Up to the challenge

Men shatter record by devouring six-pound donairs in less than 15 minutes

A couple of big eaters showed up in Sydney and demolished the record set for devouring a giant portion of one of Nova Scotia’s favourite foods.

The mere thought of eating a six-pound donair would be daunting to all but those with the largest of appetites.

But on Sunday, two big eaters showed up at Alexandra’s Restaurant in Sydney, where they smashed the existing record for devouring the giant portion of one of Nova Scotia’s favourite foods.

Prince Edward Island resident Joel Hansen, who went into the challenge as the only person to successfully consume the megadonair in under an hour, and professional eater and bodybuilder Randy Santel went bite for bite as they devoured the tasty food in less than 15 minutes. Hansen, who set the previous record of 28 minutes and 20 seconds, was clocked at 14 minutes and 39 seconds, while Santel was five seconds slower. However, it appeared the Missouri-born Santel, who stands six-foot-five and weighs 296 pounds, may have let up to allow his dining partner to finish first on his home turf.

Both well-toned Hansen and the larger, but equally fit, Santel are extremely health conscious, with the former working on a master’s degree in health and nutrition, and the latter travelling around the world as a competitive eater while operating Atlas and Zeus, a company promoting restaurants, food challenges, health and fitness.

“You have to prepare for an eating challenge — you can’t just sit down and eat huge amounts of food unless you prepare for it,” said Santel, who has now claimed an astonishing 612 eating challenges around the globe.

“We learn to stretch our stomachs so we can accommodate the food and, of course, we drink a lot of water.”

In fact, the day before the donair challenge, the former overweight child and university football player travelled with

Hansen to Prince Edward Island, where the two each consumed a

72-ounce steak.

While the pair made short work of the humungous creations cooked up by Alexandra’s staff, those who gathered to watch the challenge could only look on in astonishment as the mountainous donairs, served with the works including the special sauce, were carried in on giant pizza pans.

By successfully completing the challenge, Hansen and Santel won a year’s supply of food from Alexandra’s, T-shirts and $500, that they each donated to Sydney’s Loaves and Fishes Society. And, of course, they attained a place on the restaurant’s hall of fame.

DAVID JALA – CAPE BRETON POST Joel Hansen, left, and professional eater and bodybuilder Randy Santel chow down during their attempt to successfully eat a six-pound donair in less than 28 minutes and 30 seconds, the time it took Hansen to complete the task in May. With an encouraging crowd looking on, Hansen devoured his donair in 14 minutes and 39 seconds, while Santel gobbled the last of his meal down five seconds later.