HAMPTON BEACH -- As the sun blazed down on his hat-covered head, Guy-Olivier Deveau jumped up and down on a plastic barrel full of sand and water, stomping it into a workable mold ahead of the 12th annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting competition, which begins today.

Around him, other world-class sand sculptors did the same with their large wooden and plastic molds of various shapes and sizes.

Over the next three days, Deveau and about a dozen other sculptors will have 21 hours to turn their 10 tons of sand into a work of sand art.

This year's competition is a qualifier for the World Championships of Sand Sculpting and is the only qualifying event on the East Coast. It is also the largest masters competition in the Northeast, and it's the unofficial kickoff of the Hampton Beach summer season.

“These artists have an extremely high degree of skill, creating art that is both unique and sophisticated,” event coordinator Greg Grady said. “They are continually pushing themselves to the next level. We never know what they are going to attempt from year to year, and that's part of the excitement of this competition.”

Past creations have included detailed mermaids, mythical creatures, knitting grandmothers, hockey goalies, pirates, Buddhas, fairy-tale characters and dragons in exquisite detail, as the event continues to draw world title holders.

The sculptors use only sand and water and the plastic or wooden forms that allow them to build their masterpieces up high, and which are later removed.

Sculptors participating this year include last year's People's Choice award winner and former world champion Michel Lepire of Charlesbourg, Quebec, Canada, and his son, Marc Lepire, who took first place in last year's competition. A full list of competitors is available at www.hamptonbeach.org.

The event also continues to introduce interested beachgoers to sand sculpting.

Visitors who want to learn how to do sand carving can sign up for free lessons on Friday and Saturday. Lessons will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Registrations are only being taken on the day of the lesson at the Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce office, located next to the sand sculpting event.

Awards in the Master Sand Sculpting Competition will be handed out the evening of June 23, followed by fireworks.

The sculptures will remain on display through July 8 and will be lit for night viewing.

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Gretyl Macalaster may be reached at gmacalaster@newstote.com.