Outback Queensland is turning up the heat like never before as a famous festival kicks off its hunt for Australia’s strongest stomach.
Back by popular demand, Mount Isa is once again gearing up for four days of boots and chaps and cowboy hats as the biggest rodeo in the summer hemisphere rolls through town in early August.
While hundreds of bull riders are travelling far and wide to throw their hats in the ring to take home the buckle, behind the scenes Australia’s chilli kings, the Shank Brothers, are cooking up a nasty surprise for meat-loving masochists with their fan-favourite Hot Wing Challenge.
Supposedly the hottest comp in the business for chilli chasers and heat hunters across the country, owners Ralph and Badger say the challenge is taking it up a notch with their “road melting” Ghost of Chainsaw Chilli Sauce.
Named after the legendary unrideable bull Chainsaw that struck fear into the hearts of cowboys on the rodeo circuit from 1987 to 1994, the boys said this year’s offering would live up to its namesake and knock bull riders on their butts in under eight seconds flat.
“Making the sauce felt like building a nuclear bomb,” said Ralph Barnett.
“Every step had to be treated with extreme caution due to the potency of all the different chillies mixing together.”
Forged from a fatal combination of the world’s hottest chillies – the Carolina Reaper, Moruga Scorpion, Habanero and Bhut Joloki – Ralph warned contestants deceived by the pleasant hit of garlic, onion and lime are in for an “unrelenting inferno” that attacks all of the senses.
As a guy who lives off barely seasoned chicken, white rice and broccoli – f*#k that.
The hero of this hot-wing challenge will be the last one left who can handle the heat, earning themselves the coveted Chilli Chalice and legend status amongst the competitors.
Think you have what it takes to be crowned the wing king? I’m sure the brothers will be happy to test your mettle when the rodeo kicks off from the 8th to the 11th of next month.
Natalie Flecker, CEO of Isa Rodeo, said event goers could expect to see a record crowd this year, with spectators and competitors travelling from around the world to be part of the dusty action.
“Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is the third largest rodeo in the world, and this year champions will return to battle for the famous buckles, newcomers will become legends, juniors will rise up, eight seconds will seem like a lifetime and the heritage and importance of rodeo in the Outback will be celebrated,” Ms Flecker said.
For those of us born without a steel-lined stomach, the Shank boys have also announced an all-new Rib Wrecker Challenge: A race to the bone to see which team can demolish a rack of pork ribs the quickest.
