‘B’ Street Pier
1140 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101

2019 Winners
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Ilya Filimontsev

Sculpting Since: 2005

Location: Moscow, Russia

After studying at the art college in Moscow, Ilya worked as a jeweler/goldsmith designing and making jewelry for 7 years. While working as a jeweler he started making ice sculptures and found the combination of traveling and sculpting enjoyable. He quit the jewelry job and continued to study sculpture for 6 more years at the Moscow State Academic Art Institute of Surikov.

Now one of the world’s top sand artists, he is in demand all over the globe.

Notable accomplishments:

  • 2017 — Grand Prize Doubles, Sand City Spectacular, Pittsburgh, PA
  • 2016 — Grand Prize, U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge, San Diego, CA
    • Grand Prize Doubles, Canadian Open Sandcastle Competition, Parksville, B.C.
  • 2014 — 3 Grand Prizes (Taiwan, Finland, Toronto) plus one 2nd (Neptune Festival, Virginia Beach)
  • 2013 — Grand Prize (Toronto), 2nd (Italy, 3rd (Holland)
  • Many, many other honors dating back to his first year sculpting

On the Web: https://www.flickr.com/photos/119011598@N08/sets/72157641635399675/

USSSC + DAE is cancelled.

It was our great honor to have produced this iconic event for 8 years.  USA Today had named it to the ‘Top 10 in the Nation’ and American Express called it ‘one of the top 20 seaside festivals in the world’.

Hundreds of millions of media impressions were registered worldwide and over 40,000 attended the festivities each year on the downtown San Diego embarcadero. 

We thank the Master Sand Artists from Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas who created magnificent sculptures from nothing more than sand and water, as well as the artists who work in other media, the entertainers, food providers, sponsors, media, staff, suppliers, volunteers and the Port of San Diego who made the event possible.

Should a title sponsor or new production company wish to bring it back to benefit local non-profits and the Southern California community at large, we will endeavor to help advise as long as we are able. 

For now, enjoy the website from years past.*

Thank you once more.

Joyce and Gordon Summer, Executive Producers

on behalf of Bruce, Tricia, Steve and the entire USSSC team.

This Website sculpted one grain at a time by Web Services Management.