Castelli Di Mare 2000
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Day One:
 ...And the fun BEGINS!
Lots of water needed for the pound ups. The sun was warm and the sculptors toiled in the afternoon working on the configuration of their forms.

1. Damon Farmer, USA
    Last years number three winner and sculptors choice winner. Certainly one to watch here this year as well. He works fast and hard, and his years of experience show. Still he takes time to entertain the children standing just outside his plot by joking that he is going to spill water on them in his rush to get the sand wet. His seasoned support crew, in the form of his wonderful wife Beth Kirchner, just shakes her head and chuckles.
 

2. Alexi Diakov, Russia
    New to the event - our first Russian competitor. Alexi is quiet and methodical. His approach is very calm. His piece is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
 
 

3. Alessandro Buonapane, Italy
  His first solo event in the Masters class.  He is very meticulous in his base pound up. Architecture is his area. He has his entire family here with him.
 

4. Baldrick, Holland
   Perhaps the sculptor having the most fun? His sense of humor belies his English background. A hard worker all the same, his piece is going to be fun. Baldricks' girlfriend Mika arrives Wednesday
 

5. Marika Tormikoski, Finland
   The only female in the event this year. Marika, along with her husband Kai, also directs a sand sculpture festival in her home province of Varkus, Finland. The Tormikoskis are also accomplished snow carvers.
 

6. Dale Murdoch, France
   A fine carver, accompanied by his delightfully charming friend Pascal, who unfortunately returns to paris on Wednesday.
Dale has a bit of a relaxed attitude about the labor intensive pound up and the Plastic forms that are new to him, but look to him to go for it in the carving process.
 

7. John Gowdy, USA
  Last years champion, sure to create a crowd pleasure this year with his highly emotionally charged design.
(watch this space!) John comes of a second place victory in France a few weeks ago. John is joined here by his lovely wife Judy, and two of his three children
 

8. Niels Vegter, Holland
   One of the avant garde Dutch carvers. Sure to render an impressively stylized piece. Niels too, has a soothingly relaxed approach to the preliminary labor. Niels' girlfriend Sylvia Von Bauskum was an entrant in the charter edition of CDM in 1998.
 

 Shovels, sand and water fly.
The piles are 25 cubic meters each, or about 37 imperial tons.
Niels Has the tallest pound up at the end of day one, but has to reconfig after a collapse of his top form..
Alessandro seemingly takes the most time and effort so far. One must wonder at the scope of the work he intends for such serious prep/advance work.

The Crew:
Last years helpers repeat here this year. The stoic Domingo (on the right) and the ever effervescent Luciano. Bravissimo & Grazie !