Sand Crabs
Editor's note: It's entirely my fault that this post is a whole week late. Crystal wrote this story right away and I am a slacker! Anyway, I was feeling pretty bad about that and then I noticed that it's a fine, old Ocracoke Current tradition to post about the 4th a whole week later. So – please enjoy Crystal's story and all the great sand sculpture photos in the gallery below the story!
When I arrived at the Lifeguard Beach for the sand sculpture contest, I met Lachlan Howard, Ally Capriotti, and Hunter Capriotta who were digging for Blackbeard's treasure while building a sand replica of his treasure chest. Next to those three was Giovani Capriotti who was building a ship, usng small sticks as the masts. Just a short walk passed those three young people I met Kevin Davis, who very enthusiastically waved me down to show me his creation, an island! His sister, Adriana, was nearby adding shell ornamentations to her creation, "Sand man".
Further up the beach, teams and individuals were building large sand sculptures. Hammerin' Hank, of Laytonsville, Maryland, was carving out a dragon, which he named "GOT Drogon?". Mother and daughter combo Joanie and Aurora O'Neal, of Ocracoke, were completing the final touches to their five-foot "Shark" sculpture, which had seashell teeth and impressive sandy fins.
Slightly beyond "Shark" was Team Johnson, a family that consists of members from Florida, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. They all traveled and came together (some for the 38th year) on Ocracoke to compete in this event.
The defending Best in Show champions, led by Erin Solari and Caleb Johnson, said they were happy to be back on Ocracoke. Team Johnson built a massive "Starfish Destroyer", and even had music from Star Wars playing during construction.
Team Helmetheads, who won the competition a few years ago, build a sunbathing pig. Their entry, "OINK, OINC", was a cute play on words, and was created by team members who traveled to Ocracoke from New York, Maryland, New Mexico, and Georgia.
Team 'Murica, whose members are from North Carolina and Georgia, built what was probably the most controversial sand sculpture of the event. The wide open mouth of a shark, that looked a bit like the infamous Jaws, was aiming to bite down on a woman laying on a surf board. Some viewers felt it was too soon to built something of that nature after the string of shark encounters along the coasts of North and South Carolina, while others seemed indifferent. "It is what it is," one man said to me before turning to walk away. The name of Team 'Murica's sand sculpture was "We're Gonna Need a Bigger Board".
The Perez family, of Ocracoke, built a HUGE guitar. Several names for their sandy guitar were thrown around. Musical Sound, Mariachi, and Guitar of Ocracoke were all suggested until an agreement was reached to name the family creation "Guitar."
As I walked back through all the creations I got to meet Team Awesome. This team built Hermit the Crab, a large – you guessed it – hermit crab, complete with a seagrass beard, big eyes, and long legs. Team members traveled from Virginia and Pennsylvania to meet on Ocracoke for their annual family vacation. "This is one of our favorite things to do!" said team member Erin Scalia.
While walking through the sand displays I asked folks how they felt about getting in the water. Residents Gloria Perez and Lachlan Howard both expressed concern about the shark encounter that occurred last Wednesday, which has convinced them – at least for the time being – to not go in the ocean any deeper than their ankles.
"It's tempting, except for the shark," said Lachlan Howard.
His father, local musician David Tweedie, said, "I get in the water, just not very far."
Gloria Perez, however, said, "I won't get in passed my feet because of the shark."
Hunter and Ally Capriotti, who were building with Lachlan, both said they felt fine about getting in the ocean.
Visitor and sand castle competitor Caleb Johnson, while taking a break from construction of Team Johnson's "Starfish Destroyer" said, "We were in yesterday."
Don Johnson, of Team Johnson, said, "I feel perfectly fine about going in. We're very cautious."
Team 'Murica echoed Team Johnson's sentiments saying, "We'll get in!" Kennan Staelin, a Team 'Murica member, said the shark encounter, "Hasn't really stopped us," from getting in the water.
"People need to be careful whether they're in the ocean or not," said Roxy's Antiques owner David Mickey.
Ocracoke Child Care director Chaeli Moyer said, "I would go in, but not as far as I used to," and National Park Service Law Enforcement Ranger Corey Cutright said, "I'm not the biggest fan of swimming in the ocean, but I do go out in it some when I'm on the beach." He also explained that the recent shark incident hasn't changed how he feels about going in the water.
"I get in, and would get in today if it wasn't so rough," said resident Denise Hess.
Halo Hair Studio owner Susie Hutchinson continued by saying, "I've never really been swimming in the ocean, but I get in up to my knees. We've got to remember that it's their ocean. But it is a bit rough today."
Jim Borland, a volunteer with the National Park Service, said he'd have no problem getting in. His wife Ann, who works at the Ocracoke Preservation Society, said she wouldn't get in, but she also doesn't normally get in.
Resident Mariah Temple, when asked if she would go in, said, "Yeah!" and continued heading towards the beach.
Special thanks to Angie Todd for organizing the contest again this year!
2015 Sand Sculpture Contest Winners:
Individual 12 and under: 1st place, Petros "Shell Castle", 2nd place, Catherine "Olaf", 3rd place, Willow "Sea Turtle"
Group 12 and under: 1st place, Surf Team "X Marks the Spot. 2nd place, Eli, Andrew, and Owen "Castle Charlottesville"
Individual 13 and over: 1st place, Hammerin' Hank "Got Drogon?" 2nd place, Ethan Duncan "S.S. Jaws" 3rd place, Kevin Davis "Mouth Heaven"
Group 13 and over: 1st place, Uriartes and Perez families, "Guitar" 2nd place, Team Helmetheads "Oinc Oink" 3rd place, The Johnsons "Starfish Destroyer"
Best in Show: Team Awesome "Hermit Crab"
Click on any photo below to enlarge it, then you can scroll through them all by clicking the "next" button in the upper right corner. Enjoy!