Insert, twist, flick, repeat. Sounds simple, right? But if you have ever attempted to shuck an oyster you will know that it is anything but easy. Just ask around – damage from shucking knives and stubborn oysters is as common as stories of ladder falls and dog bites. At the Regional Shucking Championships, with the exception of the intrepid novices, the competing
open without leaving a shattered mess or a stabbed artery. OysterFest is a great opportunity to learn a few tips on shucking, but watch carefully, they move quickly! Over the course of two days of competition from noon to close contestants vie for the title of the fastest shucker or the best half-shell shucker – or – both titles.
Shucking Championship at OysterFest and proceeded to hold the title at the National event. Schimke’s victory in MA won him a $500 cash prize and the right to represent the United States in the oyster opening internationals. There, he received title for the best presentation laurels.
The championship in Shelton is a preliminary event to the U.S. shuck-off at St. Mary’s Oyster Festival (October 21-22) in Maryland. The National Oyster Shucking Championship Contest® features the fastest men and women shuckers competing for cash prizes. National winners can go on to compete in the International Oyster Festival in Galway, Ireland. In 1984, Dave (Diz) Schimke, from Bow, WA, won the West Coast
The West Coast Shucking Champion goes through more than 6,000 oysters (donated by Taylor Shellfish). A shucker draws a tray of two dozen oysters by lottery and arranges them in preparation. An appeal may be made if the contestant feels an oyster is of inferior shape. A basket of oysters is passed to each shucker from which they can choose more favorable alternates.
Jill Himlie photo
shuckers know just where to insert their knife to coax the shell
West Coast
OYSTER SHUCKING
Competition SAT & SUN
(12 - 4 PM on the hour shucking; 5 PM – finals; 5:30 PM– awards)
9
2018 OYSTERFEST
