Sand sculptors travel from around the world to San Diego for world-class event

Morgan M. Hurley | Uptown Contributing Editor

There are only about a dozen major sand-sculpting events in the entire world, and one of the best of those events is held every year right here in San Diego over Labor Day weekend.

Held for many years in Imperial Beach on the sand, today’s U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge (USSSC) and 3D Art Exposition is held on the B Street Pier, located 1140 N. Harbor Dr., Downtown.

This is the third year at the new location, and despite a great deal of construction last year along the Embarcadero, the event went off without a hitch.

“I think the best thing about last year were the sculptures and the sculptors,” said Gordon Summer, co-director of the event with his wife Joyce. “The sculptures were amazing and the sculptors, it’s just a wonderful bunch of people. They’re from all over the world and it’s kind of like a little community. They all know each other.”

Summer said though there will be a little construction still visible along Pacific Highway, officials have told him that the area from the B Street Pier south to Broadway will be completely clear.

New last year was the addition of the 3D Art Expo, which brought dozens of metal, wood, glass, clothing and fine jewelry artists together to sell their wares to attendees after they had meandered through the sand sculptures. This year the expo expects over 1,000 works of art and other media.

Also returning are the popular food trucks, and the huge sandbox where younger kids can frolic to their heart’s content.

New this year is a beer garden, the first introduction of alcohol vendors to the event since the move to B Street Pier. Run by the San Diego Athletic League, a 501(c)(3), it will be open all four days of the event and restricted to 21+.

Gates open at 9 a.m. every day and the live entertainment found on both ends of the pier starts at 11 a.m., with a full lineup that changes every other hour. Some of the entertainment includes Rob Thorsen, Gilbert Castellanos, Ruby and the Red Hots, Bill Caballero, Jay and Janet and many more.

For those who like to see the master sculptors in action, it is recommended to get there on Friday to see their masterpieces come to life. Artists start two days before and must complete them no later than 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Friday is also Military Appreciation Day, sponsored by Stacy Werner of the Inslider Food Truck. Active military with identification and up to three family members are free. The rest of the weekend military will get $3 off tickets. Civilians will also see a discount on Friday, with adult and children’s tickets $5 & $4, respectively.

Gordon Kohl will honor the military attendees on stage while performing military-inspired music from 2 – 4 p.m.

Friday, Sunday and Monday nights, the event closes at 7 p.m. but on Saturday night, stick around until 10 p.m. to join in to celebrate the “world masters,” and the beer garden closes at 9 p.m. Organizers say the sculptures look “unbelievable” at night.

On Saturday, the Cool Carvers — three sculptors to a team — will compete from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Also on Saturday, starting at 4 p.m. at the other end of the pier, Council President Todd Gloria will present the awards to the World Masters, where $60,000 is at stake this year.

On Sunday the Cool Carvers will continue their team sculpting until 2 p.m., and then will be judged shortly thereafter. Monday is another fun-filled day of entertainment, 3D artists showing their wares, sand sculpture viewing, sculpting lessons and more. The weekend wraps up at 7 p.m.

All of the World Masters are returning from last year and but there are a couple new ones in the competition, since two of the masters that competed last year are now working to help manage the event.

The “World Masters” competing in the U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge are the best in the world and considered celebrities throughout the sand sculpting circuit. This year’s competitors are again from all over the world. Coming as far away as the Netherlands and Singapore, all but two of this year’s world masters have proven their skills in San Diego before. They include:

Helena Bangert of the Netherlands, sculpting since 2000; Melineige Beuregard of Quebec, Canada, a sculptor since 2001; Michela Ciappini of Italy started sculpting in 2003; Rusty Croft of Carmel, California, San Diego’s grand prize winner in 2012; New Jersey Native John Gowdy now calls Italy home, sculpting since 1990; Chris Guinto of Key West, Florida, sculpting since 2000, will make his first appearance in San Diego; Joris Kivits, also from the Netherlands, sculpting since 2006; Sandis Kondrats is from Latvia began sculpting in 2001; Sue McGrew is one of the youngest professional sculptors; Fergus Mulvaney of Dublin, Ireland, sculpting since 1993; Bruce Phillips has been sculpting with sand for over 20 years; Kirk Rademaker from Stinson Beach, California and has been a sand sculptor since 1997; and JOOheng Tan of Singapore, sculpting since 2000, makes his debut in San Diego.

Organizers of the event are encouraging attendees to use public transportation. To facilitate this, MTS has partnered with the USSSC.

“This is at least our third year supporting the event,” said Rob Schupp, MTS representative. “MTS gets involved in partnerships like this where it makes sense for riders to come to the events and to avoid parking and driving hassles.

“What I look for in a partner is someone who is really wiling to push the transit alternative for people who are attending their event and [Joyce and Gordon] do an exceptional job of letting people know that riding the trolley or the buses to downtown to come to this event makes a lot of sense, and they provide our riders a $3 discount if they show their ticket at the window so it’s a really great partnership and they do all they can to support transit.”

Back again from last year are the children’s rides, although there will be no zip line this year, but Bubble Fun and Euro Bungy are both back by popular demand.

Out of towners or those making the trek from North County can stay at The Sofia Hotel, a boutique hotel located at 150 W. Broadway. The Sofia is offering special rates to sand sculpting attendees. Visit their website at thesofiahotel.com or call them at 619-234-9200 and make sure you mention the sand sculpting event.

Each year organizers take a portion of the proceeds and make a donation to several local young centered organizations: San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA), the Young Audiences of San Diego/Arts for Learning; All About the Kids foundation; and the Maritime Museum’s children’s education programs.

“People came up to us and told us how fantastic last year’s event was,” said Joyce Summer, co-director. “People are still talking about it. It’s a nice family event and a breath of fresh air for San Diego.”

The US Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition takes place Aug. 29 through Sept. 1 at the B Street Pier, located at 1140 N. Harbor Dr., Downtown. Tickets are available online and discounts are available in newspapers throughout San Diego.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit ussandsculpting.com.