Sand castle competition diverts summer-minded KU students
With a truckload of sand and sandcastle artists at work, Kansas University’s Wescoe Beach was a little more like the real thing Thursday.
“Except for the crashing waves in the background,” said Jimmy Hummert, a sand artist. “And the nice girls in bikinis.”
Hummert, St. Louis senior, defended his title at the annual sand-castle tournament sponsored by Kansas University’s Student Union Activities.
“I’m really competitive when it comes to sand castles,” Hummert said.
Hummert was joined this year by his partner-in-sculpting, Matt Clark, Eden Prairie, Minn., senior. Hummert said the design was a “mid- to late-Medieval design, but a little postmodernistic.”
The two-towered castle, which took 20 minutes to construct, was up against seven other works of sand in children’s swimming pools, including a turtle, a lizard and other castles.
Winners received a summer prize package, including a cooler, beach towel and a Frisbee.
The event originally was scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed because of rain. Thursday’s temperatures in the mid-60s weren’t exactly reminiscent of the warm beaches of Florida or California.
“At least it’s sunny,” said Molly Hess, the event’s organizer. “That’s all we can ask for.”