Eating a pizza the size of a coffee table might not be the defining moment of oneB次元官网网址檚 life, but it will provide bragging rights for years to come.

This Saturday the West Shore Business Show is hosting a good old fashioned pizza eating contest, following up on last yearB次元官网网址檚 big hamburger showdown.

The contest has drawn plenty of entrants, but five lucky eaters will be chosen at random. Each B次元官网网址済urgitatorB次元官网网址� will face a 27 inch in diameter pizza called the Big Dog, a 12 pound monster about as wide as a typical work desk.

Whoever consumes the most of the meat lovers with mushrooms B次元官网网址榸a in 15 minutes will win of a 50 inch plasma TV. If the winner actually finishes the pizza, theyB次元官网网址檒l pocket another $1,000 cash.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been wanting to do this for a year, ever since we created the biggest pizza in Canada,B次元官网网址� said Shawn Waters, co-owner of Top Dog Pizza in View Royal. B次元官网网址淣obody is known to have finished one by themselves.B次元官网网址�

Waters, a plumber, and his business partner Phil Calnan, a painter, opened their View Royal business in December 2010, basically on a dare. B次元官网网址淥ur wives didnB次元官网网址檛 think we could run a pizza business,B次元官网网址� Waters said laughing. B次元官网网址淪o we bought one out of spite.B次元官网网址�

The pair launched the big pizza to differentiate themselves from the pizza delivery pack. They designed a novel oversized pizza pan to vent steam during cooking, so the Big Dog isnB次元官网网址檛 a big soggy mess. B次元官网网址淚t was soggy before we learned how to ventilate the pan,B次元官网网址� Waters said. B次元官网网址淚t took a few times. We went through a lot of pizza.B次元官网网址�

The pizza eating contest is Saturday, March 31, 5 p.m. at Eagle Ridge arena.

Guitar guru at age 12

When asked to strum a tune, Eric ClaptonB次元官网网址檚 Tears from Heaven flows effortlessly from Landen ShawB次元官网网址檚 Gretsch guitar. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of 200 songs the young man can belt out from memory.

At 12 years old and largely self-taught from YouTube videos, Shaw is something of a guitar prodigy, a natural musician. Moreover, he picked up his first guitar only two years ago.

He had about 15 lessons at the outset and has an instructor near his Vic West home for technical help, but mainly itB次元官网网址檚 watch-and-learn on the Internet, and practising for hours each day.

B次元官网网址淢y instructors think I pick up songs easily,B次元官网网址� Shaw said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes if a song is hard it will take days to learn, others IB次元官网网址檒l watch and get in 10 minutes.B次元官网网址�

HeB次元官网网址檚 done well in his budding career. During the Gene Simmons family event at the View Royal casino last summer, Shaw played B次元官网网址淚 Was Made for Loving YouB次元官网网址� on stage for the Kiss frontman. His summer was spent in the Inner Harbour earning far more than the average 12 year old as a registered busker. This Saturday heB次元官网网址檚 the 5:20 p.m. entertainment at the West Shore Business Show.

His Cort acoustic guitar, one of seven guitars he now owns, is signed by the likes of Canadian music stars Tom Cochrane, Ryan Peake of Nickelback, Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, Mike Reno of Loverboy, Scott Brown of Trooper, Bill Henderson of Chilliwack among many others.

The signatures reflect ShawB次元官网网址檚 love of blues and classic rock and roll. His favourite musicians are guys that most kids in his generation would consider dinosaurs, if theyB次元官网网址檇 heard of them at all.

B次元官网网址淚 really like Elvis, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman,B次元官网网址� Shaw said. B次元官网网址淢y dad used to tell me about them, so I listened and liked them better than todayB次元官网网址檚 music.B次元官网网址�

The Grade 7 Rockheights middle school student keeps his music largely separate from school. He doesnB次元官网网址檛 play for the girls, yet, and playing with a school band was short lived B次元官网网址� it conflicted with peewee B hockey with the Juan de Fuca Grizzlies.

Shaw expects heB次元官网网址檒l strum a medley of 1960s tunes for his gig at Eagle Ridge arena on Saturday. Soft spoken and humble about his talents, he says heB次元官网网址檚 a bit nervous.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l just practise songs over and over and hope I donB次元官网网址檛 screw up.B次元官网网址�

Landen Shaw is playing in Eagle Ridge arena at Saturday, March 31, 5:20 p.m.

West Shore business show

The second annual West Shore Business Show runs this Saturday and Sunday and features about 80 West Shore vendors, entertainment and a play area for kids.

The business show will have musicians and events throughout both days, including taekwondo, dance and Segway demonstrations.

B次元官网网址淲e want to highlight our businesses and promote keeping it in the community and shopping local,B次元官网网址� said Ashley Bazowski, the event co-ordinator at Eagle Ridge. B次元官网网址�(The vendors) are pretty diverse. Everything from travel companies to local clothing stores. ThereB次元官网网址檚 something for everybody.B次元官网网址�

When & Where

The West Shore Business Show is Saturday, March 31, noon to 6 p.m. and West Shore Chamber of Commerce mixer 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The show is at Eagle Ridge arena, 1089 Langford Parkway. See for the full schedule of events.