musicmanryann
is Blowin Smoke!
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2008
- Location
- Ames, Iowa
Me and my fledgling Q Team competed in our first competition last season and are looking forward to getting more in to it this year. After that first competition I found my greatest challenge was actually getting some sleep before things start to heat up before turn-ins. I didn't get one wink of sleep (admittedly, I am a person that needs/desires some shut-eye probably more than the next guy), and the next day I was in a complete daze when I should be bringing my A-game, and stayed that way until Monday morning.
Now this had a lot to do with nerves and the uncertainty of being in my first cook-off, but mostly I was afraid of something going terribly wrong with my briskets and butts while I was off countin' sheep. Namely, trying to keep that steady temp on the three WSMs we were using.
Now this might be a question more for the WSM contingent out there, but how do y'all cope with making sure your cookers are doing their job without you there checking every half-hour to make sure they are keeping a steady temp? I used the Minion Method, but found I still had to adjsut through the night to keep the temps where I wanted them.
Perhaps I simply need to "let do and let God" or learn to deal with sleepless nights, but any thoughts or bits of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Now this had a lot to do with nerves and the uncertainty of being in my first cook-off, but mostly I was afraid of something going terribly wrong with my briskets and butts while I was off countin' sheep. Namely, trying to keep that steady temp on the three WSMs we were using.
Now this might be a question more for the WSM contingent out there, but how do y'all cope with making sure your cookers are doing their job without you there checking every half-hour to make sure they are keeping a steady temp? I used the Minion Method, but found I still had to adjsut through the night to keep the temps where I wanted them.
Perhaps I simply need to "let do and let God" or learn to deal with sleepless nights, but any thoughts or bits of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.