OXFORD – With Joey Chestnut banished from the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, last year’s contest second place Geoffrey Esperfrom Oxford, has set his sights on the main prize.
“Winning first place would be a goal of mine now,” Esper told WBZ-TV. “It was never really a goal of mine because Joey was always there.”
Chestnut, a 16-time champion who once ate a record 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, was banned this year because about its partnership with rival brand Impossible Foods, which sells plant-based hot dogs.
Hot dog eating contest ‘turns into a fight’
Esper said that even without Chestnut, there are “some good eaters” in this year’s competition and that he believes the battle for the title could come down to “half a hot dog.”
“Everybody’s fighting for that top spot now,” he said. “It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be a fight.”
Last year, Esper consumed 49 hot dogs in the event that was postponed due to a thunderstorm. He expects to do better this year.
“I would definitely have to be able to get above 50,” he said. “They would have to be really bad hot dogs, really dried out and really leathery and I would have to be having a bad day to get below that.”
Esper doesn’t just compete in hot dog eating contests. He’s set world records in a number of competitive eating categories, including chicken wings, corn dogs, pizza, strawberry shortcake, and SPAM.
How to Train for a Hot Dog Eating Contest
While it’s a golden opportunity to take home the Mustard Yellow Belt, Esper said he prepared for this event just like he does for any other event.
“I just fry up a bunch of hot dogs, set the timer for 10 minutes and just go at it,” he said.
The days leading up to the competition are all about stretching, staying relaxed and trying to “stay empty for the 4th,” he said.
“Those little muscles in your throat and things like that don’t heal very quickly,” Esper said. “They get tired very quickly. They’re not designed to pump 10, 12, 13 pounds of food down your throat in 10 minutes.”
While the goal is to win, the 49-year-old keeps things in perspective.
“To me it’s just a competition. I know it’s the biggest competition and it gets all the publicity, but to me it’s just a competition,” Esper said. “Two weeks after Nathan’s, I got another one.”
