Esteban Cabral wins the Colorado SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 Regional Competition!

Esteban Cabral claims, “Colorado’s Best Bricklayer” and “Top Craftsman” titles!

On September 15th, 2023, at General Shale in Englewood, Colorado, mason Esteban Cabral and mason tender Oscar Gavin with JVS blew away the competition by laying 734 bricks in 60 minutes at the SMBL500 Colorado Regional event. And, with that performance, this team has officially secured their tickets to battle at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 2024 at the World of Concrete Tradeshow. 

This team put on quite the show by laying an impressive 734 bricks during the hour-long competition. Their skills, speed, and precision landed them the “Colorado’s Best Bricklayer” and “Top Craftsman” awards. So far in the 2023 Regional Competition, this team has had the highest brick count in the Top Craftsman position. The Top Craftsman award is given to the team that has the ‘most sellable’ wall, meaning zero deductions, and practically perfect! The Cabral-Gavin team walked away with $800 in cash, a Marshalltown Tool Bag, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and two plane tickets to compete at the National event in Vegas. 

The 2023 Regional Series includes 23 events throughout the United States and Canada. To qualify for the SMBL500 event in Las Vegas, teams will compete at one of the 23 individual regionals and battle for first place to secure their spot in the national competition. The teams consist of one mason and one tender; working on a 26-foot-wide wall, they have 60 minutes to lay as much brick as possible with the fewest craftsmanship errors. These teams are only allowed to compete once at one regional event throughout the year, and each duo that wins first place will advance to what is known as the “Superbowl of Masonry.” At the World Championship, they will compete to win part of $125,000 in cash in prizes, including a Kubota RTV-X1140, Essick Pro12 mixer, and of course, the title, “World’s Best Bricklayer.”

The second-place winner at the Colorado Regional, mason Juan Cabral and tender Jose Limon were close behind the first-place competition, laying 688 bricks in 60 minutes. For their effort, they won $350, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Tool Bag. In third was mason Gilberto Madera and tender Cesar Limon with A+ Construction, this team laid 573 bricks, winning them $250 in cash, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and Marshalltown Tools. 

At the Colorado Regional, the JR. BL500 competition took place. This contest is a shortened rendition of the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500, where students and masonry apprentices display their skills for the chance to win cash and prizes! These competitors battle for the “JR BRICKLAYER 500 CHAMPION” title. The first-place winner in the Junior Bricklayer competition was Cesar Lobatos with A+ Construction, he laid 175 bricks in 20 minutes, winning him $100 in cash, Marshalltown Tools, and a Stabila Level. In second place was Erubial Alvarez with BSM, he was close behind laying 164 bricks, winning him $80 in cash, Marshalltown Trowel, and a Stabila Level. Lastly, in third place was Oliver Herrera with Francisco Masonry laid 148 bricks in 20 minutes, winning him $80, Marshalltown Tools, and a Stabila Level.

Disclosures:

In 2019, the SPEC MIX organization partnered with other masonry associations to create the JR. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Competition. In 2023, of the 23 Regional Series competitions, 15 will also hold a JR. BRICKLAYER 500 contest to allow high schoolers and masonry apprentices to compete for top honors and prizes. The program has proven remarkably successful and highly supported by the Mason Contractors Association of America, school administrators, and numerous masonry supply manufacturers and dealers. To learn more, visit https://www.specmix.com/jr-spec-mix-bricklayer-500/.

2024 World Championship: If you are interested in becoming a fan, the 22nd annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship will take place on January 24th, 2024, at the World of Concrete tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Las Vegas Convention Center Bronze Lot. At this competition, 25 world-class masons lay it all on the line to claim their portion of the total purse valued at more than $125,000. Prizes include a Kubota RTV-X1140, Multiquip Pro 12 Mortar Mixer. Additionally, there will be other prizes from Hilti, Hydromobile, IQ Power Tools, QUIKRETE Companies, Razor-Back Tools, Stabila, Marshalltown, STIHL, Hohmann & Barnard, and Belden Brick. 

2023 JOURNEYMEN SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 COLORADO REGIONAL RESULTS

2023 JUNIOR SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 COLORADO REGIONAL RESULTS