside Ice Co. says that is not the case.
The sculptures, which take up to six hours to make, are sold year-round, even during the famously hot summers.
The sculptures weigh about 150 pounds and last up to eight hours.
Business usually picks up during warmer weather even though statues melt a little faster, according to manager Patrick Bailey.
"The warm weather does help, because people will tend to get married when it's the warm weather outside -- not so much in the winter time -- so with temperatures being the way they are, people are out getting married; ordering ice sculptures," said Bailey.
Overall, the higher the temperatures, the higher the sales, according to Bailey of the company which also sells many other forms of ice in bulk.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH