First Competition Cook

hoosier_egger

I participated in my first competition cook this weekend. It was a sanctioned KCBS Backyard BBQ event. 14 teams from all over the country showed up, including a high school competition bbq team out of Georgia. It was a great experience and a lot of fun. I’m not a finesse type of guy but I would do it again. We didn’t hang around for the awards ceremony being that they were 4 hours past our last turn in box. 

 

JohnInCarolina

Nice John!  Everything looks awfully good, but those ribs look spot on.  Did you try one yourself?

dmchicago

Looks like a fun day!

ColbyLang

That 2XL is bad ass. I wish I could justify it. How did you and the team turnout in the competition? Agree with @JohnInCarolina, ribs looks great 

hoosier_egger

ColbyLang said:

That 2XL is bad ass. I wish I could justify it. How did you and the team turnout in the competition? Agree with @JohnInCarolina, ribs looks great 

We don’t know yet! Our last turn in box was at 1pm and the awards ceremony wasn’t until 5pm. I didn’t want to wait for 4 hours so I packed up and headed home. They’re suppose to notify us if we placed. 

lousubcap

Way to jump into the deep end of the pool.  I'm sure you learned a lot along the way.  Groceries look great.  Feel free to share any insights as this event unfolded.
Again-congrats for taking up the challenge.

bubbajack

Awesome! Looking good to me! Glad ya'll had a good time.

jdMyers

Wow proud of you.  Not many would jump in like that.   Wonderful turn ins.  Ribs look incredible 

northGAcock

Nice job John. For what it’s worth, my College diploma was mailed to me.

hoosier_egger

lousubcap said:

Way to jump into the deep end of the pool.  I'm sure you learned a lot along the way.  Groceries look great.  Feel free to share any insights as this event unfolded.
Again-congrats for taking up the challenge.

The biggest takeaway from the experience is that the pellet smoker teams are always the brunt of the jokes. Lots of jokes were made in their direction. The UDS and WSM teams seem to lead the way in that department. 

Everyone that I talked to was completely open and cool with me creeping in on their styles, techniques, etc.. Like this community, everyone there just loved cooking on their cookers and great bbq. Friendships were made, no doubt

lkapigian

Great job, Iove competitions !

johnmitchell

A winner in my book!! Great job John 

saluki2007

Looks like a blast. 

Foghorn

Looks awesome.  I've never competed myself but I've spent several weekends hanging out with competition teams and it is always a great learning - and bonding - experience.  

hoosier_egger

There ended up being 16 teams. 

11th chicken, 13th ribs, 14th butt. 14th overall. We didn’t finish last! Lol

ryantt

Way not to finish D.A.L.   Glad you enjoyed yourself, the best part about cooking at events like this is meeting all the people.  

Foghorn

Good job.  In the long run, that's probably better than doing surprisingly well on your first one and not replicating it going forward...

YukonRon

Next time let me know. I will bring slushees. Congrats on your first, and thank you for sharing.

Great to see you back at it my friend.

RiverBBQ

Wow, That school is not that far from me. I’m transferring my kids ! A school BBQ team, impressive.

Tspud1

ColtsFan said:

lousubcap said:

Way to jump into the deep end of the pool.  I'm sure you learned a lot along the way.  Groceries look great.  Feel free to share any insights as this event unfolded.
Again-congrats for taking up the challenge.

The biggest takeaway from the experience is that the pellet smoker teams are always the brunt of the jokes. Lots of jokes were made in their direction. The UDS and WSM teams seem to lead the way in that department. 

Everyone that I talked to was completely open and cool with me creeping in on their styles, techniques, etc.. Like this community, everyone there just loved cooking on their cookers and great bbq. Friendships were made, no doubt

I didnt think pellet smokers are allowed in KCBS competitions

lkapigian

Tspud1 said:

ColtsFan said:

lousubcap said:

Way to jump into the deep end of the pool.  I'm sure you learned a lot along the way.  Groceries look great.  Feel free to share any insights as this event unfolded.
Again-congrats for taking up the challenge.

The biggest takeaway from the experience is that the pellet smoker teams are always the brunt of the jokes. Lots of jokes were made in their direction. The UDS and WSM teams seem to lead the way in that department. 

