SAUL TAFFET Amazin’ Walter McDonald, who has been a perennial favorite on Fort Myers Beach, details a recent signature sand sculpture involving a castle.

Now that the sugar sand of Fort Myers Beach has been laid out and “conditioned” at the two venue sites on the southern end of the island, professional carvers will begin their artistic work Thursday afternoon and will continue shaping their sculptures all weekend long before adding final touches Sunday when the judging takes center stage.

Then, at roughly 6 p.m. Sunday, when the awards ceremony begins, the 23rd annual American Sand Sculpting Champion will be announced and automatically qualify for the 2010 World Championships next September in Federal Way, Wash.

Will it be Cleveland’s Carl Jara, the reigning world champion and winner of more than 35 medals; or St. Louis’ Dan Belcher, a 13-time world champion including an unprecedented three-time solo world champion; or Canada’s Karen Fralich, a three-time world champion and three-time North American Champion; or Florida’s own Thomas Koet, the defending American Champion here and winner of 11 medals; or one of 12 other master sculptors whose title accomplishments read like a weekly grocery list for a family of 12.

“This year’s lineup of Master Sculptors includes the best talent in the country,” said Katie Corning, a five-time medalist and Fort Myers Beach grand master sculptor who is this year’s master coordinator and a site manager. “The sculptures are Master works of art that people won’t want to miss seeing.”

This year’s new format to the American Sand Sculpting Championship Festival on the Beach -one of only five events in the nation to be chosen as a qualifier for the World Championships- involves professional sculptors and what Corning describes as “a World-class event.” The festival, which began Tuesday with sand conditioning and a group carve (a logo-sponsored sculpture by all master sculptors) is expected to be completed Thursday afternoon. The event is located at the collective sites of the Holiday Inn on the Beach and the GullWing and Pointe Estero beach resorts.

The SandVendor Village, a general tent area featuring food and beverage vendors, a dining area and many other festival vendors, is located in between the two venues.

On the competition days (Friday through Sunday), festival attendees can purchase a Master’s View pass which offers a fenced-off viewing for the following daily rates: children and seniors are $3 each; adults cost $5 each; and a family package (parent(s) with children) is $10 per day. The fee structure is also for attendance inventory (helpful for future use in getting sponsorships and Tourist Development Council dollars) and to make sure that the high level of competition continues.

“The quality of the sculpture is going to be so much better than most anyone has ever seen before,” said Corning. “Only the Master Sculptor pieces will be inside the admission area. You’ll be able to see through the fencing, but if you really want to see these pieces, it’s worth the cost. The reason is to ensure this competition will continue in the future.”

According to Corning, much of the events activities will be free. There is also a chance to get your photo in front of a personalized sand sculpture.

“The sculptors are going to create a photo-opportunity area where people can come and stand with the sculpture and get their picture taken,” said Corning. “There should be four sand sculptures: one is a heart and flowers for people who are getting engaged or celebrating an anniversary; the second is a happy birthday castle for birthday wishes; another is a dolphin and a star for children; and a fourth one will have a holiday theme for Christmas card photos.”

Due to no parking at event locations, free parking and a free shuttle service are available just north of Lover’s Key State Park’s entrance with the best access via Bonita Beach Road. Park-and-ride accommodations are also offered at Summerlin Square at 11418 Summerlin Square Drive (Winn-Dixie Plaza) for those attending from east of the Beach.

Master Sculptor Suzanne Altamare of Daytona Beach, who like Corning is not competing but will help coordinate the event, is managing the site at the Holiday Inn while Corning manages the GullWing location. Bill Knight of South Fort Myers, a relatively new Master Sculptor, will be running the amateur event on Sunday as well as giving carving tips at other times during the weekend. As in years past, Beach Boy Scout Troop 999 is volunteering during the festival.

Go to www.sandsculptingfestival.com for more information on all sand sculpting events.

COMPETING MASTER SCULPTORS AND ACCOLADES

This line-up includes the reigning World Champion, American Champion, New England Champion, North American Champion, Texas Sand Fest Champion and Canadian Open Champion. They are winners of more than 35 World Championship gold medals; 11 of which were featured on the Travel Channel’s Sand Blasters: The Extreme Sand Sculpting Competition; six of which are the country’s top women sculptors.

(alphabetical order)

Dan Belcher, 13 time World Champion and current Artist-in-Residence at the Windemere Classic

Meredith Corson World Champion and winner of more than 23 medals

Dad Doubleday World Champion and winner of more than 40 medals

Bill Dow World Champion and 12-time medalist in national & international competition

Karen Fralich World Champion, reigning Texas Sand Fest Champion, and the most decorated woman sculptor in the world

Carl Jara reigning World Champion and winner of more than 35 medals

Thomas Koet reigning American Champion (FMB winner last year)

Matt Long 4 time medalist and inventor of national award-winning “Can You Dig It Sand Tools”

Fred Mallett holder of World Champion titles and more than 23 medals, Fred’s piece at last year’s event was a People’s Choice winner

Amazin’ Walter McDonald a perennial favorite on Fort Myers Beach, known for his arches

Sue McGrew reigning New England Champion and youngest woman sculptor

Kirk Rademaker an international phenomenon and 9 time medalist, known for his mechanical-inspired sculptures

Jeff Strong multi-time medalist who became known around the world for his sculpture “Consuming Pastime”

Michael Velling World Champion and reigning Grand Master Champion

Peter Vogelaar World Champion and reigning North American Champion and Canadian Open Champion

“Sand Feet” Lucinda Wierenga holder of World Champion titles and celebrated author of “Sandcastles Made Simple”

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

– Wednesday, Nov. 4

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Group sculpture carving

Holiday Inn.

– Thursday, Nov. 5

9 a.m. – completion: Group sculpture carving

– Friday, Nov. 6

9 a.m. – 6 p.m.: The Master Carve Competition

Gullwing, Holiday Inn & Pointe Estero.

Noon – 5 p.m.: Beach Festival – Exhibitors Open

Noon, 1:30 p.m.; 3 p.m.; 4:30 p.m. – Sand sculpting tips

5 – 6 p.m. – Hands-on Lessons

– Saturday, Nov. 7

9 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Florida State Championship competition

– Sunday, Nov. 8

8 a.m. – 1 p.m.: The Master Carve Competition

2 – 3 p.m.: The Master Carve judging

8 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Florida State Championship competition

2 p.m.: Florida State judging

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Amateur competition

3 – 4 p.m.: Amateur Competition judging

Noon -5 p.m.: Beach Festival – Exhibitors Open

6 p.m.: Award Ceremony, Holiday Inn.

On each day, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. SandVendor Village open

and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. SandVendor Village Food Court open