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Laguna Niguel's Ray Karch Takes First Place at U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition

By Michelle Woo Wed., Jul. 27 2011 at 3:02 PM
Categories: Main
Thumbnail image for raykarch2006.jpg
John Gilhooley/OC Weekly
Mr. Sandman Ray Karch in 2006.
​​Sandcastle master Ray Karch got down and dirty this past weekend, winning big at the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition in Imperial Beach. The 59-year-old Laguna Niguel resident and his three-man team, The Green Lantern Corps, took first place in the Masters B category with their epic sandcreation, "Planet OA," inspired by the Green Lantern film.  

"I'm the biggest Green Lantern fan of all time," says Karch, who we profiled back in 2006. "I was inspired. I had to do it. I knew that if I did Green Lantern, it'd win."   

karchsandcastle.jpg
Courtesy of Ray Karch
"Planet OA," the winning creation.
​Karch, along with fellow builder Bill Pavlaka of San Diego and a third "shoveler," had five hours to complete the elaborate planet. The team earned $2,500 for winning. 
   
In 1999, Koch won the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition with his replica of Queen Amidala's Palace from Star Wars Episode I. He's also a magician at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. 
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Ray Karch
Ray Karch

Thank you OCWeekly for listing sandcastle parties in your Summer Edition among the best things to do during the summer in Orange County. (And thanks for the above article, too.)

CASTLES BY KARCHRay Karchraykarch@cox.net   (949) 495-1565   www.castlesbykarch.com

Bill T.
Bill T.

I like the guys in the background, obvioulsy settled in comfortably for the long haul. There are people out there who don't require their entertainment to come in 30 second blasts.

Bill T.
Bill T.

Oh, fantastic sculpture, DUH.  (minor typo, second paragraph, first sentence: "...  says, (Ray Karch(?),) who we we profiled back in 2006 ...". Nice story, as always for you Michelle. One of the reasons I read OCW.

Michelle Woo
Michelle Woo

Thanks, Bill! 

Bill T.
Bill T.

Object example of another reason I read OCW. This error was trivial (the subject was obvious), but substantiate an error in a story and a correction gets promptly posted. I have seen this many times. Take that, trolls!

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