The Dreaded Off-Season

Sadly, the Competitive Eating season is over for 2008. The season basically ended on the last weekend in September with the Krystal Burger Championship. While going through the withdrawls of non-regular consumption wars, I decided to undergo surgery on my right leg to repair a stress fracture I had incurred while playing football and basketball during the late spring. My injury is similar to the one Tiger Woods had surgically repaired after his US Open victory this year, although he also had reconstructive surgery on his knee, which I did not have. Fortunately all is well now, I am repaired and ready to start running again.


Gimping around 1 week after surgery in October

Of course, there is no offseason for eating in general but now that I have been on the circuit for three full years I really feel the lull of not competing. I am hoping that we can grow as an organization and sport next year but we have an uphill climb with the economic downturn. Not having a competition for Thanksgiving this year was very sad. There are two days a year when everyone in America collectively throws away their diets and celebrates in overindulgence - The Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. At least we have the 4th of July covered.

In addition, Wing Bowl will not be allowing professionals to compete this year. Wing Bowl is by no means a staple of the IFOCE brand nor does it have a reputation for even being a legitimate contest. But without a doubt it is one of the most bizarre and wild attractions that competitive eating has to offer and being shutout this year, for some reason is bothersome. After participating in last years event and seeing how rediculous some of the judging decisions went, I vowed never to be a part of that contest again. Yet, somehow now I feel like if I had the opportunity, I probably would do it again - don't ask me why, I know that the same things would go on again but it seems like the perfect way to kick off a season - with controversy, chaos, T&A, and a huge party; no matter if it is legit or not.

Another note I would like to make is that we have lost two people in the IFOCE that were an integral part of what drives the organization. Kate Westfall (Dir. of Operations) and Mike Castellano (MC) both have moved on from the IFOCE. Both of these people contributed a great deal to running our organization and they will be sorely missed. I have no idea how they will be replaced. Both of these people are my friends and helped me get started in eating. I wish the best for them, I appreciate everything they did and hope that somehow we can get them back in the future.

Happy holidays to everyone who reads this, I look forward to seeing you at the table sometime soon hopefully. I know at the very least I will be in Laredo, TX again next year vying for the most coveted jalapeno eating championship America has to offer on February 21. Hasta entonces!