Does beginners luck exist in BBQ Contests???

CrackerJack from KC · 03-16-2010, 11:15 AM

So I am thinking about doing my 1st competition, but it doesn't really seem worth it to spend all the money if I don't really have a chance to win.

I know I cook really good Brisket and Pork, I could learn a thing or two on Ribs and have a lot to learn on cookin Chicken thighs.

So my question is, does anybody have any good beginners luck stories about doing well at their 1st ever BBQ Contest?

Buster Dog BBQ · 03-16-2010, 11:27 AM

I have seen a guy win a GC in his first contest and I have seen first year teams like Big T's tear it up their first year. I think you make your own luck by how much time, detail and dedication you want to spend at that contest. If you want to show up and drink all night with your buddies, probably won't fare to well. If you show up and do your very best, pay attention, etc you might surprise yourself.

smknwhlswife · 03-16-2010, 11:28 AM

You never know unless you try! I would not enter into a contest (first time) and have the goal to win. My goal would be to learn as much as I can. Learn about how a contest is run, learn from my neighbors and most important..... have fun!!!!

Lake Dogs · 03-16-2010, 11:33 AM

What he said... There really is no luck, but just because you're competing in your first
or second competition that you can't do well. We had a walk in ribs on our first comp,
walked in everything our 2nd and RGC'd, then third comp was bottom 1/3rd in
everything... Not DAL, but very close to the bottom. I will tell you, we learned more from that 3rd comp than we ever did from the others.

Give it a try. Be prepared. Practice. Take a look at pics for turn-in boxes (as you
wouldn't ordinarily do this at home). I think you'll have fun. Oh, that's the big key:
HAVE FUN.

RobKC · 03-16-2010, 12:21 PM

We never would have entered our first contest if we were concerned about winning right away. Our goal was to do our best, but also learn as much as we could. Definitely learned the value of appearance scores when we lost a tie-breaker for a call in brisket

.

If you can make it to Osage City 4/9-10, feel free to look us up and hang out.

kindollbbq · 03-16-2010, 12:33 PM

I am doing my first competition this year as well. I am going into it exactly as these guys have said; expecting to finish DAL!!! :) Then if I do, I won't be so surprised, and anything better than that is just icing on the cake!!!

Good luck with your competition!!

Brandon

G$ · 03-16-2010, 12:37 PM

Yes, first time contestants can and do perform well.

Plus, you have to start some time.

(We walked with a 4th place ribs call in our first sanctioned contest, about 50 teams. We were satisfied with that.)

Smitty250 · 03-16-2010, 12:47 PM

My first comp was an IBCA comp Sept. 2009. I had a goal of not coming in DAL. I knew I would learn alot and meet some really cool people. Both of those happened and I ended up placing 6th in Ribs and 8th in Chicken.

Maybe you might want to start off with a smaller competition to see how you fare. You will definitely learn more and more every time you compete. I have my 5th comp. this weekend and know there is still much more to learn. Good luck!!

Butts-n-gutts · 03-16-2010, 12:54 PM

Our first comp we walked with a 2nd in Ribs and 1st in Pork and RGC. Our second we comp we finished 24 of 25. next comp 1st in Brisket and another RGC. You will never know until you try.

Todd Ras · 03-16-2010, 12:59 PM

You never know if you don't try. We did our first one last year and practiced for 4-6 months before hand. We took 12th overall out of 80 teams and got a call for 9th in chicken. So, make sure to do some full set up practices and have a lot of fun.

I met a lot of people on here last year including the guys from Border War and there always willing to help. Don't be afraid to ask questions and just enjoy your friends and family!

CrackerJack from KC · 03-16-2010, 01:03 PM

Rob, thanks for the offer, but I am cooking Q for close to 200 people that following weekend at church, and we are doing a lot of our planning and shopping that weekend.

