First-Ever Sandcastle Competition in Coronado Sunday

Originally published 3:23 a.m. July 27.

For the first time ever the Optimist Club of Coronado will host a sandcastle how-to and sandcastle competition at North Beach Sunday.

"It's the first year so there hasn't been a huge amount of information out about it next year well have more time to get people properly notified," said Optimist Club member Bruce Johnson.

10 teams of five made up of family and friends will compete for bragging rights and prizes from 10-11:30 a.m. Sunday. 

Winning teams will receive gift certificates to restaurants like Village Pizzeria, McP's Irish Bar and Grill and the Coronado Fire Department spaghetti dinner.

The purpose of adding a sandcastle competition to the 42nd Annual Sports Fiesta is to give people more options and ways to be involved with the fiesta, Johnson said. 

The triathlon, one-mile ocean swim and 10K walk typically associated with the Sports Fiesta are too strenuous for some, Johnson said, so a move was made to include something people of all ages and physical condition can do.

"We wanted to add an event that anyone, grandma, could compete in and a child and kids-oriented event, and what would be better in Coronado than an amateur sandcastle competition?" Johnson asked. 

The purpose of the competition for amateurs only is not to make it the size of Imperial Beach competitions that attracted hundreds of thousands of people.

"Our intention is to do something for the community, something for the kids and something a lot more people can participate in," he said.

Despite little notice to the public, the idea of a competition has been well received, Johnson said, and if successful may double in size next year. 

To register for the competition call 619-851-1600. Registration fee is $25 per team.

Before the competition, the Sand Squirrels, a professional sand sculpting team, will share their expertise from 8-10 a.m. Sunday. The Sand Squirrels won several first awards from the now gone U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition.

At the Sun & Sea Festival, an event to replace the now gone U.S. Open held last month, the Sand Squirrels worked with other championship teams to make a giant sand sculpture.

"They will learn everything that us professionals know. We're going to hold back no tricks, hold back no secrets. We're going to tell all and share all," team captain Dan Gutowski said. "We'll even show them how to do an arc in the sand."

Teams who come to the sandcastle lesson before the start of the competition will learn how to shape and sculpt sand from some basic forms ranging from a round snowball, hand stack and basic forms like a bucket or trash can.

One key to success is having fun, Gutowski said.

"Our thing is don't be too serious. Just come, have fun and let the creativity flow," he said. "We just go out, we have fun, we create a masterpiece and its all about being in the now and creativity."

Johnson worked with the Optimist Club of Imperial Beach, who have hosted the Kids 'N Kastles Competition for more than 25 years, to bring an amateur competition to Coronado and for guidance on how to organize the competition.

Six Optimist Club members will judge the contest.

Despite little notice to the public, the idea of a competition has been well received, and if successful may double in size next year. 

Participants must bring their own equipment like a bucket, shovels, mason trowel or concrete finishing tools to smooth the sand or other supplies to shape your sand sculpture. Cylindrical or square forms with no top or bottom can be good choices.