THE sandcastle competition that has brought some weird and wonderful creations to Horseshoe Bay annually over the last decade is about to get a massive upgrade.

This year's event, backed for the first time by the Ministry of Tourism, in association with long-time organisers the Bermuda Institute of Architects (BIA), will include the efforts of professional sand sculptors from overseas, with prizes of up to $1,000 on offer and seven categories of competition.

The Bermuda Sand Sculpture Competition will take place on September 2, with teams of up to six people being allowed six hours, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to build their creations on plots of 12 feet by 12 feet.

The three professionals being flown in by the Tourism Department ? Florida-based Team Sandtastic ? will be giving tips on sand sculpture in sand clinics to be held every evening, an hour before sundown on each of the four days before the competition, from August 29 to September 1.

The three professionals, Mark Mason, Pat Harsch and Larry Hudson, will also be creating an enormous main display at Horseshoe Bay, using 100 tons of pink sand to create a Bermuda-themed giant sculpture.

Tourism is marketing the event as "Sandtastic Days in Bermuda".

Travis Tucker, sports co-ordinator for the Department of Tourism, said: "The purpose is to combine the competition with the sand clinics to create more activities for our visitors."

The Bermuda Institute of Architects (BIA) has hosted the sand sculpture competition for the past ten years. Competition organiser and BIA member Nicky Gurret was delighted with Tourism's backing, which will catapult the competition into a higher league.

"Sand sculpture is something that is becoming increasingly popular around the world," Ms Gurret said. "There are big competitions in Italy and Canada which are both billed as the World Championships. There is also a big event in the US that has been going on for 24 years."

Team Sandtastic have four full-time sculptors who make a living from their talents by creating spectacular sculptures for shopping malls and theme parks and by giving corporate clinics.

"Sand sculpture is used as a tool by companies to encourage teamwork," Ms Gurret said. "We are hoping the clinics will encourage more people to participate and that this year's event will have a more international flavour.

"Bermuda sand does not hold together as well as some other sand, such as that on the US Pacific coast, which has a higher clay content. But at the clinics, the professionals will be teaching people the secrets of getting it to stick better."

The seven categories in the competition are families, teenagers (aged 13-19), children (aged 12 and under), open, company or organisation, tourist and professional. Each team is allowed to enter only one category.

A panel of three will start judging the sculptures at 4 p.m. and there will be prizes for first, second and third in all categories.

Additionally, cash prizes will be awarded to the three best amateur entries in the competition. The winning team will receive $1,000, second place $500 and third, $250. The best professional entry will also win $1,000.

All teams whose entries are received before August 30 will be eligible to win an "ipod" for all team members, and all teams will receive goodie bags. Entry is free.