First Competition

Diver · 09-06-2009, 08:24 PM

My BBQ team, The Soundside Smokers, competed in our first competition this weekend in Myrtle Beach SC. We figured worst case, we get to spend a long weekencd in at the beach. It started pretty funny. The volunteer helping direct traffic was "perplexed" to say the least that all of our gear was in the back of my mini van. He didn't want to let us into the cooks area. When we got in, we we set set up amongst the other teams with: 2 UDS, a bullet clone and a 22.5 weber kettle. We felt extremely out of place. We were definitely the only drumheads. There were 17 teams and we finished 9 in chicken, 9 in ribs and 7 in pork. I won't get into the brisket that needed 2 more hours on the smoker...

All in all, I think I had the best weekend ever. The teams were great. Thanks especially to Cameron Cookers for hooking us up with items we missed. Here are our turn ins...let me know what you think.

MilitantSquatter · 09-07-2009, 12:20 AM

Congrats !!! Most importantly, glad you enjoyed it and placed fairly well for your first time out..

Just my impressions from the boxed

Chix - looks good !! on the right track .. I'd give it an 8
Ribs - looks a bit odd spread out, weird surface, makethem shine more next time.. I'd give it a 5.
Pork -very neat appearance but looks very bland/colorless - needs some bark,smoke, sauce etc. - I'd give it a 6.
Brisket - presentation on the right track - Probably a 7 or 8.

Congrats again !!!

JD McGee · 09-07-2009, 12:36 AM

Congrats on your first comp folks...great job! Gotta agree with Vinny on the turn ins.

WannaBeBBQueen · 09-07-2009, 08:58 AM

way to go!! Glad you had fun!!

Solidkick · 09-07-2009, 10:57 AM

You had fun, right? That's the main thing!

The chicken, I like it better than Vinny, I'd give it a 9!
The ribs, you got 6 in the box with some legal greens, to me that is no worse than a 6.
I don't see much bark on the pork, so I was a little disappointed.... a 6.
I agree with Vinny that you are headed in the right dirrection with the brisket presentation....try taking a little more time placing the slices in the box.....a toss up between a 7 & 8.

Congrats on a GREAT weekend performance for a first time contest!

NelsonC · 09-07-2009, 11:31 AM

It looks like you on the right path... great job! The most important thing is that you had a great time!!!!

butts · 09-07-2009, 11:45 AM

Congrats on the first comp and well done! Look us up if you cook any more in the area.

smoke it if ya got it · 09-07-2009, 12:15 PM

Briskett looks good to me how did it taste?

Meat Burner · 09-07-2009, 02:40 PM

Definately a great start. I prolly do 8 - 6 - 6 -8. The chicken and brisket just simply look tasty. Not quite neat enough for a 9 in my opinion but definately on the right track. Ribs spread out like that look odd and not cut very even. Pork definately needs bark showing. Easier to do with bigger chunks as well. Good job.

Diver · 09-07-2009, 05:00 PM

Thanks everyone. We had an absolute blast and met some really nice people. The ribs were cooked well but the racks were not meaty. We went with that layout trying to fill the box and trying to help with the fact they were not the same size. I made my worst choices with the brisket. I stuck to my plan that we developed during practices even though the conditions were different. It needed 2 more hours to get tender. We got killed on tenderness and that seemed to drag down taste scores too.

I became a CBJ earlier this year and have judged in 3 comps. I took it seriously from the beginning but I have a new respect for what the teams go through. I think CBJs need to do more than cook with a team. They need to compete. There is so much time in planning, packing, organizing, stressing, cleaning, travel etc. The actual night of cooking is a very small part of what a team goes through.

Lake Dogs · 09-07-2009, 06:44 PM

Congrats! Yes, there's nothing like actually competing. From remembering to pack
all the stuff (cant just go back in the house and get that *thing* that you'd missed),
to the 30 minute to next turn-in dash, there's nothing else like it. Also, you weren't
DAL, so that's great too! :-)

Agree with most above, brisket and chicken looked pretty darned good. It could
be the lighting, but the pork looks lifeless (looks like boiled chicken). Need some
smoke ring in there with some bark. Also, not enough of it; fill the box where you
have as little greenery as you had with the brisket; perhaps less greenery than
that even.

Having fun is most of it! Congrats.

watg? · 09-07-2009, 08:14 PM

Had fun... mission accomplished!
Worry about everything else next time out, the main goal is to enjoy yourself, if you cant get that one done, you better off staying home.

Sounds like your one the right path, congrats and welcome to the frenzy!!

tmcmaster · 09-08-2009, 07:14 PM

Those are fantastic placings for the first contest! Congrats! I hope my first is that good!

