Ilya Filimontsev of Russia won first place in the solo division of the 2019 Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition in Parksville. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

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King of the castle: awards handed out at Parksville sand sculpting competition

Jul 14, 2019 | 2:00 PM

PARKSVILLE — Imagination and talent are on full display along Parksville’s waterfront, where more than 20 of the world’s highest quality sand sculptures now stand.

Russian Ilya Filimontsev won the solo division at the 2019 Parksville San Sculpting Competition and Exhibition.

His piece Icarus portrayed the classic Greek muth of a son ignoring his father’s advice of caution to instead fly too close to the sun.

A panel of judges awarded Ilya Filimontsev of Russia as the solo division champion Sunday night for his piece Icarus. His Greek myth portrayal shows a son ignoring his father’s advice to fly more carefully with his wings, instead falling to his death.

Filimontsev said he had to make several adjustments to his prize-winning sculpture over the weekend.

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“I had a sketch, but the concept changed a little bit because the sand was not as strong as I thought.”

The former jewelry designer turned full-time sand sculptor wasn’t convinced he’d end up with the top prize.

“We have hope, but who knows. It’s like winning the lottery, you never know,” he told NanaimoNewsNOW before catching a flight back home.

Filimontsev is a five-time winner of the world-renowned Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition at Parksville Beach.

He won previous titles in Parksville in the solo and doubles categories and is regarded as one of the word’s elite sand sculptors.

Jonathan Bouchard and Jacinthe Trudel of St. Calixte, QC defended their doubles division title for their piece Believe.

Jonathan Bouchard and Jacinthe Trudel of St. Calixte, QC repeated as doubles division champs for this entry titled Believe. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The solo division competitor’s choice winner was Marielle Heessels of the Netherlands for Enough.

Doubles competitor’s choice honours went to Dmitry Klimenko of Russia and Sue McGrew of the United States for their entry Popcorn for the People.

The people’s choice as the public’s favourite sculpture will be announced at the end of the five-week Parksville Beach Festival.

Sculptors built their art forms this year under the Myths and Legends theme.

Following the grueling three day, 30-hour competition, Parksville Beach Festival Society president Cheryl Dill said she was floored with the quality of this year’s 22 entries.

Dill described the 37^th annual Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition as the best she’s seen.

“I invite the public to come in, read the description about what the sculptures are saying, the messages that they’re saying,” Dill said following the awards presentation.

The complexity of the stories behind the sculptures seem to become more thought-provoking each year, Dill said.

Public viewing of the sculptures takes place daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m through Aug. 18 at Parksville’s Community Park for a suggested donation of $4.

Nearly 126,000 people went through the gates to view the sculptures last year, marking the third highest attendance in the event’s illustrious history.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes