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

2019 Winners
Navigation Menu+

Susanne Ruseler

Sculpting Since: 2003

Location: the Netherlands

While studying biology in college, Susanne Ruseler discovered that her true passion was not in dissecting animals but in honoring them via sculpture. She used several media in her quest to represent and beautify human beings and all creatures, sculpting in snow, ice, and sand. “I really enjoy alternating between materials but sand is my first love,” says Susanne.

And so, after graduation, she started a sculpture company and has been making fantastic, albeit temporary, art ever since. Her work now takes her all over the world, to places like St. Petersburg and Madrid, Tel Aviv and South Korea, where she creates intricate works, often involving the combination of many figures to create one comprehensive scene.

Notable accomplishments:

  • Concentrated in recent years on major projects, rather than contests
  • Still has an amazing 28 top 3 awards in contests worldwide in past 10 years, including 12 1st place finishes

On the web:  

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.