Sand Castle Days Continued Despite Unexpected Weather

Updated: October 26, 2024

1st place and people’s choice award, Karlis Ile.

By Mike Villarreal

On October 3rd through the 6th, the 36th Annual Sandcastle Days took place at Clayton’s Beach Bar & Grill on South Padre Island.
Over thirty-four years ago, South Padre residents and master sand sculptors Walter McDonald, known as “Amazing Walter,” and Lucinda Wierenga, known as “Sandy Feet,” started Sandcastle Days to showcase the exceptional sculpting qualities of South Padre Island sand and to underscore the importance of protecting our beautiful coastal shores. This free event has grown from a local celebration to a qualifying event for the World Championships of Sand Sculpting, attracting over 30,000 fans who witness the sand’s magic come alive. This year, there was an Amateur Division Competition and Sand Camp as well.

Despite the unexpected rain and high tides, this year’s Sand Castle Days event was a testament to the unwavering dedication of the sculptors. The weather didn’t deter them from completing their masterpieces. Rain and wind couldn’t dampen their spirits, and the fans were equally undeterred, enjoying a day at the beach filled with the magic of sand sculpting.

3rd place winner, Jihoon Choi form South Korea.

The event saw participation from talented sculptors from all corners of the globe. Jihoon Choi from South Korea claimed the third-place spot with his sculpture ‘Refreshment.’ Dmitrii Klimenko from Russia secured second place with ‘Elon/Alien.’ The first place and people’s choice award went to Karlis Ile from Latvia with his sculpture ‘Dreamer.’

Karlis Ile from Latvia returned to SPI for another round after taking 2nd place in last year’s contest with “Grandma.” Ile mentioned that the sculpture “Dreamer” was inspired by Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea. “I often fly in my dreams, but almost never swim. Someday, I would also like to dream of swimming like a fish and exploring the depths of the ocean and the colorful coral reefs. Hopefully, there won’t be any sharks.” – Karlis Ile.

Karlis Ile, an accomplished sculptor hailing from Latvia, has been passionately crafting art since 1995. His artistic repertoire spans a wide array of materials, including bronze, steel, granite, and wood, with recent forays into the captivating realms of ice, snow, and sand. Karlis is drawn to the primal energy inherent in these natural elements and the ephemeral magic they exude in the moment.

2nd place, Dmitrii Klimenko from Russia.

A graduate of the esteemed Art Academy of Latvia, Karlis holds a master’s degree in art in humanities and has honed his craft through a rigorous figural Sculpture Master workshop.
Karlis’s artistic expertise has not gone unnoticed on the international stage. His talent has earned him numerous gold medals from prestigious festivals held in countries such as Russia, Switzerland, Finland, China, Japan, Lithuania, the USA, Canada, Germany, and his beloved homeland of Latvia. His success is a source of pride for the sand sculpting community.