Oxford News

MASON — When Bob Shoudt watched grown men competing against the clock and each other to eat the most hot dogs, he knew he had found his calling.

"I saw it on TV and couldn't wait to try it," Shoudt said. "I thought it looked easy. It wasn't easy."

Despite learning the hard way that stuffing one's face full of hot dogs is not exactly the picnic it appeared, Shoudt persevered. Seven years later he's known worldwide as "Humble Bob" and is ranked as the fifth-best eater in the world by Major League Eating, the official sanctioning body of competitive eating events.

Shoudt will test his mettle against Joey Chestnut, the undeniable best eater in the world, on Labor Day at Kings Island when both men compete in the first Skyline Chili Spaghetti eat-off.

The food contest also will feature ranked rookie Tim Gravy Brown and local resident looking to test their chompers against the finest competitive eaters in the world.

The eat-off begins at 2 p.m. on Labor Day, Monday, Sept.1, and is free with admission to the amusement park.

"These guys are very accessible. That's part of their appeal," said Major League Eating commissioner Richard Shea.

Even though competitive eating is most associated with the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in New York City, Shea said the league sanctions more than 80 events annually.

"It brings back images of Americana" Shea said. "It's a fun, pageantry rich event."

Shea said Major League Eating likes to promote competitions with foods that are associated with an area.

"We wanted to the food to be tied with Cincinnati and southwest Ohio, so Skyline Chili made a lot of sense," said Kings Island spokesman Don Helbig. Kings Island put up the $5,000 that goes to the winner.

Helbig said that each competitor will start with a five-pound plate of chili spaghetti in front of him or her, to be replaced when finished. Top competitors like Chestnut and Shoudt are expected to eat between 10 and 15 pounds.

"We're going to go through something like 200 pounds of chili spaghetti easily," Helbig said.

Shoudt said that chilli spaghetti is not a difficult food to train for because "it mostly involves stuffing your face." Shoudt said eating some foods requires learning to rhythmically dunk in water (like hot dogs) or to systematically pick apart (like chicken wings).

"It will be a really neat experience for our guests," Helbig said. "The experience is treated like a heavyweight title match with emcees and music."

While Shoudt, who in his other life is an information technology manager, takes the food competitions seriously, he will admit to seeing the humor of the situation. Eating at an amusement park also will offer a new kind of thrill.

"I'm going to try and ride a roller coaster after the contest," Shoudt said. "I have no idea what that will feel like."

More to do this weekend

If Competitive Eating doesn't appeal to you, Kings Island is offering other events over the Labor Day Weekend for its guests.

Saturday, August 30

Actress Carmen Elektra, who was a dancer in a KI stage show in 1990, returns to visit the park and will make appearances in the Flashback Totally 80s shows at 2:30 and 4.

Sunday, August 31

Three members of the Brady Bunch cast - who made Kings Island world famous when they rode the Racers in a seminal episode - will revist the park in celebration of that epidose's 35th anniversary. The Brady's - Greg (Barry Williams), Cindy (Susan Olsen), and Bobby (Mike Lookinland) - will host four Brady shows with interactive audience participation at 2, 4:30, 6:30, and 8.

Labor Day

Former Cincinnati Reds Superstars Pete Rose and George Foster will be the focus of two live Question and Answer session at 3 and 4 p.m. Guests will also have a chance to win autographed memorabilia.