Be well!

Alexa RnQ · 09-08-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diver

It started pretty funny. The volunteer helping direct traffic was "perplexed" to say the least that all of our gear was in the back of my mini van. He didn't want to let us into the cooks area. When we got in, we we set set up amongst the other teams with: 2 UDS, a bullet clone and a 22.5 weber kettle. We felt extremely out of place.

Absolutely nothing wrong with not going gear-heavy! Slap Yo' Daddy, Sweet Peppers and RnQ all turn in wins on bullets and kettle -- and your results would seem to put you on the inside track, congratulations on a great inaugural showing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diver

There is so much time in planning, packing, organizing, stressing, cleaning, travel etc. The actual night of cooking is a very small part of what a team goes through.

Truer words were never spoken! Anybody who says it's not an endurance sport hasn't packed a trailer and driven 6+ hours each way, seven weekends out of eight.

smoke showin' · 09-09-2009, 05:57 AM

with those scores you are hooked for good now !!!!!

09-06-2009, 08:24 PM	#1
Diver Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-12-09 Location: Currituck NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	First Competition My BBQ team, The Soundside Smokers, competed in our first competition this weekend in Myrtle Beach SC. We figured worst case, we get to spend a long weekencd in at the beach. It started pretty funny. The volunteer helping direct traffic was "perplexed" to say the least that all of our gear was in the back of my mini van. He didn't want to let us into the cooks area. When we got in, we we set set up amongst the other teams with: 2 UDS, a bullet clone and a 22.5 weber kettle. We felt extremely out of place. We were definitely the only drumheads. There were 17 teams and we finished 9 in chicken, 9 in ribs and 7 in pork. I won't get into the brisket that needed 2 more hours on the smoker... All in all, I think I had the best weekend ever. The teams were great. Thanks especially to Cameron Cookers for hooking us up with items we missed. Here are our turn ins...let me know what you think.

09-07-2009, 12:20 AM	#2
MilitantSquatter Moderator Join Date: 09-17-05 Location: soon to be in Mooresville, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Congrats !!! Most importantly, glad you enjoyed it and placed fairly well for your first time out.. Just my impressions from the boxed Chix - looks good !! on the right track .. I'd give it an 8 Ribs - looks a bit odd spread out, weird surface, makethem shine more next time.. I'd give it a 5. Pork -very neat appearance but looks very bland/colorless - needs some bark,smoke, sauce etc. - I'd give it a 6. Brisket - presentation on the right track - Probably a 7 or 8. Congrats again !!! __________________ Vinny 22" WSM & Kettle Former owner: Jambo, Klose BYC, Med. Spicewine, Pitts & Spitts, XL & (2) Med. BGE's, (2) 18" WSM's

09-07-2009, 12:36 AM	#3
JD McGee somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-28-07 Location: Duvall, WA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Congrats on your first comp folks...great job! Gotta agree with Vinny on the turn ins. __________________ Wine Country "Q" Competition BBQ

09-07-2009, 08:58 AM	#4
WannaBeBBQueen is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 07-17-06 Location: Wantagh, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	way to go!! Glad you had fun!! __________________ Julie "It is better to have burnt and lost, then never to have barbecued at all" Swamp Pit BBQ KCBS Member KCBS CBJ Charbroil Bandera Charbroil Silver Smoker/Grill Weber Kettle 18 & 26 WSM 18 1/2 Kamado 18" FEC 100 http://www.myspace.com/wannabebbqueen http://www.tripadvisor.com/members/JMBred *the views of the user Skip (The Prince Consort) do not necessarily reflect those of WannaBeBBQueen...lol

09-07-2009, 10:57 AM	#5
Solidkick somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-21-03 Location: Bandera Owner in Missouri Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You had fun, right? That's the main thing! The chicken, I like it better than Vinny, I'd give it a 9! The ribs, you got 6 in the box with some legal greens, to me that is no worse than a 6. I don't see much bark on the pork, so I was a little disappointed.... a 6. I agree with Vinny that you are headed in the right dirrection with the brisket presentation....try taking a little more time placing the slices in the box.....a toss up between a 7 & 8. Congrats on a GREAT weekend performance for a first time contest! __________________ Mr. Kick ------------------------------------------------ *Belly Brothers BBQ Team* "Sister Flame" Spicewine Trailer Smoker,Modified Bandera, Uni-Flame Chicken Cooker with a Spicewine Thermometer mod,Kingsford Barrel cooker and a super fast RED thermapen KC always said "fat cap up!!

