Welcome to the 2019 Sun & Sea Festival Master Competitors
The Master’s competition is the highlight of the Sun & Sea Festival. Their stunning designs add to Imperial Beach’s historic connection to sand castles and keep this event as a “must see” among San Diego’s summertime festivals. The 2019 competitor line-up is an impressive group of talented individuals and teams. This year’s monument castle will be designed and built by professional sand sculptors Sandytales.
Here are the backgrounds of the most notable competitors:
I.B. Posse
Imperial Beach “IB” Posse has been competing in sand sculpting events for more than 30 years …and it all started here in our little town. The Posse is a group of friends and family, from the South Bay that grew up on the beach. The motivation stems from a love for art, a desire to give back to their community and the smiles they get when someone recognizes their work. The Posse is the reigning Sun & Sea Masters Champions and are excited to defend the title in 2019. www.imperialbeachposse.com
San Diego Sand Castles
San Diego Sand Castles started off with a bang in 2014 by winning the US Sand Sculpting Competition. Their trophy case has grown ever since as they consistently podium in southern California competitions with their sculptures that mix humor and wit with water and sand. They’ve become best known for their innovative family sand castle lessons that have garnered hundreds of five star reviews by travelers and locals alike. www.sandiegosand.com
The Sand Squirrels
The Sand Squirrels are a dedicated group of artists who love to play in the sand. The Sand Squirrels have been sculpting in the sand and entering competitions since 1991. In that time, they have won the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition and placed in nearly every competition they have entered. Throughout the years, they have donated more than $50,000 of their winnings to a variety of charities. www.sandsquirrels.com
Sandytales
Walter is an Italian architect and master sculptor in sand along with his wife and partner Francesca who is an Italian mechanical engineering designer and master sculptor. Both have been sculpting in sand since 2001, snow 2008 and ice 2014. They have been carving sand for national and international fairs, private customers and competitions. Walter prefers to focus on architectures, geometrical elements, logos and above all castles, which awe children. Walter always says: remember that the bucket is only used to carry water, do not try to turn it over full of sand. It is not a good system! Francesca has been working internationally with perishable materials. When carving, she likes to create figurative sculptures, human and animal parts. http://www.sandytales.it
Team SandStorm
Bruce Phillips, Team Sandstorm has been involved in the art of sand sculpting for over 20 years. He is known throughout the world, from Tokyo to Amsterdam. He creates amazing works of art at festivals and competitions, and does corporate and private events as well. In addition to sand, Bruce has fabricated sculptures from small to very large scale in a wide variety of other media. He says he has enjoyed watching sand sculpture evolve into a major performing arts attraction. In the world of sand, Bruce has won the 3-member division of the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition 7 times, and holds no less than 5 world records. Oh, and he won the People’s Choice award for Best Master’s Sculpture or 2013 in San Diego at the U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge. www.sandstormfab.com
Coronado Sandcastle Man
Bill Pavlacka, also known as “The Sandcastle Man”, formed this team to compete at various competitions around San Diego back in 2012. Originally just Bill and his sons, the team now also includes other artists from around San Diego. The team practiced on Coronado beach until they were ready to participate. They won 1st place in their first competition in the Cool California Carvers division of the 2012 US Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Expo. They also went on to get 1st place in one of the Masters Divisions at the Imperial Beach Sun and Sea Festival in 2014, 2015 and 2017. See more at www.thesandcastleman.com
The Sandy Collaborators
First time sand carving together is a new group of Andrew, Lesley and Yessenia. Andrew and Yessenia have previous experience as members of the Sand Squirrels, Sculpting San Diego and San Diego Sand Castles. Lesley is a visiting artist from New Zealand and will be participating in her second Sun & Sea Festival. The creative minds and blend of laid back personalities on this team are sure to bring a sandy collaboration that will inspire the minds of beach-goers everywhere.
Chris Crosson
Chris Crosson grew up on Balboa Island, California, playing in the sand. In 1994, to promote his dog waste pick up bag business, he entered the Newport Beach Sandcastle Contest. He loved the challenge and competition of the event and has competed in it every year since. This annual event has become his family’s favorite competition. Chris has been married to his wife, Laura, for 40 years and they have three children, Christine, Stephanie and Christopher, and 2 grandchildren. Even his 3-year old grandson, Oliver, has become a sandcastle enthusiast. This passion has taken the Crosson family all over the country to compete in contests. They have won awards in Siesta Key, Florida, Cannon Beach, Oregon and Port Aransas, Texas; as well as local contests in Long Beach and San Diego. http://www.sandcastlekit.com/