"The Locust" Descends on Arizona

The Rookie and The Pro: Double Interview!

Rich "The Locust" LeFevre, the 62-year-old pro of the competitive eating circuit, ate 58.5 hot dogs and buns to win his way to the Nathan's table on the 4th of July this year. Okay, we're talking about his combined total from two qualifiers, but we're stilled pretty wowed by the prowess exhibited by the IFOCE's #5 ranked eater this year, who won yesterday's qualifier with 28 (possibly 28.5?). Last month, Rich set a personal best record of 30.5 HDB, which should have been enough to outeat the competition. Unfortunately for the Nevada native, he happened to be sitting at the Las Vegas table where Joey Chestnut decided to flex his muscles and power down his show-stopping 50. But so it goes.

This is Rich's fifth year eating in the Nathan's competition. From 2002-2004 he placed 4th in the finals, and took 6th in last year's. (His wife and partner in dine, Carlene, now retired, also qualified three straight years from 2003-2005, finishing 7th at Coney Island.) We talked to Rich about his perspective on the Tempe qualifier as a seasoned pro, but also had the opportunity to hear from one of the IFOCE's rising rookies, Erik "The Red" Denmark, who placed 2nd with 19 HDB, a very respectable showing. He competed earlier at the Sunrise qualifier, eating 13.5, and had the goal of eating 20. He'll get his chance once more, when he attends his third and last qualifier in San Fran later in the month.

Rich answers some questions before heading to Tempe:

How do you feel coming into this qualifier?

I feel different coming into this qualifier than I usually do. Things have changed so much since I entered my last qualifier two weeks ago in Las Vegas. Joey Chestnut was supposed to win that event and break my four year reign, but I don't think anyone expected him to do it in quite the dominant manner that he did. It was quite a humbling experience to eat 30 1/2 hot dogs and lose by 19 1/2. It obviously means that Joey is on a level up in the Stratosphere with Kobayashi and I am in a completely different class (along with several other eaters looking up at them).

How was this qualifier different to ones you've gone to in the past?

While I have never competed before in the Tempe qualifier going into this year because I have qualified elsewhere, I have gone to the event the past three years to support Carlene in her qualifying attempts (she won the first two years and finished second to fellow Las Vegan and friend Ron Koch last year). All I will say is that Tempe has been a very difficult place to put up a big number as the hot dogs are prepared well in advance of the start of the contest to not interfere with the restaurant's regular operation. The mall is very crowded by 11am when the restaurant opens for business and they like to have their normal business run smoothly. Most other venues do not have that problem to contend with.

How has your technique or training evolved?

I am probably at the bottom of the list when it comes to training and practicing for contests. I am 62 and eat competitively for the fun of it, but I don't want to sacrifice my health in doing so. On occasion, I will do a short practice a night or two before a contest if I don't have a strategy worked out in my mind on how to most effectively eat a particular food as quickly as possible (it really paid off before the Winchell's donut final in 2004 when I went from a qualifying total of 30 in 8 minutes to 42 in the finals). I have usually just relied on my talent and competitive instincts to carry me through and that has served me well for most of the time I have been competing. Of course, that will no longer be enough if I want to remain competitive.

Given the astounding numbers coming out of these qualifiers, do you think the eaters have stepped up their game, or that the quality or size of the hot dogs or buns has changed?

First of all, there is no difference in the size of the hot dogs and buns and it is really silly for anyone to think that. The game has changed dramatically as young guys like Joey, Pat, Chip and Tim have revolutionized the sport by coming up with extremely effective training techniques; the same ones perhaps started by Kobayashi a few years earlier. It appears we have found American eaters who are willing to adhere to the rigorous demands required to reach the level Kobayashi set in 2001 when he put on a performance no one thought was humanly possible. He set the standard and it looks like a small group of eaters is ready to step up to the challenge. If I were younger, perhaps I would be able to join that select group but at my age, it would be a very risky proposition to try.

