World of Concrete (WOC)/World of Masonry hosts exciting masonry competitions that pit masonry craftsmen against each other in tests of speed and skill – all in one day. Masonry Madness takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 3 in the Gold Lot, front of North Hall (WOC is at the Las Vegas Convention Center).

The competitions:

9:00 - 12:00 PM
The MCAA's Masonry Skills Challenge is a competition of masonry apprentices in first, second and third year skill levels. The contest is a showcase for skills training in the masonry industry, challenging winning apprentices from regional competitions held throughout the country to determine the top masonry apprentice at each level. The exciting competition spotlights our industry's finest young masons and focuses attention on careers in the masonry industry. Contestants are divided by experience level, "First Years" who are just entering the trade through "Third Years" who are just about to enter the workforce as journeymen. Each level is given a project to build appropriate to their know-how.

10:45 - 11:30 AM
At the SPEC MIX Toughest Tender®, the world's top mason tenders compete for the fastest time setting up their SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® workstation. Watch as they haul tons of brick, block, equipment and materials to beat their peers and take home $2,500 cash and prizes.

11:30 - 12:00 PM
MCAA's Fastest Trowel on the Block is hosted by the Mason Contractors Association of America (www.masoncontractors.org) and is a showcase of industry craftsmanship and a testament of both the speed and skill of the industry's workforce. Only those journeymen masons who have the skill, confidence and courage to face-off with the industry's best are invited to compete. This contest proves how important teamwork is in accomplishing a final product. The competition will pit journeyman masons, accompanied by their favorite tender, against one another in a show of both speed and craftsmanship.Each contestant's goal is to complete as much of a 30 foot long wall as possible, using 8"x 8"x16" CMU and the provided mortar in a twenty-minute heat. Contestants must have a high degree of workmanship using normal masonry practices and hand tools.

12:00 NOON
SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Who is the nation's best bricklayer? The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP competition at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas will answer the question. Each team consists of a mason and mason tender building a 26 foot 8 inch, double wythe brick wall. The most bricks laid in one hour and counted under the quality rules wins the event. Judged by over 20 highly qualified industry experts, the award places are based on the highest brick counts meeting the quality standards and competition rules. The judges will check each mason's wall for workmanship and production to determine who will make it to the winner's circle, where over $100,000 in cash and prizes will be given away. The champion is awarded the title "World's Best Bricklayer" and handed the keys to drive home in the grand prize, a new Ford F-250 4x4 SuperDuty Truck. Learn more at www.specmixbricklayer500.com.

WOC -- the industry’s only annual international event dedicated to the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries --takes place Feb. 2-5 in Las Vegas, NV. Click here for more information.