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There are sand castles and then there is the “wow factor.” It’s the latter that wins sand sculpting competitions, says Karen Fralich, a professional sand sculptor from Burlington, Ont. If you want to build the best sand sculpture on the beach, steal from the pro’s playbook.

As you might expect, prep work is key. “It’s all to do with what you do before you carve the sculpture,” Fralich says.

Pile wet sand in any mould where it can be packed down – a painter’s bucket should do the trick.

Add a layer of sand and soak it.

“You cannot use too much water when you are making a sand sculpture,” Fralich says.

Then, pack it hard. No, seriously. Really, really hard. “There’s a lot of pressure involved,” Fralich says.

Dry sand will fall apart. Wet sand that hasn’t been stamped down will fall apart. Wet, firmly-packed sand will be like clay awaiting your visionary masterpiece. “You have to carve it while it’s wet. You cannot carve while it’s dry,” Fralich says. “It can’t be too wet.”

Work from the top down to keep falling sand from messing up your work.

Use a variety of tools – spoons, forks, knives, you name it. Smaller items will help you get more detail. Fralich likes using margin trowels, among other items. If you want to go to the next level, use a straw to gently blow away unwanted sand from nooks and crannies and give your sculpture a smooth, polished look.

How do you get the “wow factor”?

That’s up to you.