09-07-2009, 11:31 AM	#6
NelsonC On the road to being a farker Join Date: 06-26-08 Location: Chesapeake, VA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It looks like you on the right path... great job! The most important thing is that you had a great time!!!! __________________ (2x) FEC100, 18" WSM, 22" Weber Kettle, Big Chief 'lectric, Stoker, Orange Thermapen Wells Cargo 8'x20' Vending Trailer Old Dominion Smokehouse BBQ Team - [URL="http://www.olddominionsmokehouse.com"] http://www.olddominionsmokehouse.com[/URL] Sponsored by Central Meats - [URL]http://www.centralmeats.com[/URL]

09-07-2009, 11:45 AM	#7
butts Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-11-06 Location: landrum, sc Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Congrats on the first comp and well done! Look us up if you cook any more in the area. __________________ Stumps GF223CM Weber WSM and Kettle CS 570 7' X 14' enclosed trailer ButtsandBreastts BBQ Facebook: Butts and Breastts

09-07-2009, 12:15 PM	#8
smoke it if ya got it Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-10-09 Location: Way out there! Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Briskett looks good to me how did it taste? __________________ 2-UDS, 2-Brinkman smoke and grills, 1-Char Broil offset, 1 Gourmet Brinkman, 1 Turkey fryer and Freckles the cattle dog, also a proud member of the Smoke it if ya got it Competition BBQ team [COLOR=red]Rub it till it smokes![/COLOR]

09-07-2009, 02:40 PM	#9
Meat Burner Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-22-07 Location: Springfield, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Definately a great start. I prolly do 8 - 6 - 6 -8. The chicken and brisket just simply look tasty. Not quite neat enough for a 9 in my opinion but definately on the right track. Ribs spread out like that look odd and not cut very even. Pork definately needs bark showing. Easier to do with bigger chunks as well. Good job. __________________ my avatar swiped fatties from the plate....look how sorry he is. ________ Meat. NB Bandera with mods Weber 22 .5" x 2, 26.75" x 1 UDS x 3 KCBS CBJ Created "The Great Spam Revelation of 2011." www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111155

09-07-2009, 05:00 PM	#10
Diver Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-12-09 Location: Currituck NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks everyone. We had an absolute blast and met some really nice people. The ribs were cooked well but the racks were not meaty. We went with that layout trying to fill the box and trying to help with the fact they were not the same size. I made my worst choices with the brisket. I stuck to my plan that we developed during practices even though the conditions were different. It needed 2 more hours to get tender. We got killed on tenderness and that seemed to drag down taste scores too. I became a CBJ earlier this year and have judged in 3 comps. I took it seriously from the beginning but I have a new respect for what the teams go through. I think CBJs need to do more than cook with a team. They need to compete. There is so much time in planning, packing, organizing, stressing, cleaning, travel etc. The actual night of cooking is a very small part of what a team goes through.

09-07-2009, 06:44 PM	#11
Lake Dogs Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-14-09 Location: Lake Sinclair, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Congrats! Yes, there's nothing like actually competing. From remembering to pack all the stuff (cant just go back in the house and get that thing that you'd missed), to the 30 minute to next turn-in dash, there's nothing else like it. Also, you weren't DAL, so that's great too! :-) Agree with most above, brisket and chicken looked pretty darned good. It could be the lighting, but the pork looks lifeless (looks like boiled chicken). Need some smoke ring in there with some bark. Also, not enough of it; fill the box where you have as little greenery as you had with the brisket; perhaps less greenery than that even. Having fun is most of it! Congrats. __________________ Hance - Lake Dogs Cooking Team - MiM/MBN/GBA CBJ and comp cook

09-07-2009, 08:14 PM	#12
watg? is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-04-07 Location: Street, MD Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Had fun... mission accomplished! Worry about everything else next time out, the main goal is to enjoy yourself, if you cant get that one done, you better off staying home. Sounds like your one the right path, congrats and welcome to the frenzy!! __________________ george who are those guys? BBQ Team www.watgbbq.com Startin the Fire-(a book) Everything you need to know about starting a competition BBQ team. (except the recipes) www.startinthefire.com "Let me have a diablo sandwich and a Dr. Pepper, make it fast, I'm in a ---damn hurry". Sheriff Buford T.Justice

09-08-2009, 07:14 PM	#13
tmcmaster is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-23-08 Location: York, PA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Those are fantastic placings for the first contest! Congrats! I hope my first is that good! Be well! __________________ Tim McMaster - Porter Mac's Rockin' BBQ - Recently converted Pellet-Head

09-09-2009, 05:57 AM	#15
smoke showin' On the road to being a farker Join Date: 03-18-08 Location: lakeland ,fl FBA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	with those scores you are hooked for good now !!!!!

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