Shown below are some images from some projects and competition pieces in 2008:     Sand Nativity -  Jesolo, Italy 9 sculptors from 5 Countries 500 Tons of Sand 9 days My piece for this edition was "The Birth of Jesus"             World Championships- Harrison Hot Springs, BC  2nd Place   "People's Choice!" After a great run of 3 consecutive Solo World Championships I accepted an invitation from two very talented friends Martijn Rijerse (Netherlands) and Hanneke Supply (Belgium) to enter the Team competition.  Together with 2 other amazing long-time friends and co-workers, Karen Fralich (Canada) and Brad Goll (USA), we formed "The Pyle Driverz".  Together we worked out a design for an idea I had called "Land Grab".   Everyone added their great ideas and unique touches.  In the piece 4 greedy characters (characterized by the human faults of  gluttony, rage, pride and jealousy) are grabbing up the land and leaving the normal people with less and less.  In a field of 7 very talented teams we finished 2nd in the judging and also won the Mark Altamare Memorial Trophy for the "People's Choice Award". Also, being the winner of the first two "Joe Maize Memorial"  trophies for the Solo World Championship (since its innauguration in 2006) I was honored by being asked to announce the winner of this year's award,  Carl Jara.                         Quebec City, Quebec  ExpoCite' 400th Anniversary of founding of Quebec Group International Project                     Riverway Festival - Davenport, IA Project for River Action      Arts in Action Invitational - Port Angeles, WA Title: "Music: The Final Movement" 1st Place  Contest Theme: Great Inventions New England Sand Sculpting Festival - Reve   re Beach, MA Title: "The Flame" 5th Place     Grace Community Chapel - St. Peters, MO Eagle for Independence Day     Magic House Children's Museum - St. Louis, MO working for  Sandscapes            Tournament of Champions - Harrison Hot Springs, BC 1st Place "Sculptor's Choice" This year I teamed with my friend and co-worker (and teacher) Kevin Crawford from Australia (originally from the US) to create a piece called "Guide Me Swiftly Home."  In it a weary young adventurer sets sail to return after a long journey to foreign lands, comforted by thoughts of the love that awaits him. We were honored by our peers to win 1st place in the "Sculptor's Choice" awards.   Stephen Colbert - Myrtle Beach, SC Sculpture for "The Colbert Report"  on Comedy Central With  Team Sandtastic After completeing two monumental sculptures for the two Presidential Debates (Republican and Democratic) in Myrtle Beach, SC, featuring likenesses of the participants, we were commissioned  to create a one-day stealth sculpture of the "rogue candidate", Stephen Colbert of the "Colbert Report".   Three of us  worked for 10 hours to construct the 9 ft. tall likeness and the Colbert '08 Logo.