World Championship of Sand Sculpting | copyright 2011
The World Championship of Sand Sculpting is a Sand Sculpture Events, LLC Production All Rights Reserved..
Frequently Asked Questions at the World Championship of Sand Sculpting
In the world of sand sculpting there are many questions we hear. Some questions we answer with a smile and give an honest reply. But by the end of the day you might hear some pretty wacky responses. Here is the short list with the honest answers.
Q: How do you build them so tall? A: Giant Navy helicopters fly in giant buckets. We use huge cranes to lift off the buckets. Actually we simply build wooden forms and stack them on top of each other. We remove the forms and carve from the top down.
Q: What is the wire sticking out of the top of every sculpture? A: It is an antenna signaling alien life form. Its a lightning rod. Actually it is a deterrent from large birds that might otherwise perch on top of the sculptures causing damage.
Q: How do you get the sand to stick together so well? A: We use the best sand possible. A fine grain, non-eroded sand with lots of tiny flat edges to hold all that water. Between each grain of sand there is a tiny water bridge holding them together. The sand is compressed together in wooden forms to remove most of the air. The less air, the stronger the bond.
Q: How long do the artists have to complete their sculptures? A: Each sculptor or group of sculptors has a total of 25 hours to completely carve all the sand in their plot.
Q: How does someone become a professional sand sculptor? A: Passion, drive, skill, a willingness to learn new things and a little luck doesn't hurt either. There are competitions all over the world and marketing companies looking for a way to attract large crowds. Become good enough, and you get to compete at one of these competitions or get hired to create sand sculptures for a living.
Q: What is that stuff you spray on the sculptures? A: We use the term windscreen because that is what it is intended to do. It forms a protective barrier on the outside of the sculpture that prevents the wind and sun from blowing away the detail. It is made from 1 part biodegradable glue and 10 parts plain water. We do not mix it with the sand. It is not intended to hold the sculpture together, only to prevent erosion.
Q: What kind of sand do you use for the competition? A: The 2011 solo and doubles competitions will be held on natural beaches this year. Beach sand varies from location to location. The sand at both Fort Myers and Siesta Key is some of the best beach sculpting sand you willl find.
Q: How long will the sand sculptures last? A: There are many factors that determine the life span of one of these amazing ephemeral creations. Construction, compaction and the overall design will play as large a part, as will Mother Nature herself. A well thought out design with excellent compaction and construction can last for months even in the harshest of weather conditions. On the other hand a poorly designed or compacted structure or one that has stretched the limits of the sand itself may not survive for more than a few minutes or hours.
If you have an question that you think should appear on this page please let us know. You can submit your questions by email to Charlie Beaulieu or Suzanne Altamare. If we like your question we will post it here!
