Rodrigo Betancur stands in front of his 16-foot snowman. Photo by Sam Wroblewski

By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com

It’s something you have to see to believe, a sixteen-foot tall snowman smiling down on Sheppard Avenue in North Providence.

Rodrigo Betancur built the snowman in his front yard over the course of five days. He’s been building snowmen since he came to the United States 35 years ago, but he only started building them taller than ten feet within the last five years.

“My inspiration is my kids, I have a four and a five year old […] it’s mandatory for me to do a snow man now,” said Betancur.

Betancur builds the snowman by laying down plywood base and then packing snow on top of it and letting it freeze. Once a layer is frozen, he starts the process over again. This year’s snowman took five days to make.

“I’m happy when I see smiles on people’s faces, especially the kids,” said Betancur.

Betancur says he has bigger aspirations for his snowmen, one day he hopes to attract sponsors and attempt the world record; 122 feet.

“I’m hoping to get there, and believe me, when I get something in my head; I do it.”