The unofficial world-championship in competitive fermented shark eating was recently held at a bar in New Jersey. The unusual competition was the high point of a Viking Party at a Fly Fishing Show in Edison, New Jersey. The organizer of the shark-eating competition told the local news site Vísir that the Icelanders had originally just been planning a small after-party, but the planning went out of hand:
We decided to hold an informal Viking-themed party. The plan was just to party, but then the plan just blew up. Before we knew we had planned an official event for the exhibition and the headline event for the evening was a competitive fermented shark eating contest.
Kristján Páll Rafnsson told Vísir that in addition to 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of fermented shark the Icelanders arrived at the scene with plenty of Icelandic brennivín and Icelandic beer.
Read more: Stores run out of rams' testicles, other traditional þorrablót treats
The rules of the competition were simple: Competitors were handed one shot of Icelandic brennivín and a heaped small plate, 100 g (3.5 oz) of fermented shark. The first prize went to whoever was first to finish the shark and brennivín. The first prize was a fancy fly fishing reel from Ross Fly Reels. It took the victor less than a minute to finish his shark.
Despite the fact that the room stank of shark after the competition the Icelanders were asked to host the competition again next year.
The unofficial world-championship in competitive fermented shark eating was recently held at a bar in New Jersey. The unusual competition was the high point of a Viking Party at a Fly Fishing Show in Edison, New Jersey. The organizer of the shark-eating competition told the local news site Vísir that the Icelanders had originally just been planning a small after-party, but the planning went out of hand:
We decided to hold an informal Viking-themed party. The plan was just to party, but then the plan just blew up. Before we knew we had planned an official event for the exhibition and the headline event for the evening was a competitive fermented shark eating contest.
Kristján Páll Rafnsson told Vísir that in addition to 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of fermented shark the Icelanders arrived at the scene with plenty of Icelandic brennivín and Icelandic beer.
Read more: Stores run out of rams' testicles, other traditional þorrablót treats
The rules of the competition were simple: Competitors were handed one shot of Icelandic brennivín and a heaped small plate, 100 g (3.5 oz) of fermented shark. The first prize went to whoever was first to finish the shark and brennivín. The first prize was a fancy fly fishing reel from Ross Fly Reels. It took the victor less than a minute to finish his shark.
Despite the fact that the room stank of shark after the competition the Icelanders were asked to host the competition again next year.
