Tag: chow pow

The curtains came down on the Jamzone Summer Break 2011 with its annual Beach Jam and the final leg and inauguration of the Miss Jamzone International Pageant. On Sunday August 21, 2011 there were lots to be seen and heard as crowds of folks from all around Guyana, the Caribbean and parts of North America, Europe, Africa and Asia (yes, we kid you not!) gathered to witness one of this country’s most epic and highly anticipated events. When the Guyanalive.com team arrived just a little after 14:00hrs the crowds were minimal but steadily growing. While the Stereo Sonic Sound System dished vibes from all facets of life, we noticed persons swimming, riding jet skis and rafts, playing sports and games by the beach and just enjoying themselves to the maximum capacity. Now as we all know, a little music and a lot of alcohol can create some very interesting stories. For instance, while the DJ did his thing, two ladies (one seemed around forty and was dressed in a blue carnival outfit, while the other was younger and draped in a bikini where the top struggled to keep her “assets” in order) were incited to square off.

After expressing that they were going to dance for nothing but Pounds Sterling or Euros, the audience met them half way with putting a little over G$2,000 in the pot. It was at that time that the blue costume wearer gracefully bowed out, but that did not stop the other contestant from showing her stuff and shaking her “salt shaker” on stage. The masses went crazy, as that “almost contest” sparked a wave of lawlessness and laughter. Persons of all sizes got their fifteen minutes of fame as they jumped on stage and entertained the crowds with their gyrations and acrobatics. After a few attempts by the DJ and Splashmins Security to control the potential onslaught of inappropriateness, Entertainer Kerwin from the Hits and Jams family entered and asked them to leave as he was about to begin the Jamzone Beach Jam Games Segment.

The first was the Mackeson Drink – Off, sponsored by the fine people at Ansa McAl. Males and females entered the contest and G$5,000 was up for grabs each time. The males went first and the rules were simple, drink two bottles of Mackenson Power Stout without spilling, splashing or throwing any away. The fastest to complete that grueling task was deemed the winner. The people went wild as the men used very different techniques to take home the prize (or spend it there). However, it showed that the slow and steady was usually triumphant, since he finished last but broke no rules (as opposed to everyone else). The ladies had similar rules but only one bottle of stout per female and a short stack of sweetness took the prize home, usurping the fans’ favorite. Then there was the Couples Balloon Bursting Competition, where duos comprising of one male and one female inflated three balloons each and whined to pop them. After much deliberation there was a tie, and popping one more balloon using the same modus operandi would determine who would walk away with the G$10,000.

Afterward, the White Castle Fish Shop provided fish burgers for the Burger Eating Battle which saw patrons from all walks of life (and all different sizes as well), compete for a whopping G$15,000. In both instances, the slow and steady competitors were victorious, thumping the persons of larger statures. Then, there was the Skull Spin Contest where each player had to place their head on the upper end of a hockey stick and spin on the axis for a period of about two minutes. Both males and females competed for the G$10,000 prize and the laughs were in a large supply. The male winner almost fell into the turntables of Stereo Sonic while the female winner stood her ground for exactly three seconds, before almost launching herself into the crowd.

The vertigo they experienced after the game made it difficult for local entertainer Chow Pow to ensure that they accurately counted their winnings. After that it was only fitting of Hits and Jams to introduce the Best Laugh Competition. No more than 5 persons (similar to previous battles) vied for the G$10,000 prize only if they could wow the audience with their laughs. There were shrieks, screams and some other sounds we cannot identify but the winners of both male and female categories did so with infectiously funny laughs (yes, we know that the irony is thick). After the winners were crowned and gave an encore, the stage was graced with the presence of a bevy of beauties dubbed the “Gizmos & Gadgets Girls”. Dressed in their green and gold, they modeled and danced to the rhythms provided by the DJ.

View pictures from this event at –> GuyanaLive.com Gallery

By – Patrice Wishart