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Community Corner

Return of Sandcastles Explored to Make San Diego U.S. 'Sandcastle Capitol'

More than 60 volunteers came to a meeting to discuss how to bring a sandcastle competition back to Imperial Beach, possibly in September or October.

Following the demise of the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition, there are no more sandcastles in Imperial Beach, a city that is perhaps best known for the creations.

The hope of starting a new competition brought organizers and more than 60 people interested in becoming volunteers together Thursday at Imperial Beach City Hall.

Kent Trollen, part of a group trying to bring back the competition, said he wants the city to be part of an effort to make San Diego a sandcastle capitol.

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“I think part of Gordon and my plan is to make San Diego one of the sandcastle capitols of the United States,” he said.

Gordon Summer and Trollen worked together with sandcastle teams like Archisand and IB’s Sand Squirrels and I.B. Posse to put on a new competition late last summer on the B Street Pier across the bay in downtown San Diego.

To avoid overlap between a new IB event and that competition, the IB event will take place at the end of September or in early October, a month earlier than San Diego’s.  

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Ultimately, the Port and organizers want to see the event return in a way that allows a group of volunteers to support the long-term sustainability of a competition.

If the event goes forward, some aspects include:


    • Act as a Port of San Diego 50th anniversary celebration.
    • A possible admission charge.
    • An area to teach people how to sculpt sand.
    • A competition like the Kids N’ Kastles Competition.
    • Some forms of family entertainment and an art show.
    • A limited amount of vendors to sell drinks, sundries and merchandise.



Block the Beach and Charge Admission?

In order for a new sandcastle competition to get off the ground, organizers estimate that $80,000 to $100,000 needs to be raised.

The previous event had a budget in excess of $220,000, Summer said.

The U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition was able to stay free for 31 years because of fundraising and sponsorship, but especially with talk of removing vendors from the street that provided much of the funding in the past, something has to give, Summer said.

“We are not suggesting that we gate this event and charge 100 bucks a ticket. We are suggesting we gate the event and charge, I don’t know, $3 a ticket, not to residents of IB. Residents of IB will get in for free,” he said. “But for all the people coming in from out of town, there’s a cost to this event and we need to make this things self-sustaining. The only way to do that is to charge money.”

Ticket booths placed on main thoroughfares like Palm Avenue and Imperial Beach Boulevard would make plenty of money, said former U.S. Open Sandcastle Committee volunteer Angelo Pallotto.

“Even if only 50 percent of the people attend the event shell out and don’t sliver down an alley, you do the math,” he said. “Your intentions might be to make it smaller, condensed and what not, but you say Imperial beach, you say sandcastles, you’re going to get minimum 100,000 people on that day, without a doubt.”

Organizers of the new competition are looking for people to help with contest management, parking management, information staff, event set up and sponsor care. People with skills in graphics and web development and other talents are also sought.

Groups like churches, schools, sports teams and other organized groups are also sought to play a role. Ideas for how to put together the event are also being accepted.

If you are interested in volunteering but were unable to attend the meeting contact Jim Hutzelman at jhutzelm@portofsandiego.org for a volunteer sign up sheet.

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