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First Competition Cook

hoosier_egger
hoosier_egger Posts: 6,808
in EggHead Forum
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. 

 
~ John - Formerly known as ColtsFan  - https://www.instagram.com/hoosier_egger
XL BGE, LG BGE, Med BGE, BGE Chiminea, Ardore Pizza Oven
Bloomington, IN - Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

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Comments

  • JohnInCarolina
    JohnInCarolina Posts: 34,734
    Nice John!  Everything looks awfully good, but those ribs look spot on.  Did you try one yourself?
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike

    "The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand." - Deep Throat
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  • dmchicago
    dmchicago Posts: 4,519
    Looks like a fun day!
    Philly - Kansas City - Houston - Cincinnati - Dallas - Houston - Memphis - Austin - Chicago - Austin

    Large BGE. OONI 16, TOTO Washlet S550e (Now with enhanced Motherly Hugs!)

    "If I wanted my balls washed, I'd go to the golf course!"
    Dennis - Austin,TX
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  • ColbyLang
    ColbyLang Posts: 4,396
    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 
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  • hoosier_egger
    hoosier_egger Posts: 6,808
    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. 
    ~ John - Formerly known as ColtsFan  - https://www.instagram.com/hoosier_egger
    XL BGE, LG BGE, Med BGE, BGE Chiminea, Ardore Pizza Oven
    Bloomington, IN - Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

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  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,791
    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.
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
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  • bubbajack
    bubbajack Posts: 1,172
    Awesome! Looking good to me! Glad ya'll had a good time.
    I drink cheap beer so I can afford good bourbon.

    Salisbury, NC...... XL,Lx3,Mx2,S, MM, Mini BGE, FireDisc x2. Blackstone 22", Offset smoker, weber kettle 22"


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  • jdMyers
    jdMyers Posts: 1,339
    Wow proud of you.  Not many would jump in like that.   Wonderful turn ins.  Ribs look incredible 
    Columbus, Ohio
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  • northGAcock
    northGAcock Posts: 15,173
    Nice job John. For what it’s worth, my College diploma was mailed to me.
    Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

    Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
    Run me out in the cold rain and snow
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  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 11,549
    Great job, Iove competitions !
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
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  • johnmitchell
    johnmitchell Posts: 7,364
    A winner in my book!! Great job John 
    Greensboro North Carolina
    When in doubt Accelerate....
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  • saluki2007
    saluki2007 Posts: 6,354
    Looks like a blast. 
    Large and Small BGE
    Central, IL

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  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 10,227
    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.  

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

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  • ryantt
    ryantt Posts: 2,558
    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.  
    XL BGE, KJ classic, Joe Jr, UDS x2 


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  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 10,227
    Good job.  In the long run, that's probably better than doing surprisingly well on your first one and not replicating it going forward...

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

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  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 17,261
    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.
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
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  • RiverBBQ
    RiverBBQ Posts: 197
    Wow, That school is not that far from me. I’m transferring my kids ! A school BBQ team, impressive.
    You can’t get to Loganville, Ga from anywhere. You have to start somewhere else
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  • Tspud1
    Tspud1 Posts: 1,514
    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

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  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 11,549
    edited July 2021
    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 
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
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  • Tspud1
    Tspud1 Posts: 1,514
    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.
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  • jdMyers
    jdMyers Posts: 1,339
    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?  

    Columbus, Ohio
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  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 11,549
    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
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
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  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,527
    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.  ;)
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
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  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 11,549
    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 
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
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  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,527
    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!
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
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  • loco_engr
    loco_engr Posts: 5,818
    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! 
    aka marysvilleksegghead
    Lrg 2008
    mini 2009

    Henny Youngman:
    I said to my wife, 'Where do you want to go for our anniversary?' She said, 'I want to go somewhere I've never been before.' I said, 'Try the kitchen.'
    Bob Hope: When I wake up in the morning, I don’t feel anything until noon, and then it’s time for my nap
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  • Lowcountrygamecock
    Lowcountrygamecock Posts: 416
    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. 
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  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,527
    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. 
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
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