A Day at the Beach: Recapping the 2021 Siesta Key Crystal Cove Classic
Video Transcript
00:00:00:02 – 00:00:55:18
Diana
Greetings from Siesta Key Classic 2021. This is the Siesta Key Crystal Classic event. It happens every November, and it’s happened ever since 2010. Around 40,000 people were expected this year. And it also has 16,000 rooms that are booked, and it brings $9 million into the economy itself.
00:00:55:27 – 00:01:12:19
Diana
And as far as the number of sculptors, there are eight solo and eight team sculptors, and these are all Master Sculptors. The sculptors have 24 sculpting hours to get their sculptures done. And because of the type of sand here on Siesta Key– it’s quartz sand– when they finish, it almost looks like they sculpted it out of marble.
00:01:12:29 – 00:01:23:20
Diana
If you take a good look here, you can see this is a massive sculpture. And these are the sponsors, some of the sponsors for the event.
00:01:24:06 – 00:01:46:20
Diana
And if you look, you’ll see a mermaid, you see porpoises in water and octopus and sea turtles. Sea turtles nest along the Gulf Coast here. And there’s volunteers that come in the morning during sea turtle nesting season, and they will put flags around the sea turtle nests so they are not disturbed until the eggs hatch.
00:01:46:20 – 00:02:04:17
Diana
The hatchlings go right out into the Gulf. When you do see them go out, it’s just phenomenal. My favorite, of course, are the Dolphins. I just think that they exemplify what the dolphins look like in nature coming up and out of the water, and they’re just beautiful animals.
00:02:04:19 – 00:02:16:21
Diana
Dolphins are definitely an important part of Sarasota, and you’ll see them out in the Gulf, usually around 5:00 in their schools. You’ll see them come up out of the water. It’s just really a neat thing to see.
00:02:17:03 – 00:02:35:19
Diana
Oh, I didn’t even notice the stingrays there! Well, that’s just phenomenal. I think it is unique that the community care so much about wildlife and protecting it. I think this little landscape here definitely captures Sarasota. Sarasota is a waterfront community, and I think the key there is community you can see by the sponsors.
00:02:35:19 – 00:02:49:11
Diana
That’s definitely a community event. This is the first place, solo winner, A Beautiful Rose. A Rose is just a rose– until you look at the other side of the sculpture. This is why, or one of the reasons why, it got first place. I did, I did.
00:02:49:11 – 00:03:06:23
Diana
After people told me I couldn’t grow them down here. I had close to 100 rose bushes that did very well. I was told by the landscaper that nothing would survive outside of salt tolerant plants. So I decided that I would find out what would stay and if they only lasted 30 days of flowering, I was perfectly
00:03:06:23 – 00:03:18:07
Diana
fine with that. Well, they last a lot longer than 30 days, so I proved them wrong. People used to come by and take pictures. Some people, rather than go to the florist to get their roses, would just prune mine.
00:03:18:09 – 00:03:29:24
Diana
Then there was a bus that would go by and stop so people could get out and take pictures of rose bushes. Sarasota is known for its art community, and as you can see from an event like this, sand sculpting is a form of art.
00:03:30:10 – 00:03:47:07
Diana
And one of the reasons they brought it into this area. And we have a phenomenal, like I said, art community here that does other events. Yeah, this is rather unique to Sarasota, although there are a couple other sand sculpting events that take place in Florida. One is in Fort Myers.
00:03:47:08 – 00:04:04:18
Diana
This, I would say, is probably the largest. Sarasota is known for its community involvement. It’s known for art, culture, theater and, like I said, a big art community here. People that come from out of state can enjoy events like this.
00:04:04:28 – 00:04:24:24
Diana
We do more than just run to the beach, although today is a perfect day to go to the beach, as you can see! And this is November, so the weather’s perfect. I love Florida. I love Sarasota. I’ve been here since 1990 and have enjoyed every bit of it– and I’m discovering something new every day.
00:04:24:29 – 00:04:38:18
Diana
Well, I like to help people find a new home because I want people to enjoy Sarasota the same way I do. Everybody has a different reason for relocating. one of the biggest things is the weather and we’re close to the beach.
00:04:39:03 – 00:04:46:11
Diana
Almost any place you go, you’re within 20 minutes of the beach. I enjoy helping people. I love to watch people find their perfect home.
