Well it looks like at least one event is already scheduled and is sponsored by Grill Dome which is a competitor of Big Green Egg. Probably just a coincidence though.
Last year I did organize the cook & judging class in the Netherlands. The Low & Slow BBQ team did the teaching. And they did huge job! with a lot of media attention. So American BBQ was wel promoted here.
As an organizer I did paid for everything because of that I have arranged locall sponsoring, also with Grill Dome as a sponsor for some cookers. It is just coincidence because I had the choice between Primo, BGE and Grill Dome. At the Dutch BBQ championship BGE is our sponsor partner, I am also a co-organizer of this event. So it is not about the brand of cookers.
It looks that is all about the money and about politics. But I know that is about the passion about BBQ and especially American BBQ Low & Slow. That is the reason why I organize this cook & judging class with the Tony Stone Low & Slow competition.
Like my friend from England already said: If we want te compete (like at the Jack) with American teams we need to practice more and learn more. To get a level playingfield. Because KCBS organize 350 competitions a year and there is none in Europe with the same set of rules. I would like to have more KCBS sanctioned compititions in Europe
If KCBS like to participate to expand this through their BOD decission. We entousiastic about this.
But I am funding my own event and I am happy that the Tony Stone Competition will be a KCBS santioned competition. And I if any American team will compete at this event we will give them them the same support and hospetality as we have get at the Jack.
I think this is great Harry and I appreciate you coming here to discuss it. My problem certainly isn't with you. I am very happy to see that you are having this cook-off and I might even attend as a cook.
The only reason I mentioned Grill Dome is because Wayne Lohman said in the BOD meeting that he was concerned about my relationship with Big Green Egg if I were to be part of the KCBS team that came to help you and others in Europe. While Big Green Egg is a large part of what I do, I'm very capable of working without them and I do it all the time.
The problem is this has all been done behind closed doors on the KCBS end. If Wayne wants to help you he is welcome. But when he asked for KCBS money to do these things in Europe it all changed. I'd love to come over and help teach my friends in Europe how to cook the Jack and there are better cooks than me that would be willing too. But instead you're getting a group of folks that have never cooked the Jack.