The contest I am looking at is

18th ANNUAL LAURIE HILLBILLY BAR-B-Q COOK-OFF

AUG. 6th & 7th, 2010

$7225.00 IN CASH PRIZES+TROPHIES & RIBBONS

LAKE OF THE OZARKS REGION STATE CHAMPIONSHIP COOK-OFF

KCBS SANCTIONED

http://www.freewebs.com/lauriemissouri/bbqcookoff.htm

My parents live about 2 miles from there, so I would have easy access to anything I might have forgotten, plus a soft bed if I chose to sleep that night. About 75 teams competed last year, and I think a fellow Bretheren came home with the grand prize last year.

BBQchef33 · 03-16-2010, 01:04 PM

Our first contest out Parrothead and I finished

1st in chicken
1st in rib
3 rd in brisket
5th in pork

what sucked was it was unsanctioned and the organizer took HIGHEST individual score as the overall winner instead of cumulative. So a team with a single high pork score was considered GC. If it was KCBS we would have walked with GC and invites.

that just proved to us anyone has a shot on any given day. But doing that the well first time out, we really got bit by the bug. We did well in the following 3 (kcbs)contests with 3 3rd place(overall) finishes in a row. That year, we did a total of 5 contests and finished top 5 in all of them.

My theory is that we ALL know how to cook BBQ when we enter a contest. But the real challenge and learning curve comes with learning how to compete.. how to produce your "A" product, in a 10 minute window. The term 'its done when its done', does not apply in a contest. Competition BBQ is all about hitting that bullseye at 12:00 12:30, 1:00, and 1:30.

Critter Done --- BBQ4U !! · 03-16-2010, 01:32 PM

You'll always be a beginner if you never enter !!!
Cook with Love and Love to Cook, it will show up in your finished product.
awards are just a really nice bonus !

Born2Smoke · 03-16-2010, 01:38 PM

We took first place in Ribs in Rochester last year (Ribfest, non KCBS) for our first ever competition...It happens

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrackerJack from KC

So I am thinking about doing my 1st competition, but it doesn't really seem worth it to spend all the money if I don't really have a chance to win.

I know I cook really good Brisket and Pork, I could learn a thing or two on Ribs and have a lot to learn on cookin Chicken thighs.

So my question is, does anybody have any good beginners luck stories about doing well at their 1st ever BBQ Contest?

musicmanryann · 03-16-2010, 01:41 PM

Take your time to learn as much as you can about competition style bbq, ask questions, visit contests, and perhaps take a class. Your hard work and preparation will pay off. Beginner or not, luck is a part of the equation, that is just a reality of the subjective aspect of of this sport. However, when it comes down to it, the cream will rise to the top. If you have what it takes--what the judges are looking for--yours will rise too.

03-16-2010, 11:15 AM	#1
CrackerJack from KC Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-15-08 Location: Overland Park, KS	Does beginners luck exist in BBQ Contests??? So I am thinking about doing my 1st competition, but it doesn't really seem worth it to spend all the money if I don't really have a chance to win. I know I cook really good Brisket and Pork, I could learn a thing or two on Ribs and have a lot to learn on cookin Chicken thighs. So my question is, does anybody have any good beginners luck stories about doing well at their 1st ever BBQ Contest? __________________ Kamado Joe (4) 18.5" WSMs Weber OTG 26.75" Traeger 070 Stoker Worlds Fastest "Green" Thermapen "Not a competition cook, just a guy who loves eating and cooking Q."