Everyone that I talked to was completely open and cool with me creeping in on their styles, techniques, etc.. Like this community, everyone there just loved cooking on their cookers and great bbq. Friendships were made, no doubt

I didnt think pellet smokers are allowed in KCBS competitions

it is a self sustained fire one it is lit , electric cooking shall not be allowed 

Tspud1

Thalkapigian said:

Tspud1 said:

ColtsFan said:

lousubcap said:

Way to jump into the deep end of the pool.  I'm sure you learned a lot along the way.  Groceries look great.  Feel free to share any insights as this event unfolded.
Again-congrats for taking up the challenge.

The biggest takeaway from the experience is that the pellet smoker teams are always the brunt of the jokes. Lots of jokes were made in their direction. The UDS and WSM teams seem to lead the way in that department. 

Everyone that I talked to was completely open and cool with me creeping in on their styles, techniques, etc.. Like this community, everyone there just loved cooking on their cookers and great bbq. Friendships were made, no doubt

I didnt think pellet smokers are allowed in KCBS competitions

it is a self sustained fire one it is lit , electric cooking shall not be allowed 

thats what I thought, been a while since I judged. Still pay my dues and keep my
card ready for the day I might. Better gig eating BBQ than staying up all night cooking and spending money on meat you give away.

jdMyers

So what would you do differently the next time.  How was your stress level, and moat important what if any negative thing happened , aka dropped the ribs thru the dirt during the wrap, that wasn't funny then but makes you laugh now?  

lkapigian

jdMyers said:

So what would you do differently the next time.  How was your stress level, and moat important what if any negative thing happened , aka dropped the ribs thru the dirt during the wrap, that wasn't funny then but makes you laugh now?  

Done That LOL

WeberWho

I did one a few weeks back. I got so sidetracked talking to friends and family that I forgot to sauce my ribs the last half hour. My wife usually cuts the ribs and does the garnish. She was out of town for the weekend. Lets just say majority of my points lost were in appearance.  My wife would have made it picture perfect. I guess my level of care wasn't up to their standard. 

lkapigian

WeberWho said:

I did one a few weeks back. I got so sidetracked talking to friends and family that I forgot to sauce my ribs the last half hour. My wife usually cuts the ribs and does the garnish. She was out of town for the weekend. Lets just say majority of my points lost were in appearance.  My wife would have made it picture perfect. I guess my level of care wasn't up to their standard. 

Love my Thermoworks TimeStack for this reason 

WeberWho

lkapigian said:

WeberWho said:

I did one a few weeks back. I got so sidetracked talking to friends and family that I forgot to sauce my ribs the last half hour. My wife usually cuts the ribs and does the garnish. She was out of town for the weekend. Lets just say majority of my points lost were in appearance.  My wife would have made it picture perfect. I guess my level of care wasn't up to their standard. 

Love my Thermoworks TimeStack for this reason 

That would have come in super handy!

loco_engr

ColtsFan said:

There ended up being 16 teams. 

11th chicken, 13th ribs, 14th butt. 14th overall. We didn’t finish last! Lol

dayum . . . your ribs looked great IMHO! 

Lowcountrygamecock

How do you guys get ribs to cut so even/straight?  My ribs always seem to have curved bones that don’t cut straight up and down like that. I don’t compete snd they taste good so that’s all that matters. Just curious. 

WeberWho

Lowcountrygamecock said:

How do you guys get ribs to cut so even/straight?  My ribs always seem to have curved bones that don’t cut straight up and down like that. I don’t compete snd they taste good so that’s all that matters. Just curious. 

Lots of digging through racks of ribs trying to find that perfect rack. I've even had to ask the butcher to open another box of ribs because of the bone curves that were available or set out for teams. You're usually cooking 2-3 racks for a 7 bone turn in.

It doesn't need to be picture perfect for home but glancing the curvature of the bones helps for even home cooked ribs. 

The knife is also key. I'll sharpen the knife or bring it up to my Dad's the night before the comp and get it surgical sharp. The knife won't be used or touched before it touches the ribs. I'll bring other knives for any other cutting.