Photos from the American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach

Posted by Admin November 24, 2024 Jobs

Bruce Waugh with his winning sand sculpture “Fish Out of Water” at the American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach Sunday. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

Todd Pangborn was runner-up with his “Prevailing Winds” at the American Sand Sculpture Championship on Fot Myers Beach.

The American Sand Sculpture Championship on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

“Ascension” by Bruce Peck, placed third in the American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

The McGrath family of Chicago poses with the winning sculpture “Fish Out of Water” by Bruce Waugh. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

The American Sand Sculpture Championship on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

Bruce Waugh celebrates his victory in the American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

The American Sand Sculpture Championship on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

Marianne and Bill Knight (left to right) organized the American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach. Joining them on stage at right is Walter McDonald, who competed in the first championship on Fort Myers Beach in 1986 )the event was sideline for four years). Photo by Nathan Mayberg

Marianne Knight, Bill Knight of the Sand Lovers (who organized the American Sand Sculpting Championship), Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak (who co-organized the event) and DiamondHead Beach Resort General Manager Neil Hopgood (who hosted the championship) on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

The American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

The American Sand Sculpting Championship award ceremony on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

The American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach. Photo by Nathan Mayberg

The 34th American Sand Sculpting Championship brought more than 10,000 visitors onto the beach behind the DiamondHead Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach over four days this week and a tough competition between master sand sculptors.

At the end of four days of competition, the winner was veteran sculptor Bruce Waugh of British Columbia.

While the Canadian contractor said sand sculpting is a “part-time hobby” for him, his passion was evident as he waived his arms and celebrated with fellow sculptors after his “Fish Out of Water” sculpture was declared the winner of the event.

“It’s half an athletic endurance test and half artistic skill. Its a hobby blown out of proportion,” Waugh said.

“The crowd was amazing,” Waugh said. “I am looking forward to being invited back.”

Waugh, who works as a contractor renovating homes – particularly kitchens and bathrooms, sculpted three fish on top of each other along with fish eggs, coral reefs and rocks as part of a display that riveted visitors.

Waugh said he has been sculpting as a hobby since 1987 after being inspired by attending a sand sculpting contest at White Rock in British Columbia.

“I absorbed it all,” he said of the first event he attended.

Waugh sculpts his works with a number of utensils and tools including spatulas, concrete shovels and clay tools. He then sprays water and glue on the sand sculptures so they aren’t blown away by the wind.

Waugh said he also enjoys painting as a hobby – which he credits to his success sculpting. “Coming up with a great idea that you think the public is going to like” is a key to being successful at the competition, he said.

Bruce Peck’s “Ascension” won third place at the American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach. “I did it for my daughters,” Peck said of the roaring lioness.

“It represents knowing you have greatness inside of you. If you just ignore everybody else and let your inner beauty shine,” Peck said of the roaring lioness inspired by his two daughters who are graduating college this year.

Peck, a retired accountant from St. Louis, lives in Houston now. He took some architecture classes in college and said his talent for sculpting “just kind of comes naturally,” He started out in 2016 sand sculpting by participating in the amateur competition of the American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach. “They have a great program for creating future master sculptors,” he said. “There is nothing like it out there.”

This was the first time the event was held on Fort Myers Beach since 2019 due to covid and Hurricane Ian.

“It was greater than I could have ever hoped for,” Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said. Liszak helped bring back the event to the island with its organizers Bill and Marianne Knight of The Sand Lovers.

“This is a great event for the resurgence of Fort Myers Beach,” DiamondHead Beach Resort General Manager Neil Hopgood said. “Hopefully, we will have more of these to come, more events to come.”

Hopgood said he hopes to have the event return to the DiamondHead Beach Resort next year. “We hope this supports the businesses on Fort Myers Beach,” he said.

Liszak thanked the event’s sponsors as well as “all the people who have supported us, for waiting through traffic and taking water taxis. We even had people swim in from their boats.”

Liszak said someone said to her that the event was “bringing life back to Fort Myers Beach.”

Justin and Kelly McGrath were one of several who brought their families from Chicago to Fort Myers Beach this past weekend.

Mrs. McGrath called the sand sculpting championship “really cool.” Mr. McGrath, originally from San Diego, said “I love a good sand castle contest.” Mr. McGrath said he came down to Fort Myers Beach after Hurricane Ian to help. He said Fort Myers Beach is “one of my favorite places to be. It’s great to see everybody coming back around.”

Linda Robarge, of Punta Gorda, called the championship “fantastic.”

“The level of creativity was pretty amazing. What a great event. It’s amazing Fort Myers Beach came back,” Robarge said.

Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg can be reached at NMayberg@breezenewspapers.com

All photos by Nathan Mayberg/Fort Myers Beach Observer