The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) Installation Contest was held January 28-30 at Surfaces 2003 in Las Vegas.

The winners were: Robert Varden, First Place, Carpet; Jim Rank, Second Place, Carpet; Dave Rowden, First Place, Resilient; and Scott Sager, Second Place, Resilient.

Ten finalists in each division, carpet and resilient, competed in the two-day competition, which included both a written test and a hands-on installation test, conducted in front of the Surfaces attendees.

First place winners in each category received a cash prize of $1,000; second place winners received $500. All twenty contestants received a variety of installation tools and products from the companies that sponsored the contest.

"I thought the contest this year was the closest it has ever been," said Chris Davis, chief executive officer of the WFCA. "Each year Jon Namba revises the written portion and makes it considerably harder, and that was also true with the hands-on portion," Davis added. "Every one of the installers who reached the finals was a winner," Davis said. "They showed Surfaces attendees what quality installation is all about, and that helps raise awareness for all and generates pride in the profession."