To compete in the Olympic Games, which wrap up on Sunday night, one needs to possess significant amounts of strength, athletic prowess, and determination in order to quest for the gold. To participate in the Dos Gringos Bar Olympics this weekend, however, all you'll need is a keen eye, good aim, the ability to quickly chug large amounts of liquid, and maybe a little bit of luck.
On Sunday afternoon, the Chandler location of the local Mexican beach bar chain will offer day drinkers, college kids, and barstool jockeys the opportunity to experience both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, as well as the chance to take home cash, prizes, and even a medal or two. Costumed teams of five players each will compete in eight different bar games, including such frat boy favorites as beer pong and quarters, as well as cornhole and darts.
Jackalope Ranch spoke with Hannah Sanchez, one of the managers at the Dos Gringos location, and Max Graham, one of the event's organizers, for a rundown of each of the games involved and what skills are necessary to secure victory.
Cornhole The Objective: Players lob beanbags filled with corn kernels at a raised wooden platform anywhere from 10 feet to 15 feet away in an attempt to sink the bag into a circular hole in the center of the target. Skills Neccesary: "You definitely need some hand-eye coordination and depth perception," Sanchez says.
Darts The Objective: Competitors will play this old-fashioned bar game favorite where they'll fire away at the bullseye on one of the bar's electronic dart machines. Skills Necessary: "Good aim," Sanchez says.
Pub Quiz The Objective: Players will be quizzed on a wealth of topics, including, sports, pop culture, general knowledge, and maybe even some Olympics-related trivia. Skills Necessary: "Obviously, you're going to be using your brain in this one, so having some people that are good at trivia or know everything would be helpful," Sanchez says. Rock-Paper-Scissors The Objective: Throw up one of the titular hand signs in the hopes it will best the gesture made by your opponent. Players from each team will pair off and do battle in best-of-three matches. Skills Necessary: Sanchez explains that competitors will "need a lot of luck," to win this particular game, or the ability to read their opponent's minds.
Team Relay The Objective: Team members compete in a series of five different kitschy and goofy mini-events that make up a relay race, such as running a course with a tray of water. Skills Necessary: Graham says for you'll definitely need "agility, balance, and speed."
Quarters The Objective: Competitors attempt to bounce a quarter on a table and into a shot glass. If they fail, the player to their right gets a turn. All five members have to land a quarter to advance to the next round. Skills Necessary: "I don't even know if there's even a skill involved with Quarters...maybe having nimble fingers," Sanchez jokes. Flip Cup The Objective: Every player from two teams is arranged on either side of a long table, each with a Solo cup of beer in front of them. Each must chug their respective brews and then place the cup on the edge of the table, using one or two fingers to flip it over so it lands perfectly upside down. The first team to have all five cups drained and flipped over perfectly will win. Skills Necessary: The capability to chug a beer double and the dexterity to flip their cups perfectly. "We do use non-alcoholic beer for the games," Sanchez says. "We're not promoting getting drunk by any means, it's just a fun game."
Beer Pong The Objective: Just like the numerous drunken games that have taken place in your friend's garage (or the neighborhood frat house), participants will try to bounce ping-pong balls into any of the triangular-shaped array of Solo cups containing at the other end of the table. If you're aim is true, they'll have to suck down the contents. Team will engage in a single-elimination beer pong tournament throughout the course of the afternoon. Skills Necessary: Graham says "accuracy and timing" is key. "There's a lot of shit-talking, so you have to be able to deal with that."
The Dos Gringos Bar Olympics takes place from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 12. Admission to the event is free, but there's an entry fee of $100 per five-person team to participate. Call 480-855-3303 or e-mail [email protected] to sign up.
