Brick by Brick:
After many delays, The World of Concrete has finally returned!
Over the past year, Covid placed a heavy burden on all of us. We all had to do our part during this crisis and in doing so have made sacrifices along the way. Following the instructions of local and national guidelines, one of Masonry’s biggest events, The World of Concrete was able to take place this past week in Las Vegas, Nevada.
With approximately 1,500 exhibiting companies and over 700,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space, The World of Concrete trade show is the venue for all that is commercial construction. This multi-day event is where concrete and masonry professionals go to not only see the latest innovations in the industry, but to see the best of the best tradesmen compete in a multitude of outdoor events. STABILA, being a proud sponsor of the event, was fortunate to have booths both indoor and outdoor to showcase just how prominent we are within commercial construction.
You might be asking yourself; how does The World of Concrete find the best of the best. For all those competing in the event, each participant must win their regional competition. These events, hosted by SPEC MIX, take place all over the United States. While these are not the main event, they are just as exciting to watch as these rounds are do or die for those hoping to make it to the big stage.


The first day of the show was exciting for all who attended. For many of us, this was the first show we have been to in over a year! The STABILA team indoors generated strong interest with laser and level demos throughout the day. A welcomed addition to our STABILA team, Eric Vela, showcased his product knowledge and bilingual capacity in many conversations and demonstrations. He was kind enough to step in front of the camera and give us a great video on the calibration of our tech levels.
As the event occurred in Las Vegas during June, the heat was a concern. So in the later hours of day one we saw something new to the event, due to the heat the outdoor competition was split over two days. We looked on from our outdoor booth as contestants laid their initial layers. This is a critical step to everyone competing as a mistake early on would require adjustments during the remainder of their build and an overall point deduction. For those exhibiting outdoors, it was an entertaining way to finish the day.
Over the years, not only has the event as a whole grown, but the competitions themselves have increased in number. With the inclusion of events like fastest trowel and toughest tender, there was always something to cheer for throughout the day. As day two began, we at STABILA found a particular fondness in seeing the apprentice level compete. Over the years, the industry has seen a decline in younger people joining the trades. STABILA is a proud supporter of apprenticeship programs throughout the world, and we take the continuation of the trades seriously. So, when we see apprentice champions like Grant Helms with a STABILA in his hand, we know we are doing something right.


With all the action happening out in the event arena, it is easy to forget there is a whole show going on around it. Our team had a wonderful time in our exterior booth. With the competition only feet from the edge of our booth, we had plenty of conversations about our Mason Levels which attendees saw everywhere. With our integrated impact protection and locked vials, STABILA levels were by far the most represented level out in the arena. Naturally, attendees were excited to get their hands on one of our levels so they could see first-hand what makes STABILA the choice of so many professionals.
But levels were not the only talking point. In our booth we had a little competition of our own with our lasers. We held the STABILA LINE-UP CHALLENGE in which people had to use our new REC 500 RG receiver. This timed contest involved using the receiver on a grade rod to quickly sight-in our LAR 300. As you will note, this is a red rotary laser. After they got a successful reading on the receiver, they then had to change the unit to read for line lasers. Set up below the LAR 300 was our LAX 300 G, pointing toward the same grade rod, but at a different elevation. It then became the contestant’s job to sight-in the LAX 300 G. On completion of this task the timer was stopped and the time recorded. It was a surprise for many of the contestants to see that with one receiver, in a matter of seconds, they went from red rotary to green line.


