Springtime weather always draws the regular crowd backs to the parks and beaches all over the nation. In addition to the more familiar sights, you might see people tossing more than just Frisbee’s this year. Seems many are preparing for the next World Pizza Championships. The annual event includes a very competitive pizza tossing competition and dedicated aficionados are taking to parks all over the nation to practice their dough spinning techniques.
The World Pizza Championships are hosted in Italy and attract professional pizza makers from all over the world who compete for Gold Medals and cash prizes. The most impressive challenge of the entire contest is the pizza tossing, an acrobatic event involving spinning the pizza dough by hand in the air. Last year’s winner, Akaogi Kazuya of Japan, kept a pie in the air for nearly 3 and a half minutes. Pizza acrobatics is a serious competition these days and participants spin giant pies in the air on their fingers like basketballs or perform synchronized dances with pizza dough, all in quest of the title of best pizza maker in the world. An American, Tony Gemignani, owner of Tony’s Neapolitan Pizza in San Francisco, Pyzano’s Pizzeria in Castro Valley, CA and the International School of Pizza in California, heads a team that has won more world titles than any other in history.
Acrobatic pizza tossing requires very special handling techniques to prevent ripping the dough. A company called Carry Hot has created a unique new product called Pro Dough in response to the need for “practice dough” to develop pizza tossing skills. The "dough" is an artificial, silicon based material in a 12-inch disk shape and approximates real pizza dough in texture, consistency and feel. It is designed to last for years with normal use, like practice tossing on sunny days in the park. Pro Dough also glows in the dark, allowing you to put on a show at night or find it in the dark if you get too wild with your tossing.
The Pro Dough kit includes a how-to DVD featuring pro tossing techniques. If you want to get started practicing now, Pro Dough is sold online in the United States through Pro Dough USA or call the New York office directly at (212) 279-0732. Mention you saw this on pizza.com to receive a special offer.
