Shucking Competition

Insert, twist, flick, repeat. Sounds simple, right? But if you have ever attempted to shuck an oyster you will know that isn’t easy. Gory misfortunes of stubborn oysters are as common as ladder falls and dog bites. Competition shuckers know just where to insert the knife to coax the shell 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 two days contestants vie for the title of the fastest shucker or the best half-shell shucker or both titles.

Shelton’s championship is a preliminary event to the US shuck-off at St. Mary’s Oyster Festival in Maryland. The National Oyster Shucking Championship Contest® features the fastest men and women shuckers competing for cash prizes. National winners compete in the International Oyster Festival in Galway, Ireland.

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 is 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. As the contest begins, the shuckers hold their knives at head height to indicate readiness. At the signal from the chief judge, the timekeepers start their watches and the contestants begin.

The shuckers rapidly open and place each oyster, completely severed from the shell, on its unbroken halfshell on the tray. Speed is the primary factor on Saturday.

Cash prizes are awarded each day – Saturday’s Speed Shucking: 1 st $500, 2 nd $250, and 3 rd $100. Sunday, speed is still a factor, but even more so is presentation in what are called the Half- Shell Trials. Sunday Half

Shell Competition: 1 st $750, 2 nd $500, 3 rd $250, with a $250 cash prize for best presentation. Each contestant must not only shuck 24 oysters, but present in the half shell. Entry fee is $15 on/before September 11th. After September 11th, fee increases to $30. The shucking competition is open to everyone. Visit oysterfest.org for the shucking entry form and we’ll cheer you on in October at the main event!