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Leap Sandcastle Classic brings sandy masterpieces to Ocean Beach for the 40th year

Participants work on their team's sandcastle sculpture during the Leap Sandcastle Classic at Ocean Beach in San Francisco on October 22, 2022. | Morgan Ellis/The Standard

Competition was in the air at Ocean Beach on Saturday, where the 40th annual Leap Sandcastle Classic took place, the latest run of Northern California’s largest sandcastle building competition.

Tech, architecture and engineering companies were paired with elementary students from a local partner school to make up a total of 19 teams competing. 

@sfstandard Northern California's largest sandcastle building competition, the Leap Sandcastle Classic, was back at Ocean Beach on Saturday for its 40th anniversary. Check out the masterpieces, any favorites? #sandcastle #sandcastlecompetition #beachday #oceanbeach #sf #sanfrancisco #sfbeach #sfevents ♬ Summer Tropical House - BeachVibes

The theme for this year’s event was “Sandcastle Remix,” inviting participants to put their own unique spins on a theme from a past year’s competition. 

The Sandcastle Classic directs approximately 40% of the funds raised to Leap, a private nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality arts education for Bay Area students.

A nearly finished sandcastle sculpture at the Leap Sandcastle Classic at Ocean Beach in San Francisco on October 22, 2022 | Morgan Ellis/The Standard

Morgan Ellis can be reached at morgan@sfstandard.com