03-16-2010, 11:27 AM	#2
Buster Dog BBQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-20-08 Location: Clive, IA	I have seen a guy win a GC in his first contest and I have seen first year teams like Big T's tear it up their first year. I think you make your own luck by how much time, detail and dedication you want to spend at that contest. If you want to show up and drink all night with your buddies, probably won't fare to well. If you show up and do your very best, pay attention, etc you might surprise yourself. __________________ FEC-100 Right Handed, FEC-100 Left Handed, Large BGE x2, Mini BGE Buster Dog BBQ - [url]http://www.busterdogbbq.com[/url]

03-16-2010, 11:28 AM	#3
smknwhlswife is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-05-06 Location: Kansas City, KS	You never know unless you try! I would not enter into a contest (first time) and have the goal to win. My goal would be to learn as much as I can. Learn about how a contest is run, learn from my neighbors and most important..... have fun!!!! __________________ Kim Wife of HoDeDo Smoke On Wheels www.smokeonwheels.com Yoder Cookers YS-640 & YS-480 & YS-1320 / Coming Soon* YS Q-Kitchen with YS-1500, YS-640 & YS-Charcoal Grill/ $25 Hasty-bake Model 410 / Weber Kettles

03-16-2010, 11:33 AM	#4
Lake Dogs Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-14-09 Location: Lake Sinclair, GA Name/Nickname : Hance	What he said... There really is no luck, but just because you're competing in your first or second competition that you can't do well. We had a walk in ribs on our first comp, walked in everything our 2nd and RGC'd, then third comp was bottom 1/3rd in everything... Not DAL, but very close to the bottom. I will tell you, we learned more from that 3rd comp than we ever did from the others. Give it a try. Be prepared. Practice. Take a look at pics for turn-in boxes (as you wouldn't ordinarily do this at home). I think you'll have fun. Oh, that's the big key: HAVE FUN. __________________ Hance - MiM/MBN/GBA CBJ and comp cook Lake Sinclair, GA (strategically about an hour from darn near anywhere) My competition daze are probably behind me now; I pretty much cook for family, friends, and frankly the peace and solitude I get from smokin' on an offset... Was Lang 84DX, now Bubba Grills 250R and many Weber grills

03-16-2010, 12:21 PM	#5
RobKC is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-10-07 Location: Summerville, SC	We never would have entered our first contest if we were concerned about winning right away. Our goal was to do our best, but also learn as much as we could. Definitely learned the value of appearance scores when we lost a tie-breaker for a call in brisket . If you can make it to Osage City 4/9-10, feel free to look us up and hang out. __________________ Go For Smoke BBQ - Summerville SC

03-16-2010, 12:33 PM	#6
kindollbbq Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 01-09-10 Location: Carrollton, KY	I am doing my first competition this year as well. I am going into it exactly as these guys have said; expecting to finish DAL!!! :) Then if I do, I won't be so surprised, and anything better than that is just icing on the cake!!! Good luck with your competition!! Brandon

03-16-2010, 12:37 PM	#7
G$ is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 01-01-05 Location: Southern Arizona	Yes, first time contestants can and do perform well. Plus, you have to start some time. (We walked with a 4th place ribs call in our first sanctioned contest, about 50 teams. We were satisfied with that.)

03-16-2010, 12:47 PM	#8
Smitty250 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-18-10 Location: Scottsdale, AZ	My first comp was an IBCA comp Sept. 2009. I had a goal of not coming in DAL. I knew I would learn alot and meet some really cool people. Both of those happened and I ended up placing 6th in Ribs and 8th in Chicken. Maybe you might want to start off with a smaller competition to see how you fare. You will definitely learn more and more every time you compete. I have my 5th comp. this weekend and know there is still much more to learn. Good luck!!

03-16-2010, 12:54 PM	#9
Butts-n-gutts Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-27-08 Location: Mooresville, NC	Our first comp we walked with a 2nd in Ribs and 1st in Pork and RGC. Our second we comp we finished 24 of 25. next comp 1st in Brisket and another RGC. You will never know until you try. __________________ KCBS CBJ WSM UDS

03-16-2010, 12:59 PM	#10
Todd Ras On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-19-08 Location: Spring Hill, KS	You never know if you don't try. We did our first one last year and practiced for 4-6 months before hand. We took 12th overall out of 80 teams and got a call for 9th in chicken. So, make sure to do some full set up practices and have a lot of fun. I met a lot of people on here last year including the guys from Border War and there always willing to help. Don't be afraid to ask questions and just enjoy your friends and family!