Any predictions about future qualifiers or on the Tempe winner's chance in Coney Island? Anything else you'd like to add?

I expect Pat Bertoletti to put up a real high number and Chip Simpson will do likewise. Bob Shoudt has already put up a great number and will likely qualify in his next attempt. Pat from Moonachie and Big Brian Subich were also terrific in the qualifier Tim won and will probably earn a spot at the table on July 4. Big Brian came out of a long layoff and made a dramatic improvement. It is all about commitment and he is a true competitor who has made his. Eric Booker is still a great eater and will be there as well. At the rate people are improving, there will be others who will make their own personal statements. Will the Tempe winner win at Coney Island? No, but he will win just by being included at the main table on Independence day.

Last question: which is creepier?

I definitely find spiders creepier than clowns.

And Erik gave us the dirt after the qualifier...

Give us the quick lowdown on the event.

The contest was at the food court in the Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe where there was actually a huge crowd; probably around 1,000 people. The mood was pretty light before the contest, everyone in the mall was curious and the fans were great. The contestants were mostly locals, there was two women participants, some young guys, a couple old guys, and then Andrew "Skinny Boy" Lane, myself, and Rich LeFevre, of course.

LeFevre took the contest with 28.5 (all reports said 28 but I think 28.5 was the official number), I placed second with 19, third place was announced as a local, Russell Blackwell with 13. Blackwell said he did not train at all for the event and this was his first try at hot dogs so he may have some potential.

How did you feel about your chances going into this qualifier? How did you train?

I knew Rich was going to be at the qualifier so I knew my chances for victory would be slim. My goal for the contest was 20 and as Rich informed me he has hit 25 or more the last 8 times he has tried Nathan's. So, my chances were relying on Rich having a breakdown, which I was not hoping for because Rich deserves to be at Coney on the 4th. As far as training, I have been increasing my hot dog capacity steadily and I am nowhere near my limit.

Did things go like you expected, or were there some surprises?

The results of the contest were about as I expected but the contest itself did not go as I imagined. I really was feeling a bit sick before the contest; the stage where we ate was directly below a skylight in the mall, which made the climate very hot and humid making my mouth dry. I started out real slow; it wasn't until the 9th minute that I woke up and started eating faster. I ate 6 hot dogs in the last 3 minutes.

Tell us something funny or unusual that happened during this qualifier.

There were a lot of people coming up to the sign-up table before the contest trying to get in. There was one woman, who ended up getting in to the contest, who was pretty young and skinny. I asked her how many hot dogs she thought she could eat, she said, "I don't know but I know I can eat two large pizzas in 20 minutes." She ended up eating around 10 hot dogs, I think.

The guy who was standing next to me was a young guy from Arizona, about 6'5 185; he was wearing a green bandana as were about 6 or 7 of his family and friends in the crowd. He was doing pretty well, through about 10 hot dogs we were pretty close, until he stepped away from the table. His face was beat red, his cheeks were puffed out, and his hand was over his mouth as he puked a little - he should have been disqualified but no one saw it, so he stayed at the table and ate one more hot dog. He was announced as fourth place with 11 hot dogs.

Skinny Boy claims to have eaten 14 hot dogs but was only credited with 9, as he says one of his plates was taken away - I don't know what the truth is but I would give Skinny Boy the benefit of the doubt.

These are not real controversies as they did not impact the winner of the event and Ryan Nerz did a great job as MC and judge, he did all he could.

Any predictions about future qualifiers or the Tempe winner's chance on July 4th? Anything else you'd like to add?

Rich LeFevre is a fierce competitor and I predict he will set a PR of 32 or more HDBs at Coney on the 4th - he continues to amaze as a timeless and ageless American athlete.

I want to add a huge thank you to Carlene LeFevre for cheering me on during the contest. Carlene was cheering on Rich as always but she graciously gave me support throughout the contest and I could hear her voice clearly which no doubt helped me finish strong.

Last question:

Pussy.

[ed: dirty boy! Thanks Rich and Erik!]