Competitive Eaters Battle In Regional Competition For Chance To Go To Coney Island
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Competitive eaters battled it out Wednesday afternoon as Pittsburgh hosted an official Nathan's Famous Hot Dog eating contest.
The event, held in Market Square, was a regional competition. The winner advances to compete at Coney Island.
The task at hand -- eat all the hot dogs you can in 10 minutes. Contestant Sam Block, Aliquippa, did a little research to prepare for today.
"I just basically go to Google and say, 'how do I prepare for a hot dog eating contest?' And then I go to three or four different sites and I follow directions," said Block. "It's an experience and a free lunch."
Jennifer Grabner lives in Ambridge. Her family and friends came out to cheer her on, showing their support by wearing t-shirts with her name on the front.
Grabner says watching competitive eating on television her whole life made her want to try this once in a lifetime opportunity.
"I knew when I saw some of these guys, I knew I was done for, but I figured I would try," she said, "and just to be up here on the stage with these guys is awesome."
Each plate had four hotdogs.
Before they eat them, competitors dip the dogs and bun in water to make them go down easier.
Several veteran competitive eaters munched their way through the competition at a steady pace.
The winners, one man and one woman, ate 30 hot dogs a piece.
"Yeah, I did a 30. I could do more," said Juliet Lee, the women's winner.
"She's seasoned," added Marcos Owens, the men's winner. "I mean it's not uncommon. I was small when I started, too."
The two winners will advance to compete in the men's and women's division finals in Coney Island on July 4.
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