On My Way to See a Wizard Building a World Record Sandcastle On Point Pleasant Beach by Calvin Schwartz.  October 6, 2013

 

 

On Thursday morning October 3^rd I got a call from the head of NJ Discover (my boss) inviting me to experience a new world of record breaking sandcastle construction and imagination launching points. I’ve never really seen sandcastles other than the ones I built myself on Belmar beach when President Eisenhower was playing golf on the news and the Everly Brothers started singing ‘Bye Bye Love a long time ago. The castles I built seemed to last less than ten minutes and vanished quickly in wind and ocean wave.

Thing is; I had no concept about the scope and enormity of the project being built on Point Pleasant Beach by Jenkinson’s in conjunction with Superstorm Sandy One Year Anniversary. So as I walked the steps from the boardwalk to a patch of sand then through a makeshift office,  public relations and souvenir booth to the site of a 30 foot partially existing sand structure, I stood in awe as a towering spire of sandcastle dwarfed my 6’5” height.

 

I was overwhelmed and walked around the circumference. Built into the side of the castle was a ‘sand’ car in the Holland Tunnel with a license plate, ‘Brzy Pt.’ Was I in the Metropolitan Museum of Art? The detail work on the sculptured castle was incredible. I looked around the beach. It was a warm day for October; a handful of people in beach chairs were still clinging to last vestiges of summer.

Then I spotted a figure way on top of the castle who waved and invited me to come on up the ladder but I’d wait for his descent. NJ Discover’s chief introduced me to the artist, sculptor, culinary artist and world record holder, Ed Jarrett. “Could that sand castle hold my weight if I climbed up?” “Sure.” Of course I was still in denial and retrieved my reporter’s microphone; it was time to interview Ed Jarrett.

“How did you evolve into all of this sand sculpting?” I powered-on the microphone. Ed’s mother advised him that if he went to art school, he would become a starving artist so he went to Culinary Arts School at Johnson and Wales in Rhode Island. In one class, he learned how to ice carve. He remembered when an instructor walked out with a chain saw. “Standing in a puddle of water, I learned ice sculpture.”

 

 

While a junior student, he got into a seafood cooking challenge and beat out the instructors and best chefs in the state. Later he did a New York food show and took first place in pastry. He had his own ice carving and catering business before he graduated. Along the academic way, Ed took management courses and ended up managing private golf courses but still practiced snow and ice carvings. “I got into wood carving eight years ago and sand sculpture 11 years ago. I just finished a 22 foot totem pole for an Iraqi War veteran who is blind. He wanted his kids to see it. We became best friends.”  He doesn’t do ice sculptures for weddings anymore. “I have to do bigger projects with a meaning behind it.” Just then a helicopter flew overhead. We both looked up smiling.

 

Ed was born in Maine. Somehow I thought he was a Jersey native. I wondered how he wound up in Jersey on Point Pleasant Beach. His best friend from college called him after Hurricane Sandy but couldn’t really explain or comprehend what happened like his neighbor’s house resting in the middle of the street. His friend, in the tile business, was out of business for a while. So Alan suggested to Ed about building a sandcastle on the NJ beach. He knew lots of people and they could bring in lake sand and make it happen.

“I came to Jersey to build one castle and now I’m building a second one to get the Guinness record for the 2500 school children that helped me on the first one. I’ve gotten world records every time I tried and been out here every day now to make this happen.” He pointed to the wood foundation; it’s the same technique how a bucket is used to build a small beach sandcastle. “This new  Sandy castle is already six feet in the air. It goes fast now. By this weekend it’ll be double size on its way to over 40 feet high which just beats my record.” Then Ed paused a few seconds and took a deep breath. “It’s not about beating a record but all the community that comes out and helps. I want to see these kids wear the tee shirts with pride that they had a chance to sign official Guinness log book. It becomes a family and sense of community.” People walking by on the boardwalk stop and ask, “Can I help?” And yes there is even a bucket brigade system used to move the 1.6 million pounds of sand.

 

I had to ask Ed, “Is there something special about us Jersey folks?”  He was quick to respond as if he’d been waiting for this question. “There’s an incredible energy. I’ve never wanted to do two sandcastles in any one year. It’s been the biggest high and energy level right here from all the people volunteering and coming back for more. We are Jersey Strong. Of all the builds I’ve done, this is the most fulfilling. Best karma with all the people here.”  Ed’s lived all over the world but has fallen in love with Jersey.

I asked about the sand used for his sandcastles and reminded him that all my sandcastles as a kid at the Jersey shore never lasted more than ten minutes or made it over 12 inches high. He laughed at my childhood ‘deconstruction.’  “In my three world records in Maine, I used lake sand which is powdery sifted sand. Every one of the grains is sharp because glaciers over time have roughed them up. Beach sand here is rounded by ocean currents and it becomes like marbles together. My sand is sharp and edges interlock like Velcro. Rain sucks the water in and pulls it tighter. I can walk on the castle. Of course I do design my castles with moats to drain the rain water.”

Then Ed’s voice got louder and prideful. “I’m the greenest sculptor out there. People sometimes think there is wood or binders or glue holding my castles together. But not; you see I don’t want to contaminate the sand so I can use it again.” The new castle which will be finished by October 29^th for a huge celebrity filled celebration at Jenkinson’s will have a gothic feel and be part haunted for Halloween and ready for Guinness’s new category, ‘World’s Tallest Sculpture.’

I felt invigorated and spiritual. I’d spent an hour with a very special artist and world record holder. The best way to finish this article right now is to remind EVERYONE that NJ Discover is LIVE STREAMING the entire sandcastle building process, day and night(24/7) for everyone to follow right up until October 29^th.  Check NJDiscover.com website for info on Oct 29th celebration!!  Here is the link to watch live streaming of the sandcastle:
Watch Ed Jarrett and his volunteers LIVE as they build a world record sand castle! Tune in everyday to see the progress.

Please support our sponsors! Eco Building Products, Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Sandy Castle 2013 & NJ Discover !

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Jenkinson’s Boardwalk offers your family a wide range of activities. Whether you are visiting for the day or the entire summer, you will always find something to excite every member of your family. From free weekly events to yearly festivals, there is always something extraordinary to experience here at Jenkinson’s.

 

Sandy Castle 2013, Second Edition. The current structure will remain in place until Labor Day. After that, it will be dismantled and we will begin packing sand into forms for a second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record for the Tallest Sandcastle.

 

 

NJ Discover, a New Jersey based production company that produces TV commercials, Web commercials, Local TV Show and Social Media Ad Delivery and Management Company that specializes in getting your video seen by your targeted audience. NJ Discover proudly serves the entire state and is dedicating to positive programming for New Jersey.

 

 

And on Facebook (The Sandy Castle Foundation): https://www.facebook.com/sandycastlefoundation

 

A PLACE TO DONATE AND VOLUNTEER:  http://jarrettscastle.com/