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

2019 Winners
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Thomas Koet

Sculpting Since: 1996
Location: Melbourne, FL

“The sand here on this pier in San Diego is incredible. It holds together so well, and it is so strong; you can do anything with it. Right here is where I make the most daring designs and push the sand to incredible shapes that would be impossible anywhere else. On top of that we have some of the world’s best sculptors making their best works. Every year I look forward to seeing the amazing sculptures of this competition.”

A fierce competitor, Thomas has been sculpting sand for 21 years. In the past 3 years alone here in San Diego Thomas won first, second and third place medals as well as the Sculptor’s Choice award. See below for many many more accolades.

Large events give Thomas the opportunity to make his art on an impressive scale. Thomas has a master’s degree in industrial design engineering and has been a designer and sculptor for some of Europe’s and North America’s largest sand sculpting events. His ability and talent have taken him all over Europe and the U.S. as well as to China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Qatar and Canada. Thomas is a partner in Sandsational Sand Sculpting.

Earlier Achievements:

  • 2014 – 2nd place, solo, Tournament of Champions, Toronto
  • 2012 – 3rd place and Sculptor’s Choice, USA Team, Neptune Festival, Virginia Beach, VA
  • 2011 – 2nd place, solo, Tournament of Champions, Toronto
  • 2010 – 1st place, solo, World Championship of Sand Sculpting, Federal Way, WA, 1st place and People’s Choice, Tournament of Champions, Toronto, 1st place, USA solo, Art of Sand, Cape Canaveral, FL
  • 2009 – 1st place, People’s Choice, Sculptors’ Choice, USA Team, Port Aransas, TX, 2nd place and Sculptors’ Choice, Canada Team, Quebec
  • 2008 – 3 1st place awards, 2 2nd place awards, 3 People’s Choice awards, 1 Sculptors’ Choice, events in U.S. and Germany
  • 2001-2007 – 17 more

On the Web:  www.Sandsational.com

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.