Master Chain Saw Carvers Race Against Time and Each Other Under Sea of Balloons To Raise 'Wishes' fo
The highly competitive ECHO Carving Team, carving on behalf of the Make a Wish Foundation, will compete against the clock and each other at the 2009 Baloon Fiesta in New Mexico.
Online, August 26, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Chicago, IL - The 5th Annual ECHO Chain Saw Carving Championship is returning to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® in New Mexico October 2-4 to carve for the Make-a-Wish® Foundation of New Mexico. And there's a new twist. This year the Championship pits the highly competitive ECHO Carving Team against the clock and each other.
Mike Bihlmaier (Marengo,IL), Mark Colp (Lakeport, CA), Jason Emmons (Branchville, IN), and Bob King ( Edgewood, WA) have appeared as members of ECHO's national carving team since 2005 when ECHO first formed the team. The company started the ECHO Carving Series and Championship the same year.
This year's championship showcases the ECHO team members to see who will be judged as the superior carver. The four professional carvers will compete for cash prizes and the prestigious ECHO Carving Cup. They have 22 hours to produce masterpiece sculptures under the theme: "The Great American Southwest".
On Sunday, October 4th the sculptures will be judged and then auctioned, with proceeds benefiting the Make-a-Wish® Foundation of New Mexico. The Foundation grants "wishes" to children who have a life threatening medical condition. Last year's auction raised $34,700 for the Foundation, granting wishes to seven children.
The competition in Albuquerque should be tense. King has won the championship three years in a row. Colp has competed in all four prior Championships, while Mike Bihlmaier has competed in two championships and Jason Emmons one. You can follow the team as the tension ramps up at http://www.echo-usa.com/carvingteam/index.asp.
The Balloon Fiesta remains a perfect visual venue for the Championship. With 700 participating balloons, Balloon Fiesta is the largest ballooning event in the world, the most photographed event on earth and the largest annual international event held in the U.S. Over 400,000 visitors are expected during the event's opening weekend October 3rd and 4th, which is the same weekend as the ECHO Carving Championship. Visit http://www.balloonfiesta.com for more details.
About Echo Incorporated:
About Echo Incorporated (http://www.echo-usa.com) is a leading manufacturer of professional-grade, high performance hand-held outdoor power equipment for commercial and residential use. The company's chain saws, string trimmers, and outdoor equipment have received numerous awards and industry accolades including the Organic Gardening 2009 Editors' Choice Award and the 2008 Dealer's Choice Award.