The Art of Pizza Dough Spinning with Justin Wadstein
Summary
In this article, we will be discussing the art of pizza dough spinning with Justin Wadstein, a 13-time world pizza champion and expert in pizza acrobatics. Wadstein shares his fundamental techniques for pizza spinning, his secret to great dough, and his approach to shaping the dough as an art form. We will also learn about Wadstein’s journey as a professional pizza spinner and his experiences in competitions with his team.
Table of Contents
- Introduction: Justin Wadstein’s journey as a professional pizza spinner
- Q&A:
- What inspired you to become a pizza spinner?
- What are the fundamental techniques for pizza spinning?
- What is your secret to great dough?
- How do you approach shaping the dough as an art form?
- What is your most memorable experience in a pizza spinning competition?
- How do you continue to push yourself and the dough to do even more extreme things?
- Conclusion
Introduction
Justin Wadstein is an expert in pizza dough spinning and has been spinning pizzas for over two decades. Wadstein’s journey as a pizza spinner began when he moved to Santa Cruz and worked for his aunt, who owned a restaurant with a dinner and a show concept where the servers would perform a dance and then spin pizzas. In 2000, Wadstein entered his first pizza spinning competition in Las Vegas and became the top spinner in the US and ranked fourth in the world. He caught the eye of veteran world pizza champion Tony Geminani and was invited to join his team, where he still spins with them. Wadstein continues to push himself and the dough to do even more extreme things as he learns new tricks and steps up his pizza spinning game.
Q&A
1. What inspired you to become a pizza spinner?
Pizza spinning wasn’t something that I had planned on getting into, but it was something that I became passionate about. I was working in my aunt’s restaurant and saw the servers performing a dance and spinning pizzas. After watching them, I knew that it was something that I wanted to try. It started as a fun hobby, but I quickly became obsessed with learning new tricks and perfecting my technique.
2. What are the fundamental techniques for pizza spinning?
The fundamental techniques for pizza spinning include basic tosses and finger spinning, which are the building blocks for more advanced maneuvers. The whip is an advanced move that involves spinning the dough at high speeds while holding one end of the pizza. The dough is then rapidly thrown back and forth, creating a slapping sound. Other advanced moves include spinning the dough over the shoulder, behind the back, or through the legs. However, mastering the basics is key before moving on to more advanced techniques.
3. What is your secret to great dough?
The secret to great dough is using ice water and salt to make the dough harder. It’s also important to practice dispensing the right amount of water and flour to obtain the appropriate consistency. I also let my dough rest for a minimum of two hours to overnight to ensure that it is pliable and easy to work with.
4. How do you approach shaping the dough as an art form?
Shaping the dough is more of an art than a science. I’m constantly reshaping the dough and sensing the thicker parts that will help me spin the dough for longer periods of time. It’s also important to keep the dough in a circular shape, which is extremely important for pizza exhibitions where presentation and creativity are highly valued.
5. What is your most memorable experience in a pizza spinning competition?
My most memorable experience in a pizza spinning competition was when I became the first one to spin fire during a competition in Italy using a wooden board, towel, gasoline, and a flame. While I can no longer use this fire flourish in competition, I still do it in demonstration.
6. How do you continue to push yourself and the dough to do even more extreme things?
I continue to push myself and the dough to do even more extreme things by learning new tricks and techniques. I also approach pizza spinning as a constant challenge to improve, both mentally and physically. The dough becomes an extension of me, and I strive to make it do things that seem impossible.
Conclusion
Justin Wadstein’s mastery of pizza dough spinning has earned him numerous awards in pizza acrobatics, and his expertise has been invaluable to pizza spinning enthusiasts around the world. His approach to shaping the dough as an art form gives a unique perspective to a technique that has been practiced for centuries. His passion for pizza spinning and his constant quest to push himself and the dough to do even more extreme things make him a true expert in pizza dough spinning.
