Friendly rivalry among ice carousel creators produces giant disk in Maine [Video]

Here’s the scoop!

• Volunteers in Maine claim world record for biggest ice carousel with a diameter of 1,776 feet.
• The Northern Maine Ice Busters cut a perfect circle in ice nearly 30 inches thick, estimated at 146,000 tons.
• The creation of ice carousels is a friendly competition among groups in places like Finland, Minnesota, and Maine.

In the frigid winter of Maine, a group of volunteers decided to take on a unique challenge – creating the world’s biggest ice carousel. Cutting through ice nearly 30 inches thick, they meticulously measured a path to create a perfect circle nearly six football fields in size.

And with a diameter of 1,776 feet and an estimated weight of 146,000 tons, the giant disk of ice slowly spun like a Lazy Susan to cheers and applause.

Creating ice carousels has become something of a friendly rivalry among groups in places like Finland, Minnesota, and Maine. “It’s a laborious-but-fun way to provide entertainment during the long, cold winter,” said John Mazo, media liaison for the Northern Maine Ice Busters.

But getting the giant disk moving was no easy feat. “It took a herculean effort with 10 outboard boat engines, farm equipment driving oversized propellers, and a couple of wheeled vehicles, too,” he said.

Chuck Zwilling, of Little Falls, Minnesota, was there to help and has vowed to create an even bigger ice carousel for the next round of competition.

“We’ll keep the rivalry going,” he said. However, he’s still on the hunt for a lake large enough to hold a 2,000-foot diameter ice disk, which he envisions creating next.

Source: apnews.com