How was your season and what are your goals for next year?

PatioDaddio

Being that it's the end of the comp season for most of us, I thought I would start a conversation about the season past. How did your season go? Better than expected, worse, or just about how you thought it would? Also, what are your goals for the coming season? I'll go first...

This was the first season for my one-man Patio Daddio BBQ "team" (I'm pretty sure a team requires more than one competitor) and it far surpassed my expectations. Although I only competed twice (Boise and Salt Lake City), I got four calls (1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th) including one top-five overall finish. In fact, my very first call was a 3rd in chicken in my first competition (Boise - 33 teams). All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better inaugural season.

My goal for next year is to compete in five contests and to qualify for the AR Invitational. I would love to do The Jack, but it is logistically and financially prohibitive to make the trek from Boise. KC is much more accessible for me.

Let's hear your story.

John
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allsmokenofire · Posted: Nov 06 2006 Post subject:

My story's a long one...sorry.

This was my 2nd year to compete, having done 4 contests in 2005 in or around Tulsa with some success(calls in 3 of 4 contests). In January I talked with my wife about "ramping up" our contest schedule to see if we could really hang w/ the big boys. Knowing that it would increase our competition expenses, while at the same time potentially reducing my income, she agreed(gotta love her! Cool

).

We put 15 contests on the calendar for this year and agreed we would see how it went. We started off the year slowly, but won the 4th contest we did this year in Bixby(it was also our 1st anniversary contest). We had some good results afterwards in Claremore, Perkins, Joplin, and Memphis. We added a few more contests to the schedule, we did the Royal(Invitational ourselves and the Open w/ SmokinOkie) and we were lucky enough to get the wild card draw to The Jack. We got rib calls at the Royal and The Jack. In between the Royal and The Jack we happened to win another contest in Jenks, which gets us into The Royal and the Jack draw for next year.

Needless to say neither of us expected to have the amount of success we've had this year. I'm doing a contest in Stillwater next weekend, which will be my 26th contest this year. It's been a fantastic year, more fun and more work than I ever imagined, and it's given us some unforgettable moments.

Next year we will probably try to cut the schedule back to say around 15 contests. I'm also going to try and pursue some sponsors for next year to help defray some of the expenses. My goals for next year are to have as much fun as we did this year, continue to build a reputation as a decent bbq team, represent our sponsors(if any) well, and look for ways to perhaps make a decent living in the bbq world. Wink

Please don't wake me up just yet.... Laughing

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dabaslab · BBQ Pro Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 515

This was our first year of competing and we had a blast. First of all, our team is somewhat of an extended ministry of our Sunday School class. As you can see by our team logo we are called the "Son Seekers". While doing well at BBQ is important to us our first pirorty is for people to see our team banner. We also hand out bookmarks with our team logo on them as a reminder to everyone that the cross is empty because we serve a risen savior.

But like I said BBQ is important to us as well. We cooked in three contests this year and we got a fourth place call for chicken in our first contest and a fifth place call in brisket in our third contest. This exceeded our expectatios in many ways.

We are doing several fund raisers this fall and winter to raise money to pay for six to seven contests next year.

As far as goals for next year... We want to finish in the top ten overall in a contest (grand or reserve would really meet this goal). We competed in Nashville this year and plan to compete there again next year and our second goal is to beat Lotta Bull in at least one catagory there Very Happy

.

Dab
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Son Seekers BBQ Team

PatioDaddio · Posted: Nov 06 2006 Post subject:

Smokedelic Mike - You have indeed had a whale of a year and I congratulate you and your team. Perhaps our paths will cross at the AR next year. I'd love to raise a glass with you.

John
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PatioDaddio · Posted: Nov 06 2006 Post subject:

Dab - You folks are clearly on the winningest team of all time. Congrats on your early success and I wish you the best next year.

As Hoochie-Que's signature says, "Jesus Loved Barbeque, Too". Wink

John
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If you love it, you gotta rub it.

allsmokenofire · Posted: Nov 06 2006 Post subject:

Rub N Smoke · Posted: Nov 06 2006 Post subject:

This was my Rookie year too. I wasnt sure what to expect, but I did have a great time. This year I've done 7 and my last one is next weekend. Most of mine had 40- 50 teams some were BIG teams, even though they were big teams and they knew they'd hand me my rear, they were always helpful. This year I grew leaps and bounds, my product has gotten 100% better.
Next year I'm going to keep up this pace and just go to have fun. Hopefully I'll hit a few times too.. Twisted Evil

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Bigjim4x · Posted: Nov 06 2006 Post subject:

This was my first year competing as well. I would like to think we have had good success for rookies. We have hit the money in at least 1 category in all 3 of our competitions. I plan on doing 10 to 15 next year. My goal for next season is to win my first Grand and I want to try to win a qualifier.

Big Tom · Posted: Nov 06 2006 Post subject:

For my team this is our 10th year of cooking competitivley. Thus far this season we have only cooked in four of five scheduled events. Three of the five will be MIM, the other two have been our first attempts in the KCBS arena.

We have been successfull considering the low number of contests that we have entered. Last weekend was a strong showing with a 1st rib and 2nd shoulder. We also got some calls to the stage in both of the KCBS events. Next weekend will be the wrap-up contest for our 2006 season; a strong showing there may get us into the top twenty in MIM team points.

Next season already looks good for us as a former sponsor is wanting to get involved with our team again. We also hope to be at the MIM World Championship in 2007.

