Mass. man to down some dogs
While everyone roots for hot dog eating champion Joey Chestnut to break his world record at the Fourth of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, keep your eyes out for a local who will be chomping down right next to the GOAT.
Massachusetts resident Geoffrey Esper is the second-ranked hot dog eater heading into Monday’s competition run by Major League Eating. His personal record is devouring 51 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, compared to Chestnut annihilating 76 hot dogs and buns last year.
Does Esper think he can close that major gap on the Fourth of July?
“I’d like to say I could but he’s got so much of a lead, I’m probably not going to knock him off,” Esper, who lives in Oxford, told the Herald this week.
“I talked to Joey the other day, and he said he was feeling pretty good,” Esper added. “He’s got me beat even if he’s having a bad day.”
Instead of shooting for the world champ, the 47-year- old teacher is hop
ing to eat a personal record of more than 51 hot dogs and buns, as well as securing second place. He would take home $5,000 with a runner-up finish. Not bad for a “serious hobby.”
“I think I definitely can get that personal best and win second place,” said Esper, who teaches electronics at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton.
One major factor with the hot dog eating contest is the weather. A hot and sunny day will dry out the buns. The hot dog casing can also get tougher and harder to swallow, Esper said.
After eating that many hot dogs and buns, he tries to drink as much water as possible because all the salt “really puffs you up,” he said.
“The water helps flush it out,” Esper said. “It takes a good day to get the swelling to go down.
“I’ll go back to the hotel and lay down,” he added. “But I’m not moaning or anything. I’m pretty used to it by now.”
Training for eating contests is just like practicing for anything else, Esper said. He’ll set up dozens of hot dogs and buns, and try to simulate the competition.
Esper does capacity training every day, trying to stretch his stomach out by drinking a lot of liquids.
“Once a day, I’ll fill up as much as I can, and deal with the consequences,” he said, adding that he needs to stay near the bathroom afterward.
Esper once ate 281 Hooters wings in 10 minutes, which he called his greatest eating accomplishment.
“I was really surprised that I was able to do that,” he said.
The 2022 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest is returning to the iconic Nathan’s Famous flagship restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island after being forced to alternate locations during the last two years because of the pandemic.
A total of 16 men and 13 women will be competing in the contest. The men’s and women’s contests each offer $20,000 in cash prizes.