SAND BLASTERS: THE EXTREME SAND SCULPTING CHAMPIONSHIP

UPDATE:  CHECK OUT THE TRAILER MOVIE FROM TRAVEL CHANEL AT

http://www.globalsand.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=61

TRAVEL CHANNEL EXPLODED INTO SAN DIEGO TO TAPE
SAND BLASTERS: THE EXTREME SAND SCULPTING CHAMPIONSHIP



The Travel Channel taped an all new Beach Week 2006 special SAND BLASTERS:
The Extreme Sand
Sculpting Championship on San Diego’s Pacific Beach on December 10th and
11th. The unique special is
scheduled to premier on the Travel Channel the evening of Sunday, March
12th, 2006.

SAND BLASTERS turns sand sculpting into a major competitive television
event -- one with an interesting twist. Eight teams comprised of two world-
class sand sculptors each potentially have up to eleven hours to create a
sand masterpiece. In addition to the usual challenges the sculptors face --
time limits, weather and sand quality -- one more obstacle must be overcome
before any of these teams have a chance at winning a share of the $15,000
prize money — explosives! Periodically, through random selection, one of
these works-in-progress is blown-up and the sculptors must start from
scratch with whatever time they have left. It is a race to the finish to see
which team can overcome the odds and beat out the competition.


SAND BLASTERS host and play-by-play announcer is Chris McGee and co-host and
commentator is Vanessa Vander Pluym. The competition was created in
association with and sanctioned by the World Sand Sculpting Academy
(http://www.wssa.info).




THE COMPETITORS



Team Grain Damaged (Team color: Orange)
Team leader: Carl Jara
Teammate: Kirk Rademaker
Experience: Carl has been sculpting for 13 years, Kirk for 8 years. Carl
worked on a World Record sculpture in San Diego with Rusty, Jill, Suzanne
and Sandy Feet
Team dynamic: First time working together
Occupation: Carl works for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Kirk
does woodworking


Team Women in Black (Team color: Black)
Team leader: Sandy Feet
Teammate: Suzanne Altamare
Experience: They have combined experience of more than 40 years in sand
sculpting (20+ years each) and have both been involved in setting world
records
Team dynamic: First time working together
Occupation: Both women make a living doing sand sculpting


Team Sandstorm (Team color: Green)
Team leader: Bruce Phillips
Teammate: Sergey Abdurahmanov
Experience: Bruce has been sculpting for 13 years, and Sergey for 4 years
Team dynamic: Have been working together on group projects for a couple years
Occupation: Bruce builds hot rods and teaches sand sculpture at his local
YMCA and Sergey does construction work


Team Sandsational (Team color: Red)
Team leader: Jill Smith
Teammate: Thomas Koet
Experience: Jill has been doing sand sculptures for about 10 years, and
Thomas for about 7 years. Both have been involved with a number of world
records in both the U.S. and Europe
Team dynamic: Met 7 years ago, and have been together romantically and
professionally since then
Occupation: They have a full time sand sculpting business, doing mainly
corporate, non-competitive work


Team Sanding Ovations (Team color: Sapphire)
Team leader: Meredith Corson
Teammate: Dan Doubleday
Experience: Meredith has been sand sculpting for 20 years, and Dan for 10
years
Team dynamic: Have worked together as a team for 9 years, romantically and
professionally
Occupation: 80% of their income comes from sand, but Meredith also works at
a nail salon and Dan also does construction


Team Sand Daddy (Team color: Brown)
Team leader: Ted Siebert
Teammate: Justin Gordon
Experience: Ted has been sand sculpting for 18 years and Justin for 21
years. Ted has 6 world records
Team dynamic: Met at the World Championships 13 years ago, and had worked
together 4 times since then.
Occupation: Ted has a full time sand sculpting business and Justin makes his
living carving, mostly wood


Team Bucketheads (Team color: Purple)
Team leader: Rusty Croft
Teammate: Chris Guinto
Experience: Rusty has been sand sculpting for 13 years, and Chris has only
been sculpting 3 years, and has not done sand in a year and a half
Team dynamic: They have never worked together, and have only met once
Occupation: Rusty’s main income comes from being a decorative painter, and
Chris’ comes from being a sea kayak guide


Team Archisand (Team color: Blue)
Team leader: Greg LeBon
Teammate: Ko Tanaka
Experience: Greg has been sculpting for 20 years, and Ko for 15 years. Greg
has been a team member on a number of world record setting sculptures
Team dynamic: They have known each other for 13 years, and compete together
in group competitions
Occupation: Greg and Ko are both architects full time



Jill Smith
Sandsational Sand Sculpting
www.sandsational.com