I hope to be able to update this post this time next week and brag on finishing the season with a Grand Champion trophy in the collection.

To be continued.....
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Big Tom
Pigs-R-Us Cooking Team
Owensboro, KY / Corinth, MS

PatioDaddio · Posted: Nov 06 2006 Post subject:

Tom - Although I've never been there, I have an ex-brother-in-law (and fellow USAF vet) that was born and raised in Corinth. I congratulate you on your season and wish you the best next year.

John
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Big Mike · Posted: Nov 06 2006 Post subject:

Well, I got up the nerve this year and entered a contest down in tennessee back in August. Unfortunately the contest was canceled due to not enough teams. It took place the same weekend as Stokin the Fire in Birmingham.

So, my goal for next year is to actually compete in at least one competition.
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Portergolf · Posted: Nov 06 2006 Post subject:

Well, this was my first year to actually start BBQ so I did not enter any event. I would like to test the waters next year. Does any one have a good source where I can find a list of events. I would prefer them to be in my general area ( Within 4 hour drive) I am in Atlanta, GA. If someone knows of any events in my area or of a website that list events for next year that would be great.

Thanks and good luck to everyone next season!
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DawgPhan · BBQ Super Pro Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 3444

DawgPhan · BBQ Super Pro Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 3444

Well considering this was our first year competing I am pretty happy with it...got a couple of calls won some cash and some trophies...Next year I will probably try and get started a little earlier next year and maybe add in another contest or 2.

While chicken is still confusing me I have gotten my brisket scores up...we went from 129 something in the first 2 contests to a 148.000 in shelby. I was really happy with that..and while 148 was only good for 35th place outta 65 teams a 129 would have been good for 60th place...I think that I still have a few points that I can get outta the brisket...In shelby with some many teams 4 more points in brisket would have almost put us in the top 20...

Chicken is confusing me since my taste was right where I wanted it score wise in dillard but the tenderness was low...so I fixed the tenderness in Covington and the taste was low...So in shelby the taste was better than covington but not as good as dillard and the tenderness was better than dillard, but not as good as covington...Well lucky me I am going to a football party this weekend...so guess who is getting several different types of chicken...

I am happy with my ribs...while I didnt finish in the top 10 with ribs I did finish 17th which was about 2 points outta the top 10...I guess my ribs have been my most consistent thing always kinda hanging out around the top or so...

Pork I had some timing issues on saturday...I felt like it was great pork when it was pulled, but sadly it sat around a little too long before going into the box and with the wind and the cold it was cold and dry when it finally got turned it...

So I am going to take these next few months and try and catch up with all of the stuff I have been putting off because of football and BBQ and maybe do a little practicing on a couple of things...maybe work on my brisket since I think that I can still get a couple of more points out of it...

Portergolf · Posted: Nov 07 2006 Post subject:

Bedlam BBQ · Posted: Nov 07 2006 Post subject:

This was my first year to really compete with 3 Guys Smokin. I've hung out with the team at comps for the past 4-5 years and I've always enjoyed cooking at home. But that first call the team got when I was helping out, got me hooked into competing. So this winter's project is to build a smoker and then next year will be the debut of my own competition team (just the wife and myself).

I owe a great deal of gratitude to Tim, Craig and Tim of 3 Guys Smokin -- you guys have shown me how to cook great Q. It will be an honor to beat my mentors.

I have also gotten to meet and get to know many of the other local competition teams, many of them are members on this board. I look forward to spending more time with all of them at future competitions.

3970010 · Posted: Nov 09 2006 Post subject:

This was my first season and it went a lot better than I thought. I did 10 cookoffs this year since my starting in June. I will do the 11th and final one for the season this weekend. In 10 cookoffs I have recieved two 2nd place trophies for brisket, one 9th place trophy for ribs (135 teams) one 6th place trophy for brisket (same 135 teams) and a 1st place trophy for ribs. I also got a 6th place ribbon for chicken. So, its been good.

Goals. I would like to get a 1st in brisket and do alot better in chicken this year.

Maybe someday I can even get a grand championship.

adolpho · Posted: Nov 09 2006 Post subject:

I was only in 5 competitions this past season, and one of those was combined with another team. No firsts, but I got some 3rds and other top ten finishes. My best placing was in a grilling part of a competition (fajitas-2nd). Two of my contests I placed 3rd overall, missing RGC. I know GC or RGC will come some day.

I wish I had the schedule and endurance to go to more events. During the Spring and Fall, I'm teaching so I have to limit how many days I take off. I did one event in June and it was hot! So it discouraged me to go to any more events in the summer (I like cueing at my house, where I can relax in the AC between adding logs or checking the temp).

My goal...build up the endurance to handle the heat and do more comps in the summer.
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Oswego · Posted: Nov 09 2006 Post subject:

I did Four last year and Four this year. Plus this year I cooked with Uncle Earnie out of Nebraska in Florida,Bill and the Dixie Chicks in Florida,HomeBBQ.Com in Alabama and took Class with Kevin (HomeBBQ.Com) .(I also helped Organize a Contest in Dothan Alabama)
Next Year I plan to cook an average of one Contest per Month FBA and KCBS.
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DawgPhan · BBQ Super Pro Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 3444

looks like I am going to do back to back contest next year...I will probably try and do winchester TN and then barnesville, GA the next weekend....KCBS and FBA events respectivly...I have never done a FBA event so it will be interesting to see how it goes...seems fairly straight forward though...no garnish and 7 pieces I think...oh and 1 hour for the turn in times...