How many categories you HAVE to do?

[Rockinar]

When doing comps on the local State (Texas) level or KCBS, do you HAVE to enter all three/four categories?

Say I wanted to get out of the house and go enter a comp for the fun of it as a one man show, can I just show up as a one man show and take a shot at pork ribs? Or do I have to have a team and enter all categories?

 

[Rookie'48]

Your best bet would be to contact the organizer of the contest. The typical KCBS contest has Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork (Boston Butt or whole shoulder) and Brisket. Some organizers may give you a price break if you're only cooking one or two categories, some may not.:idea:

 

[Rockinar]

Your best bet would be to contact the organizer of the contest. The typical KCBS contest has Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork (Boston Butt or whole shoulder) and Brisket. Some organizers may give you a price break if you're only cooking one or two categories, some may not.:idea:

Not really worried about price break. Just thought it might be something fun to do on occasion. I sometimes play golf tournaments and fishing tournaments around Texas for a fun weekend getaway. I thought a BBQ comp might be something fun to throw in the mix. I was not sure if one man shows were allowed.

 

[Gowan]

For most sanctioning bodies you must cook all the categories to have a shot at the overall Grand Champion. There are exceptions though - in MBN events you can enter a single meat and win the whole contest (if that entry is very, very good).

 

[ynotfehc]

You don't need a team. I compete as a team of one.

 

[cpw]

Lots of people compete as one man teams and win GC's like crazy. They probably have a little more experience than you, but it can be done.

If it were me, I'd see if there are any teams you can go hang out with and wash dishes for the weekend, just so you can see the amount of work that goes into it, and then decide from there.

 

[Burnt at Both Endz]

When doing comps on the local State (Texas) level or KCBS, do you HAVE to enter all three/four categories?

Say I wanted to get out of the house and go enter a comp for the fun of it as a one man show, can I just show up as a one man show and take a shot at pork ribs? Or do I have to have a team and enter all categories?

I've seen a few KCBS contests around here that price the entry fee by category.

 

[sfrancis353]

Most of the KCBS ones that I've seen have backyard and pro divisions. Backyard you cook 3 meats (butt/chicken/ribs). You can easily do this as a one person team as long as you have a decent time table. Just get as much as you can done as early as you can. Our first comp (with a team of four) we were a little lax and got caught trying to play catch up on everything as turn in times started coming up. We quickly learned from this. Next comp boxes were done before the sun went down. All meats were prepped, rubbed, etc as soon as the meat was inspected. The big problem we had after that was our time tables were off because we were giving ourselves too much time to get our boxes put together. Do yourself a favor, do a trial run one weekend in your backyard and see how you do. You'll probably surprise yourself.

 

[Skip]

If you pay the entry fee its not a problem as some can miss categories due to turn in issues.

That being said there is one instance where you would cause damage to the contest and the chances of those who win GC may be lost for a qualifier. If the contest is a first year and you are the 15th team your inability to turn in all four categories will lose the contest its qualifier status. If its in any other year but its first and you are the 25th team on the roster you could cause the same issue. Outside of that there shouldn't be any issue. It would be a nice courtesy to give the reps and/or organizer a call/email just to let them know its your intention so you don't get into an issue at meat inspection.

 

[Nordy]

Yes at most comps you can cook whatever categories you want. But my opinion is if you're going take the time to cook one... cook them all... Don't be scared, everyone has to start somewhere.

I'm a one man team and do all 4 meats... it can be done and done well.

Nordy

 

[Lake Dogs]

I dont know of any (other than MBN) where you cant compete as a team of 1. Even in MBN, it's not a requirement, but I have no idea of how you'd accomplish it with just 1 person (that's another story for another time).

Nearly all allow for you to enter just 1 category (aka. ribs in your example). You can compete and possibly win ribs.

Works fine.

 

[tduffy]

in my opinion it's not worth doing if you aren't going to turn in all 4 categories. It is expected you do so at a KCBS event. If there are exactly 25 teams at an event, there needs to be all 25 teams turning in all 4 categories for it to be a qualifier. I wouldn't want to the be person who ruins that for the GC of the contest.

 

[erichasaces]

in my opinion it's not worth doing if you aren't going to turn in all 4 categories. It is expected you do so at a KCBS event. If there are exactly 25 teams at an event, there needs to be all 25 teams turning in all 4 categories for it to be a qualifier. I wouldn't want to the be person who ruins that for the GC of the contest.

I kind of understand that, but on the same token, if he didn't cook at all and they just had 24 teams, what's the difference?

 

[Jason TQ]

I kind of understand that, but on the same token, if he didn't cook at all and they just had 24 teams, what's the difference?

In that instance they would find a team. I just about guarantee it. I've seen where teams pay for a spot to let someone cook so it will hit 25.

 

[tduffy]

I kind of understand that, but on the same token, if he didn't cook at all and they just had 24 teams, what's the difference?

because if they have 24 teams and I'm one of them, they'll soon only have 23. I'm one of many who aren't cooking a contest if it isn't a qualifier for the Royal/Jack Draw.
It would better suit the OP to cook a backyard contest if they don't have the time/money/resources to cook all 4 KCBS categories

 

[JWACKS]

It's a big step from chicken and ribs in the backyard competitions to the professional circuit. My first KCBS comp I only cooked chicken, ribs and pork. I hadn't figured out how to get a brisket in my single smoker with everything else and I didn't have the experience to cook one.
Knowing what I know now, I would have contacted the organizers ahead of time just to let them know I wasn't smoking a brisket. But there were 38 teams so the 25 team limit was not an issue, and there are other reasons a team might not turn in a particular meat.

 

[Burnt at Both Endz]

because if they have 24 teams and I'm one of them, they'll soon only have 23. I'm one of many who aren't cooking a contest if it isn't a qualifier for the Royal/Jack Draw.
It would better suit the OP to cook a backyard contest if they don't have the time/money/resources to cook all 4 KCBS categories

So this quote isn't from your facebook page?......"Well 2015 competition season has passed and looking back at the season we have a lot to be proud of. We competed in 6 KCBS sanctioned events and 2 non-sanctioned events winning one of them and finishing with 4th place finishes in the other.":tape:

 

[tduffy]

So this quote isn't from your facebook page?......"Well 2015 competition season has passed and looking back at the season we have a lot to be proud of. We competed in 6 KCBS sanctioned events and 2 non-sanctioned events winning one of them and finishing with 4th place finishes in the other.":tape:

I compete in 2 non-sanctioned "backyard" events every year that are single category contests and less than 30 minutes from my house. The money invested in doing those 2 versus a sanctioned event is pennies on the dollar. That doesn't change the fact that I'm not cooking a KCBS sanctioned event that is not a qualifier. Period.

 

[cpw]

In that instance they would find a team. I just about guarantee it. I've seen where teams pay for a spot to let someone cook so it will hit 25.

I've also seen organizers pull in a backyard team to cook the pro side, just to get to 25.

 

[W.I.T.W.A.G?]

Lots of variables on this for sure. A heads up to the organizer to make sure they are aware is best. I agree with many that if you are going to spend the time and money, why not figure out the other meats and at least take a shot at it.