Emerson Schreiner

Emerson Schreiner is a painter and sand sculptor from west Michigan. He now lives in Galveston, Texas where he runs the Galveston branch of Sandy Feet Sand Castle Services. Emerson has been giving sand castle lessons and creating sand sculptures for events and competitions for many years and has taken home prizes in several Master's events, including South Padre Island’s Sand Castle Days, Texas Sand Fest, and right here at The Crystal Classic. When he’s not on a pile of sand, you can find him climbing rocks, playing guitar, or trying to make friends with the local cats. This is Emerson’s 4th time competing in The Crystal Classic. 

Lucinda Wierenga

Lucinda “sandy feet” Wierenga is from South Padre Island, Texas and has won a modest amount of international fame with her sand-sculpting skills, carving at major contests and festivals world over since 1987. She has taught generations of SPI visitors how to build a better sandcastle — and has reached untold numbers more with her best-selling book, “Sand Castles Made Simple.” She helped establish SPI Sandcastle Days back in 1987, and she continues to be an event organizer and competitor. www.sandyfeet.com

The South Padre Island Sandcastle Trail - sandcastletrail.com was established by Lucinda in 2012, this collection of sculptures created from local sand and carved by some of the most talented sculptors on the planet, is truly unique. Thanks to South Padre’s temperate clime and a talented crew of local sculptors, SPI is able to maintain these “semi-permanent” art installations for visitors to enjoy year-round. Read about the sculptures and the artists who created them at sandcastletrail.com.