The Sand Man
Many teams compete year after year, and begin searching for ideas on July 5. "They're as serious as amateurs can be," said organizer Angie Todd. It is amazing what people can do with sand and buckets of water, she noted.
Competitors are restricted to materials found on the beach. They may not use living plants or animals in their sculptures. The work is judged on "creativity, effort, design and finishing details. You gotta have those," said Gissette Suarez, serving for her fourth year as a judge.
There are categories for kids, for groups, and for the solitary sculptor. The $150 Best in Show prize is determined by popular vote. The cash prizes are provided by the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association.
Though turtle and lizard-like sea monster sculptures remain popular, a new creature is ascendant. "It's octopus city out here," said Angie.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see who won.
![The Sand Man Brandon and Blake Condron from Mooresville, NC posed with judge Gissette Suarez. Their T-shirts came from Amazon, "where all great things come from," said Blake.](http://ocracokecurrent.prosepoint.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/w600/n800/SandChamps.jpg)
![The Sand Man The Fat Tub was popular despite, or because, of its use of a prop, a no-no in the rule book.](http://ocracokecurrent.prosepoint.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/w600/n800/SandFatTub.jpg)
![The Sand Man Will victory in Ocracoke's competition help some deserving team go to Nationals? wondered organizer Angie Todd.](http://ocracokecurrent.prosepoint.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/w600/n800/SandGorilla.jpg)
![The Sand Man What's a sea monster's favorite meal? Fish and ships! Mary and Rachel Haggerty of Ocracoke entered the contest for the first time.](http://ocracokecurrent.prosepoint.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/w600/n800/SandOctopus.jpg)
![The Sand Man This sea serpent was the crowd favorite. It was even larger than the photo suggests.](http://ocracokecurrent.prosepoint.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/w600/n800/SandSerpent.jpg)
![The Sand Man The team responsible for 'Alice in Wondersand and the Mad Hatteras' wins a prize every year.](http://ocracokecurrent.prosepoint.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/w600/n800/SandAlice.jpg)
![The Sand Man Respect nesting turtles!](http://ocracokecurrent.prosepoint.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/w600/n800/SandTurtle.jpg)
And the winners are . . .
INDIVIDUAL 12 & UNDER:
1st: Sofie Stillman for Monsters Inc.
2nd: Catherine Todd for Mermaid
3rd: Kevin Davis for Doghouse
GROUP 12 & UNDER:
1st: Giovanni and Hunter for Blackbeard's Chest
2nd: Team Hoffman for Lego Sea Turtle
3rd: Ethan, Starr and Dirk for City of Pompeii
INDIVIDUAL 13 & OVER:
1st: Ian Oelschlegel for Giant Turtle
2nd: Adrianna David for Giant Feet
3rd: Marshall Duncan for Octopus
GROUP 13 & OVER:
1st: Team Awesome for Alice in Wondersand and the Mad Hatteras
2nd: Team Potencia (Gloria and Junior Perez with family and friends) for the Map of Ocracoke
3rd: Team Sand Spot for Dragon Guarding a Castle
BEST IN SHOW: DJ's Crew for the C Serpent.