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Kevin Ross of Temecula was a bit under the weather on July 4 when he competed in the 93rd annual Hot Dog Eating Competition at famous Nathan's Hot Dogs on Coney Island. Ross could only gobble down 14 of the gourmet dogs, which isn't bad for a quasi-vegetarian.
"I'm just put off red meat and chicken," he said. "The thought it came from an animal kind of grosses me out."
Luckily Ross said he doesn't think of what he eats during a contest as food. In fact, he doesn't remember even eating a hot dog until the competition came up.
The winner of the Independence Day competition ate 59 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Ross said he gave up after 14 dogs because he wasn't feeling well.
Ross earned his spot the Coney Island competition by placing first at Nathan's Hot Dogs Eating competition t the Tanforan Mall in San Bruno on June 28. He finished 17 hot dogs and buns in six minutes.
"One of the strategies is to wet the bun with water to get it to go down easier, but that's really gross," he said.
In addition to winning his place in the international contest he also won a year's supply of Nathan's hot dogs.
"I have no idea what that means yet," Ross said, "But I don't eat them so I have no idea what I would do with them."
Ross began his eating hobby in 2004 at the Los Angeles Tofu Festival where he entered a tofu-eating contest at the encouragement of friends. He was challenged to eat a pound cube of tofu hands-free and although he didn't win it got him started on what some would call a peculiar hobby.
"It's a fun excuse to travel," he said. "I saw it on TV and figured I could do it."
At 5 feet, 11 inches and 180 pounds Ross doesn't look like he's been stuffing himself with pounds of food on a regular basis. The 26-year-old has lived in Temecula for four years and owns his own business selling used broadcast video equipment. He also spends time at the gym regularly.
He trains for his hobby by eating at local buffets.
"I love to eat a lot anyway," Ross said.
His favorite foods are sushi and pasta. He also loves seafood and recently competed in a New Orleans raw oyster eating competition where he downed 21 dozen oysters in eight minutes.
He is a member of the International Federation of Competitive Eaters and ranks 29 on the list of competitive eaters in the US. The federation has created the guidelines for most competitions.
Most competitions do not allow the contestant to continue if they vomit, so being able to hold down the dog is important. Ross has never upchucked during a competition but has after a particularly filling trip to the buffet during training.
Ross said he isn't too sure what the future holds for his competitive eating hobby.
"I'd be an idiot to think this is a healthy thing to do," said Ross.
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