Krystal fuels spirit of competitive eating
Erica Tuggle
Issue date: 9/24/09 Section: News
The sixth annual Krystal Square Off Hamburger Eating Competition Sept. 27 will continue a tradition of eating contests that began in 1932 with Krystal's first customers.
Kenny Hammontree, the manager of marketing promotions at Krystal, said the event of Krystal eating contests was made into a formal event to find the best Krystal eater in the world.
"Krystal was based and founded in Chattanooga and we really love this town," Hammontree said. "The first contest took place here so we start the eating tour in Chattanooga and end in Chattanooga."
Hammontree said Krystal and the University have had a long history together. As long as there have been eating contests, college students have eaten in them, Hammontree said.
He said this year the rules have changed in a big way for the square off. Krystal has introduced the Big Angus burgers into the contest, which will count as five Krystals, and the practice of "dunking" will be prohibited.
"Dunking" is when a contestant dunks the bread of the Krystal in water so that it goes down faster and reduces chewing, Hammontree said.
"We are omitting dunking as homage to customers, because they don't dunk and that is how Krystals have been eaten since 1932," Hammontree said.
Joey Chestnut, a 25-year-old from San Jose, Calif., is the number one eater in the world with a Krystal record of 103 Krystals and multiple other eating contest titles he has accumulated in the five-year span he has been eating professionally.
Chestnut said he approaches practicing for the competitions like sport training.
"I fast for several days, eating protein shakes and lots of liquids," Chestnut said. "Every time I get the food down I know I can get more next time. I convince myself I can do a little more than I did last time."
Chestnut said fan encouragement keeps him going out and doing his best.
"[I do this because] I love to eat. It's natural," Chestnut said. "I love to have someone beside me who can't keep up and is barfing trying to catch up. I love to get them to that breaking point."
Chestnut said his favorite foods are chicken wings and his mother's cooking.
The Krystal purse totals $50,000 this year with the first place winner awarded a $20,000 cash prize.
George Shea, Chairman of Major League Eating and the International Federation of Competitive Eating, Inc. in New York, said he supervises and regulates eating contests throughout the world to ensure that the sport remains safe and enjoyable.
Shea said competitive eating is beginning to be taken as a serious sport in the past five to 10 years and there is no difference between this and other sports.
"When people follow eaters involved and their stats, you get the same following as if it were football or any other sport," Shea said.
He said the competitions are extremely dramatic.
"The contest has people going for the gold in compelling human drama," Shea said.
"It is extremely funny and enjoyable and has a kind of attitude that very much appeals to college students," he said.
He said nothing is unsafe about the competitions.
"Whenever we do anything that involves eating, even a radio show, we have an emergency medical technician there and these competitions are only for those over the age of 18 in an environment that is safe," Shea said. "The event that will take place Sunday, truly has the greatest eaters in the world; these are professionals that know what they are doing."
There will be free Krystal and Blitz energy drinks for everyone in attendance, games, giveaways, and Jeff Carlisi of 38 Special will play until the competition begins, Hammontree said.
Students can enter the Sackfull challenge, where teams of two eaters will try to eat a dozen Krystals the fastest for a $100 Krystal giftcard, he said.
"It is another way for those who love Krystal to eat on TV and make some money off of it," Hammontree said.
The event will happen rain or shine at Ross's Landing downtown from noon until 3 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports South from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Hammontree said.
Kenny Hammontree, the manager of marketing promotions at Krystal, said the event of Krystal eating contests was made into a formal event to find the best Krystal eater in the world.
"Krystal was based and founded in Chattanooga and we really love this town," Hammontree said. "The first contest took place here so we start the eating tour in Chattanooga and end in Chattanooga."
Hammontree said Krystal and the University have had a long history together. As long as there have been eating contests, college students have eaten in them, Hammontree said.
He said this year the rules have changed in a big way for the square off. Krystal has introduced the Big Angus burgers into the contest, which will count as five Krystals, and the practice of "dunking" will be prohibited.
"Dunking" is when a contestant dunks the bread of the Krystal in water so that it goes down faster and reduces chewing, Hammontree said.
"We are omitting dunking as homage to customers, because they don't dunk and that is how Krystals have been eaten since 1932," Hammontree said.
Joey Chestnut, a 25-year-old from San Jose, Calif., is the number one eater in the world with a Krystal record of 103 Krystals and multiple other eating contest titles he has accumulated in the five-year span he has been eating professionally.
Chestnut said he approaches practicing for the competitions like sport training.
"I fast for several days, eating protein shakes and lots of liquids," Chestnut said. "Every time I get the food down I know I can get more next time. I convince myself I can do a little more than I did last time."
Chestnut said fan encouragement keeps him going out and doing his best.
"[I do this because] I love to eat. It's natural," Chestnut said. "I love to have someone beside me who can't keep up and is barfing trying to catch up. I love to get them to that breaking point."
Chestnut said his favorite foods are chicken wings and his mother's cooking.
The Krystal purse totals $50,000 this year with the first place winner awarded a $20,000 cash prize.
George Shea, Chairman of Major League Eating and the International Federation of Competitive Eating, Inc. in New York, said he supervises and regulates eating contests throughout the world to ensure that the sport remains safe and enjoyable.
Shea said competitive eating is beginning to be taken as a serious sport in the past five to 10 years and there is no difference between this and other sports.
"When people follow eaters involved and their stats, you get the same following as if it were football or any other sport," Shea said.
He said the competitions are extremely dramatic.
"The contest has people going for the gold in compelling human drama," Shea said.
"It is extremely funny and enjoyable and has a kind of attitude that very much appeals to college students," he said.
He said nothing is unsafe about the competitions.
"Whenever we do anything that involves eating, even a radio show, we have an emergency medical technician there and these competitions are only for those over the age of 18 in an environment that is safe," Shea said. "The event that will take place Sunday, truly has the greatest eaters in the world; these are professionals that know what they are doing."
There will be free Krystal and Blitz energy drinks for everyone in attendance, games, giveaways, and Jeff Carlisi of 38 Special will play until the competition begins, Hammontree said.
Students can enter the Sackfull challenge, where teams of two eaters will try to eat a dozen Krystals the fastest for a $100 Krystal giftcard, he said.
"It is another way for those who love Krystal to eat on TV and make some money off of it," Hammontree said.
The event will happen rain or shine at Ross's Landing downtown from noon until 3 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports South from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Hammontree said.
