Texan wins 2010 sand sculpting contest
Brad Goll of Austin, Texas captured first place at the 2010 American Sand S culpting Championship Festival with his art called Headache’ and, thus, automatically qualifies for the 2011 World Championships next September in Federal Way, Wash.
St. Louis’ Dan Belcher finished second with (“Writer’s Block” and Rusty Croft from Park City, Utah, rounded out the top three with Divine Discontent.’ Canadian Michel Lepire from Quebec received the People Choice award for his sculpture called “American Spirit.”
An estimated 50,000 people or more attended the competition days (Friday through Sunday) of the 2010 American Sand Sculpting Championship Festival at host sites Holiday Inn and Gull Wing and Pointe Estero beach resorts of Sunstream Hotels and Resorts. Pristine beach conditions and near perfect weather, hovering in the high 70’s, along with many tireless volunteers made the FMB Chamber festival a huge success.
“I didn’t have a headache when I was carving it, but I was in pain from the pound up,” said Goll about his art. “Maybe that influenced my decision.”
This was the first year at the Fort Myers Beach event for Goll, who has a record nine titles at the World Championships during his 25-year professional career in sand sculpting. He said his sculpture evolved half way through the competition.
“It’s a beautiful place with perfect weather, and the contest organizers took good care of us,” Goll said. “(My sculpture) didn’t start out as (Headache). I just wanted to do a big head with hands on it but, as I looked at it through the contest, it looked like he was holding his head from a headache. So, I added cracks and the eye popping out, and it kind of grew from there.”
Belcher, who won the sand sculpting contest during the first qualifier in San Padre Island, is also going to the World Championships.
“I came in second to my good buddy Brad who taught me a lot when I was learning, so I’m happy,” he said. “I’m honored to be in second place.”
Croft, another first timer at the Beach event, enjoyed the “powder sugar” sand of Fort Myers Beach. The three friends joked around during the interview.
“This will absolutely not be the last time I’m at this event,” said Croft. “This is nice sand.”
FMB Chamber’s Bonnie Roberts thought the festival was ideal and went off without a hitch.
“This has been a spectacular weekend,” she said. “The sculptures have been phenomenal, the crowds have been unbelievable and the vendors have been remarkably successful with a beautiful line of hand-crafted items. The businesses that have been displaying have run out of product. It’s been lots of good public relation for our island. It was a beautiful and perfect weekend.”
Roberts also had kind words for the contest coordinator of the 2010 American Sand Sculpting Championship Festival.
“Katie Corning is the most remarkable woman, and every single one of the Master Sculptors admire her and appreciate what she does for them,” she said. “She made this a smooth pleasant event for all of our sculptors.”
Corning thought the 24th annual sand sculpting event on the Beach was the finest ever.
“I think this is the best show of art sculpture that we’ve ever had on this beach,” she said. “Pretty much every piece was a winner. I just have so much respect for these artists. They really brought out their best for this community to see.”
2010 American Sand Sculpting Championship
Results
Master Sculptor division
1. Brad Goll – “Headache”
2. Dan Belcher – “Writers Block”
3. Rusty Croft “Divine Discontent”
4. Karen Fralich “Beauty and the Beast”
5. Carl Jara “Undisclosed Desires”
6. Kirk Rademaker “Fishnets”
People’s Choice: Michel Lepire “American Spirit
Florida State division
1. John Corning “It’s about time”
2. Karl Herpel “Family”
3. Lara Hines “Gunfight at the OK Coral”
People’s Choice: Karl Herpel “Family