300 tons of sand will turn B Street Pier into a “beach”

Morgan M. Hurley |Downtown Editor

For over 30 years, Imperial Beach was king of California sand sculpting. For various reasons associated with security and funding, the annual U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition came to a close after 2011.

Many of the artists didn’t want the event to end, so Gordon and Joyce Summer, longtime Downtown residents who had acted as the “sponsor agency” for the Imperial Beach event for a number of years, decided to take it over. They launched 3D Art Expo LLC, renamed the event the “U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Expo,” and quickly began searching for a new venue.

After scouting and considering locations along The Strand, around Mission Bay and on Fiesta Island, negotiations eventually began with the Port of San Diego to bring the event to the B Street Pier, adjacent to the cruise ship terminal, and it’s kickoff was set for Labor Day weekend, 2012.

Although the new location seemed an unusual choice to some, the organizers say the inaugural event along the already bustling Embarcadero attracted an audience of over 200,000, with over 25,000 paid customers walking through the turnstiles.

Now in its second year at the new location, the U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Expo will be open to the public from Aug. 30 through Sept. 2, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

The Summers said they are looking forward to another successful weekend and again plan to donate a portion of their proceeds to three different local children’s charities: Young Audiences of San Diego/Arts for Learning, It’s All About the Kids Foundation, and the Maritime Museum’s Children’s Educational Program.

Approximately 300 tons of sand will be trucked in for 23 different sculptures that themselves will weigh close to 10-15 tons a piece. Each sculpture will be in it’s own “box,” so despite all that sand, attendees will be able to move about the pier and in between the sculptures on a clean, concrete surface, rather than worry about the challenges of sand under their feet.

Summer said they are spending $60,000 on the event, which consists of appearance, prize money for three different classes of competition, and other expenses. It costs a lot of money to bring the best of the best to America’s Finest City.

The 2012 grand-prize winner was Master Sand Sculptor Rusty Croft, of Carmel, Calif., who also won the people’s choice award with his “Home is where the heart is.” Second and third place went to master sculptors who came all the way from Ireland and Italy, respectively.

Like last year, world masters from all over the globe – United States, Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Canada and even Latvia – will descend upon the B Street Pier and begin crafting their masterpiece entries starting on the Wednesday before Labor Day. This gives them a total of four days to perfect their sculptures and two full days to focus on them before crowds arrive.

The masters will present their completed works to the crowd and the judges late Saturday and then on Sunday, they plan to offer children in attendance some tips and tricks to sand sculpting.

“World sand sculptors are the nicest people I’ve ever met,” Summer said. “Not only are they talented, we really enjoyed working with them last year.”

Meanwhile on Saturday and Sunday, three different three-person teams who took turns tying up the top awards at the Imperial Beach event for its last decade, will be pitting their team sculpting skills against each other in the “I.B. Challenge,” a special sand carving competition that honors its Imperial Beach predecessor.

In addition, another competition will be taking place across the pier, and consists of the Cool California Carvers, consisting of 10 teams of two, also sculpting for prizes.

“The most exciting thing about the event is that it is a wholesome family event for San Diego, and if it’s not already, it’s going to be one of the signature events in this city for years to come,” Summer said. “There’s no alcohol and no beer garden – it’s a family event – and that’s why the Port loves it and the city council loves it.”

Since sand sculpting is three-dimensional, Summer saw a way to expand the event by opening it up to artists of other three-dimensional mediums and the move was very successful. Types of this style of art to be showcased will include glass, gemstones, fabric and metal, and much of it will also be for sale.

Musical and visual artists will also be performing all weekend long and there will be a sandbox, water bubble ride and other options for children to enjoy. In addition there will be eight different food trucks and an exhibitor section.

Downtown residents may walk to the event others are encouraged to take public transportation due to some of the construction still going on along Harbor Dr.

Tickets for the U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition are $9., with active duty military, children and seniors $6. Those who show their MTS passes or COASTER tickets will receive a $3 discount. Check this paper for a coupon, as well. The Sofia, a boutique hotel located at 150 W. Broadway, is acting as the event’s host hotel and will be offering special room rates to attendees. Parking is at a premium but available within walking distance.

For more information, visit ussandsculpting.com.