Article content

Most people make a snowman when it snows. Aaron Cambrin builds orcas.

At first glance, it’s easy to mistake the life-size sculptures, rising from a blanket of snow on the shores of Jericho Beach, for the real thing.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Beached whales: Vancouver man sculpts life-size orcas of sand and snow Back to video

Made of snow on the inside and covered strategically with sand to mimic the animals’ dark bodies, the sculptures are a nod to Cambrin’s lifelong infatuation with killer whales.

“I love orcas with a passion,” said Cambrin on Sunday, hours after putting the finishing touches on his work.

Cambrin, 27, had toyed with the idea of making a pod of five or six orcas at Jericho Beach, near his home. When it started snowing Friday, he decided to give it a try.

He sculpted the spyhopping orca first, a task that took five hours. On Saturday, he began work on the larger whale, which has its back and dorsal fin sticking out. That took about nine to 10 hours to sculpt. The tall fin was particularly challenging.