Sandcastles, Long Island and the Early days

It was 1985, and I had just discovered the wonderful world of sandcastles. Pictured here are the guys who helped make it all happen during those early days.

For our first major project, we were sponsored by Beck's Beer and Summers Beach Club on the east end. Together, we spent four days sleeping on the beach while building a 20-foot-tall Northeast World Record sandcastle. It was an unforgettable adventure and the beginning of something much bigger than any of us imagined.

After that came one giant sculpture after another, launching a lifelong journey that has taken me to beaches around the world.

In this photo are Brian Grofik, Mike Jones, myself (in the striped shirt), and Andy Perdomo—the crew that helped turn a dream into a reality that day.