With laser chatter building, we at STABILA were given a great opportunity to perform a televised demo. Rich Morse, an integral part of our team, walked the audience through our lasers. Moving from one to the next, he gave the announcer quite a scare as he dropped one of the lasers before the announcer could catch it (see photo). Anybody new to STABILA and reading this might pause for concern at this point. But, it wouldn’t be STABILA if it wasn’t built tough enough to tumble. Of course, he picked it up and turned it right back on to show just how durable we at STABILA can be.
Attention quickly turned to the main event, The Brick Layer 500 World Championship. At this event, bragging rights are not the only thing people are competing for. Prizes like a new Ford F-250 and a Kubota RTV-X1140 were on the line as everyone walked to their starting positions. With everyone ready, competitors and spectators alike, the horn sounded as a bustle of brick and mortar started flying around the arena. A quick interjection at this point to give our compliments to the Spec Mix Mud Slingers. These are the gentlemen who kept the competitors stocked with all the mortar they can lay, and at the speed these bricks get laid, that is no easy task. On top of that, these guys win nothing but some sweat on their brows and some stains on their shirts. As they continued to haul tubs back and forth through the arena, competitors were laying bricks with a speed that needs to be seen to believed. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but if these guys were there, it would have been.
The race continued on as competitors showcased their personal techniques and styles, it has to be a clean brick wall at the end, but there are no rules on how you get there. Audience members cheered on as time dwindled down. Competitions such as these let us all see what it truly means to be a master of one’s craft. Those in the arena not only displayed incredible knowledge in masonry, but the physical ability to push themselves until the horn sounded once more.
At this point, because of the increased temperature, the competitors were allotted a small break before their final clean-up. It is at this stage they are allowed to go back to fill possible holes in the mortar and clean the facings of their walls. Bricks are not allowed to be adjusted at this point. As the tools were set down for a final time, and the last horn went off, the competitors began to be replaced by judges within the arena. This group of masonry masters walk amongst the walls and examined each and every brick. There are no tricks that get past these expert eyes. But even with a keen eye, the need for a professional method of measurement is needed at this stage. If you looked at the hands of the judges you would see a familiar member of the STABILA family. The TECH 500 has become one of the customary tools with which these walls are judged. When minor faults in the angle of a brick can make the difference between victory and defeat, the accuracy these tools perform at, is essential in choosing a champion.

After the judges left the arena to begin deliberation, the awards began to find their way into the spotlight. To say the winners are showered in prizes would be an understatement. Not only did the top victors receive cars and other work vehicles, but anybody who was placed received a plethora of tools, cash prizes, and many other awards for their achievements. This year, STABILA brought something extra beyond our normal prizes. STABILA in years past had brought customized Mason Levels for all who placed with a commemorative plaque to match. In addition to our standard awards, STABILA North America’s marketing manager Jeff Staehler had plans to spice things up. For the world champion and the top craftsmen, full sized wrestling belts were created for the victors to flaunt at their leisure. As time drew closer for the final tally to be called, the announcers could be seen playing with the belts and wanting to try them on for themselves. It can be said that the event itself was incredibly entertaining, but the announcers and staff who packaged it all together for those attending, really did an outstanding job. Every moment one found themselves enthralled with the seriousness of the competition or having a much-needed chuckle as the announcers bantered back and forth. When they say this is the Superbowl of brick laying, they mean it. The entire event stands up to that statement in every sense from entertainment to production level.

Like clockwork the crowd began to quiet as the competitors found their way back into the arena, the time had come to announce the winners. The sun was high, the air was hot, but everyone was planted where they stood awaiting the final results. As third place, Tony Savant, and second place, Scott Tuttle, found their way to the stage an uproar of cheers began to erupt from the crowd. After totals were calculated, a mere 3 bricks separated the two competitors who received counts of 615 and 618! Only two awards remained, World Champion and Top Craftsmen. Now as World Champion is the highest overall count, Top Craftsmen is a special designation reserved for the competitor who creates the most pristine wall, it must be perfect. This year, Darian Douthit took home Top Craftsmen with a total of 545 beautifully laid bricks. No more waiting, the time had come to determine this years World Champion. With an inhuman 678 bricks, David Chavez paved his way to victory. At last, all the victors took to the stage, to take their places as champions.
For those competing, the journey was done, but for STABILA, the event marched on as we rolled into our final day of the show. The last day was designated for indoor exhibitors to have their last interactions with all who attended. This day proved very useful for attendees as well as the STABILA team. Those new to our team watched and learned as veterans of the event executed laser and level demonstrations. The deep understanding displayed as they began each new conversation set a benchmark for what is to be expected from the entire team as shows continue to take place. But as the sun sank lower and time went on, the event came to a close. The STABILA team had a very successful show and welcomed the return of events such as these. In January 2022, The World of Concrete will take place once again, and we can’t wait to go back.
