Esteban Cabral Wins the 2021 Colorado Regional Series
Earns title, “Colorado’s Best Bricklayer.”
Englewood, CO – He laid 694 bricks in only one hour! Mason Esteban Cabral and mason tender Cesar Lobatos with JVS Masonry in Denver, CO teamed up to earn the title, “Colorado’s Best Bricklayer.” The veteran team had a strong showing in the second SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 regional series event in 2021. Cabral and Lobatos beat out 7 other local teams, officially winning their shot to compete on the biggest stage in masonry, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500, in Las Vegas at the World of Concrete Expo in January 2022.
To qualify for the World Championship, hundreds of teams from across North America will battle to win one of 22 individual regional series events, proving they belong on the national stage. Each team, consisting of one mason and one mason tender, will be given an hour to build the largest and best 26-foot-long brick wall they can, with as few errors as possible. One winning team from each region will advance to compete for over $125,000 in cash and prizes (including a new Ford F-250 4×4 Truck, Kubota RTV-X1140) and the title, “World’s Best Bricklayer.”
To put Cabral’s regional win into perspective, last year’s World Champion, David Chavez, won with a brick count of 678. If he can repeat this performance in January, Cabral has a real chance of finding himself on the winner’s podium. Cabral is well aware of what it takes to earn a top spot in Vegas, having placed third in 2017. This regional victory will mark his 5th official qualification.
After winning the 2021 Colorado regional, Cabral said, “I am very tired. My back always hurts after this competition, but it is worth it.” He went on to say, “I am nervous but excited, because it’s another opportunity to fly to Vegas. I’m just very happy.”
Cabral and Lobatos walked away with $700 and a free ticket to Las Vegas for their efforts. The national sponsorship team added more goodies to the prize pool, including a $200 gift certificate from Ford, $200 gift certificate from Blaklader, Stabila levels, and a loaded Marshalltown tool bag and ceremonial trowel.
The SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award and second place went to mason Juan Cabral and mason tender Omar Mayorga of Phoenix Masonry, Thornton, CO with a brick count of 650. For their efforts, the team took home $650 and a loaded Marshalltown tool bag. The TOP CRAFTSMAN award goes to the mason with the “most sellable wall,” and is a highly coveted award in the competition.
Third place went to mason Francisco Banuelos and mason tender Jose Llanos of Phoenix Masonry in Thornton, CO with a brick count of 459. For their efforts, the team took home $250 and a loaded Marshalltown tool bag.
Colorado also provided the backdrop to the first JR. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 competition of the young 2021 season. It’s an abbreviated version of the journeyman competition, designed to showcase the future of masonry. Each apprentice leaves with a prize in hand, but only one is named the region’s best apprentice, a title which could go a long way when being considered by contractors for future employment.
Mason Gonzalo Villazana and mason tender Christian Castro with Mortcon Inc, in Colorado Springs, CO, won the JR. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 with a brick count of 94, taking home $225 in cash and prizes.
With workforce development being the primary battle cry for the skilled trades, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is a tool designed to create interest from a new generation of masons in the rewards and opportunities possible in masonry and construction.
The 20th annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship will be held January 19th, 2022 at the World of Concrete expo in Las Vegas. Prizes total more than $125,000 and include a new Ford F-250 4×4 Super Duty truck, Kubota RTV-X1140, Multiquip Mortar Mixer, and other prizes from IQ Power Tools, Stabila, Marshalltown, STIHL, Blaklader, Iron Age Footwear and Belden Brick.
2021 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 COLORADO REGIONAL RESULTS
PLACE | MASON | TENDER | COMPANY | CITY | RESULT | PRIZE AMOUNT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1ST PLACE | ESTEBAN CABRAL | CESAR LOBATOS | JVS MASONRY | DENVER, CO | 694 BRICK | $700 |
TOP CRAFTSMAN | JUAN CABRAL | OMAR MAYORGA | PHOENIX MASONRY | AURORA, CO | 650 BRICK | $300 |
2ND PLACE | JUAN CABRAL | OMAR MAYORGA | PHOENIX MASONRY | AURORA, CO | 650 BRICK | $350 |
3RD PLACE | FRANCISCO BANUELOS | JOSE LLANOS | PHOENIX MASONRY | THORNTON, CO | 459 BRICK | $250 |
JR. WINNER | GONZALO VILLAZANA | CHRISTIAN CASTRO | MORTCON INC | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | 94 BRICK | $225 CASH AND PRIZES |
SEE LAST YEARS RESULTS
ONE MORE CHANCE TO QUALIFY
The new Wild Card Challenge will send additional Regional Series competitors to Las Vegas for the World Championship! At the end of the regional season, the bricklayers that post the top adjusted brick counts could win a FREE ride to Vegas and chance at becoming the 2022 World’s Best Bricklayer!