If you’ve been to Parksville in the summertime, you know all about the annual Sand Sculpting Competition. It’s a world famous event that draws tens of thousands of spectators every year. Sculpting is on through Sunday, but this weekend the forecast calls for a mix of sun and clouds with warm temperatures throughout the Parksville area, much to the delight of tourists, and hopefully artists alike.
The forecast, I’m told, is good news for teams who are digging into a weekend of competition Friday through Sunday. According to one former competitive sand-sculptor-turned-CTV-videographer, the perfect weather for building sand castles or intricate sand sculptures is mainly sunny with temperatures between 20°C and 25°C. Wells Gaetz says a gentle breeze off the water is nice, especially if the sun is blazing down. If it’s too hot, the sand will dry out too quickly, he adds. A little light rain or drizzle is ok, as it will prevent the sand from drying, but a heavier downpour will erode the intricate details.
Wells knows. For roughly ten years, between 1987 and the late 1990’s, he was a member of Freddy and the Sandblasters, a team of competitive sand sculptors who went on to collaborate with other U.S teams to win the U.S. Open Sand Sculpture Championships one year, and the World Championships at Harrison Hot Springs in the early 1990’s. Yes, they were good. And so were their beach outfits!
Freddy and the Sandblasters photographed here in 1990 at the U.S. Open Sand Sculpture Championships Imperial Beach, San Diego. Photo submitted by Wells Gaetz, fifth from the left.
So kids, if you love building sand castles, and you happen to be in Parksville this weekend, stop in and see the pros in action. The weather will be perfect…
