Took 1st Place at my first contest...now what

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Chuck_NE

Knows what a fatty is.
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Yesterday I entered and won a small local rib contest at a HyVee. There were a few professional teams there from what I could tell, about 16 entrants overall.
I'd like to do it again, met some great people of course, had fun, and realized maybe my friends and family haven't just been stroking my ego about my bbq. I'm currently cooking on a MasterBuilt electric, and know I need to upgrade to a KCBS approved smoker to enter the events I'm looking at. Obviously I have zero experience in fire control so that's probably my biggest challenge. What do you guys think is the best type of smoker to move up to for comps? Thanks!
 
I probably should...I'm batting 1000 and up $490 ;) But damn that felt good...I've caught the fever
 
I second the WSM. I here the 22.5 and the 18.5 are great. The 14.5 is a bit of a challenge until it gets seasoned up really well. I say go for the 22.5". I wish I had gotten one when I could but didn't and opted for a pellet smoker which I plan to sell. WSMs are very nice once you get use to them.
 
Chuck_NE said:
I probably should...I'm batting 1000 and up $490 ;) But damn that felt good...I've caught the fever
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It's like a casino or drug pushing. The first one's free.....ya gotta pay for the rest!:heh:


Way to go BTW!!!
 
Was thinking the WSM would be the way to go...thanks for the recommendation of the 22.5 also. I was wondering about which one when I was looking at them earlier. I'll probably stay in the backyard for a while so I can master the charcoal/fire before jumping in another competition. Thanks guys.
 
Congrats. A WSM will treat you right. Get a BBQ Guru as well and you'll be just fine in regard to fire management.
 
Chuck_NE said:
I probably should...I'm batting 1000 and up $490 ;) But damn that felt good...I've caught the fever
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I would go with the WSM 22.5 and some meat to get used to her on with your winnings.
 
If you order online through Home Depot for free pickup at store and ask if they match a 10% off coupon from Lowes during online chat they may give you a discount like I got on the 22.5" WSM. I combined that with discounted gift cards from giftcardgranny and saved almost 20% on the WSM.
 
Chuck_NE said:
I'd like to do it again, met some great people of course, had fun, and realized maybe my friends and family haven't just been stroking my ego about my bbq.
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CONGRATS! I too won my first contest and then my next big lesson was,"competition BBQ can be very humbling at times". :shocked:
 
Chuck_NE said:
Was thinking the WSM would be the way to go...thanks for the recommendation of the 22.5 also. I was wondering about which one when I was looking at them earlier. I'll probably stay in the backyard for a while so I can master the charcoal/fire before jumping in another competition. Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with that I compete in the backyard division contests. I suggest taking a class or two. It will help you get a better idea of what to be shooting for. We have taken one with Three Eyez and one with 'Pits'burgh Smokers. We also plan to take one may 16 with DivaQ. The ones we have taken have given us a better idea of what to shoot for. We don't cook exactly the same but it shortened the learning curve. I don't know about other people but I always heard 6 hours was good for ribs but with the way our smokers work 4 hours works for us on ribs on our 14.5" WSM but on the kamado it takes 5 hours to get the same results. The biggest problem I think we have had is that we cook on different smokers from the people we have taken classes from. The WSM smokers I have only had since November. It just takes some time to figure out how to adapt to using a different smoker. It also helps to ask these guys and take pictures as it helped me figure out how to nail ribs the way we want to. We still are working on them but it's helped.
 
Chuck_NE said:
Yesterday I entered and won a small local rib contest at a HyVee. ....
I'd like to do it again, ...
Click to expand...

Ho ho!

I remember those hallowed days of crushing the competition in the unsanctioned locals.

I try *not* to remember the fifteen grand spent in an effort to repeat those results on the KCBS Pro circuit.

You're hooked now my friend - that ten dollar bowling trophy is going to be the most expensive thing you ever "won". :D
 
Congrats As said a couple WSMs will give you a good start without putting out a lot of money Some teams also use a UDS
 
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