03-16-2010, 01:03 PM	#11
CrackerJack from KC Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-15-08 Location: Overland Park, KS	Rob, thanks for the offer, but I am cooking Q for close to 200 people that following weekend at church, and we are doing a lot of our planning and shopping that weekend. The contest I am looking at is 18th ANNUAL LAURIE HILLBILLY BAR-B-Q COOK-OFF AUG. 6th & 7th, 2010 $7225.00 IN CASH PRIZES+TROPHIES & RIBBONS LAKE OF THE OZARKS REGION STATE CHAMPIONSHIP COOK-OFF KCBS SANCTIONED http://www.freewebs.com/lauriemissouri/bbqcookoff.htm My parents live about 2 miles from there, so I would have easy access to anything I might have forgotten, plus a soft bed if I chose to sleep that night. About 75 teams competed last year, and I think a fellow Bretheren came home with the grand prize last year. __________________ Kamado Joe (4) 18.5" WSMs Weber OTG 26.75" Traeger 070 Stoker Worlds Fastest "Green" Thermapen "Not a competition cook, just a guy who loves eating and cooking Q."

03-16-2010, 01:04 PM	#12
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Name/Nickname : Phil	Our first contest out Parrothead and I finished 1st in chicken 1st in rib 3 rd in brisket 5th in pork what sucked was it was unsanctioned and the organizer took HIGHEST individual score as the overall winner instead of cumulative. So a team with a single high pork score was considered GC. If it was KCBS we would have walked with GC and invites. that just proved to us anyone has a shot on any given day. But doing that the well first time out, we really got bit by the bug. We did well in the following 3 (kcbs)contests with 3 3rd place(overall) finishes in a row. That year, we did a total of 5 contests and finished top 5 in all of them. My theory is that we ALL know how to cook BBQ when we enter a contest. But the real challenge and learning curve comes with learning how to compete.. how to produce your "A" product, in a 10 minute window. The term 'its done when its done', does not apply in a contest. Competition BBQ is all about hitting that bullseye at 12:00 12:30, 1:00, and 1:30. __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Built Shirley built to feed our Veterans(A.K.A "Abrams"), 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 2 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 2 Pit Barrel Cookers, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, a Blackstone 36 and 17, a covered, pellet pooping FEC100, and our duck died. :( News Flash: "A mans worth is judged by the weight of his integrity " You know your getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy Smoke on KC. WWW.BBQ-BRETHREN.COM

03-16-2010, 01:32 PM	#13
Critter Done --- BBQ4U !! Found some matches. Join Date: 07-10-09 Location: Lockport, Louisiana	You'll always be a beginner if you never enter !!! Cook with Love and Love to Cook, it will show up in your finished product. awards are just a really nice bonus !

03-16-2010, 01:41 PM	#15
musicmanryann is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-11-08 Location: Ames, Iowa	Take your time to learn as much as you can about competition style bbq, ask questions, visit contests, and perhaps take a class. Your hard work and preparation will pay off. Beginner or not, luck is a part of the equation, that is just a reality of the subjective aspect of of this sport. However, when it comes down to it, the cream will rise to the top. If you have what it takes--what the judges are looking for--yours will rise too. __________________ Big T'z Q Cru Championship BBQ Team CBJ #50801 6 WSM's 2 Weber Kettles FEC100 2 Backwoods Fatboy 2 Not-so-Ugly Drum Smokers from Gateway BBQ Store [URL="http://s674.photobucket.com/albums/vv102/Ryannewstrom/Jambo%20--%20The%20Orange%20Monster/"]Jambo -- The Orange Monster[/URL] [URL="http://www.bigtzbbq.com/#!__main/links"]www.bigtzbbq.com[/URL] Join our [URL="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/group.php?gid=101606657515&ref=ts"]facebook group[/URL]

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