Ryan LaRose takes home the prize for his pizza acrobatic abilities

Oxford, Miss. (September 20, 2007) – Spinning pizza dough doesn’t come naturally to 99.99% of the world’s population. But for those like Ryan LaRose, who recently won the Freestyle Acrobatic competition at this year’s Orlando Pizza Show hosted by PMQ’s Pizza Magazine and held in conjunction with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show September 7-9 at the Orange County Convention Center, spinning is a way of life.

LaRose practices non-stop, and for the six months prior to the Orlando competition, he used his Throw Dough (a practice dough product) to practice three hours before going to bed every night. He tells other spinners, “If your arms are killing you, you’re doing it right.”

Ryan LaRose, whose win earned him a spot on the U.S. Pizza Team, says that the best part of joining the Team is the chance to make new friends, experience new things and travel around the country and overseas spinning dough.

LaRose grew up in Sanford, Florida, and has been working in the pizza industry for six years. He’s been with Dallis Pizzeria in Lake Mary, Florida, for three years and says that his favorite part about working in a pizzeria is making friends with all the customers that come in. “I used to be a driver who loved pizza,” says LaRose. “One day I was fooling around and grabbed a pizza dough; I made a 16” mushroom pizza—the worst pizza I ever made!”

He hopes to use the experience he gains as a member of the U.S. Pizza Team to boost sales and recognition of Dallis Pizzeria.

About the U.S. Pizza Team
The U.S. Pizza Team is a group of pizza makers and dough acrobats whose goal is to bring world attention to the talent and camaraderie of the pizza industry. More information on the U.S. Pizza Team and its members can be found at www.uspizzateam.com

2007 U.S. Pizza Team Sponsors: