Arizona's Comp scene

Sundance · 09-06-2023, 04:48 PM

It's almost non-existent - at least that's what I'm seeing. Is there even a functioning sanctioning body? The Barbeque Championship Series website seems to be dormant and the Arizona BBQ Association FB page only has 557 followers and 534 likes. The last post was in 2019. What's going on in Arizona and who's running the show?

ronbrad62 · 09-06-2023, 05:00 PM

Maybe those sanctioning bodies aren't currently in business, but I checked the KCBS website to search for events from today through the rest of the year and came up with this:
https://www.mesabbqclassic.com/
Check the KCBS site to find more in the future.

Sundance · 09-06-2023, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronbrad62

Maybe those sanctioning bodies aren't currently in business, but I checked the KCBS website to search for events from today through the rest of the year and came up with this:
https://www.mesabbqclassic.com/
Check the KCBS site to find more in the future.

Yeah, I live in Mesa and this is being heavily promoted locally, but my concern is there is no functioning organization at the state level to promote BBQ competitions in Arizona. It's very sad.

BBQchef33 · 09-06-2023, 06:13 PM

IMHO....

As a retired competitor and organizer, it seems the hobby had its heyday a few years back. A lot of organizers burned out and no one stepped in to fill the gaps. A lot of venues disappeared also. At least here in the northeast.

ronbrad62 · 09-06-2023, 06:34 PM

Pretty much like Phil said, there seems to be a downturn in the amount of comps and even teams out there. I wish that I had an answer, but it probably a culmination of reasons, not the least of which is public interest. I know that Covid changed things for a while and comps were postponed or cancelled completely, and some never recovered.

jimstocks53 · 09-06-2023, 09:55 PM

I think the wealth of cable shows, online videos, and websites (not this one, of course), and the social isolation imposed by the pandemic has at least temporarily ruined what was a growing BBQ community of comps. That said, the somewhat artificiality of comps with standards of cooking at odds with what most home Q'ers prefer or are able to achieve has also undermined comps as a sport for many who might have attended. No audience - no show.

DUBBAGA · 09-13-2023, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundance

It's almost non-existent - at least that's what I'm seeing. Is there even a functioning sanctioning body? The Barbeque Championship Series website seems to be dormant and the Arizona BBQ Association FB page only has 557 followers and 534 likes. The last post was in 2019. What's going on in Arizona and who's running the show?

This is where I see most of my AZ info https://www.facebook.com/AZBarbequeClub

toys4dlr · 09-21-2023, 10:28 AM

The fall off in AZ bbq comp scene is multi dimensional. First is the difficulties with dealing with maricopa county health dept, they just don’t get it. That is why historically the events have been in other parts of the state. I am curious to see how the new mesa event turns out. The biggest promoter in Phoenix had a falling out with KCBS and that is where you get BCS. But several of the active teams that want to compete still are looking for the things that get you to the royal and the jack and that comes from KCBS. Costs have increased and prize funds have decreased and then if you include the fun stuff that has happened inside KCBS, well you get where you are today. Many of the events have gone to steak comps and historically we have driven to cali or Nevada or other near by states. There you are

09-06-2023, 04:48 PM	#1
Sundance Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 05-12-17 Location: Queen Creek, AZ	Arizona's Comp scene It's almost non-existent - at least that's what I'm seeing. Is there even a functioning sanctioning body? The Barbeque Championship Series website seems to be dormant and the Arizona BBQ Association FB page only has 557 followers and 534 likes. The last post was in 2019. What's going on in Arizona and who's running the show?

09-06-2023, 05:00 PM	#2
ronbrad62 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-16-16 Location: Johns Creek, Ga. Name/Nickname : Ron	Maybe those sanctioning bodies aren't currently in business, but I checked the KCBS website to search for events from today through the rest of the year and came up with this: https://www.mesabbqclassic.com/ Check the KCBS site to find more in the future. __________________ Ron Join us for the South East Bash in Lebanon, Tn. May 4, 2024 (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...usp=drivesdk)] Bash planning thread here https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/s...d.php?t=305951

09-06-2023, 06:13 PM	#4
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Name/Nickname : Phil	IMHO.... As a retired competitor and organizer, it seems the hobby had its heyday a few years back. A lot of organizers burned out and no one stepped in to fill the gaps. A lot of venues disappeared also. At least here in the northeast. __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Built Shirley built to feed our Veterans(A.K.A "Abrams"), 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 2 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 2 Pit Barrel Cookers, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, a Blackstone 36 and 17, a covered, pellet pooping FEC100, and our duck died. :( News Flash: "A mans worth is judged by the weight of his integrity " You know your getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy Smoke on KC. WWW.BBQ-BRETHREN.COM

09-06-2023, 06:34 PM	#5
ronbrad62 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-16-16 Location: Johns Creek, Ga. Name/Nickname : Ron	Pretty much like Phil said, there seems to be a downturn in the amount of comps and even teams out there. I wish that I had an answer, but it probably a culmination of reasons, not the least of which is public interest. I know that Covid changed things for a while and comps were postponed or cancelled completely, and some never recovered. __________________ Ron Join us for the South East Bash in Lebanon, Tn. May 4, 2024 (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...usp=drivesdk)] Bash planning thread here https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/s...d.php?t=305951

09-21-2023, 10:28 AM	#8
toys4dlr is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-02-07 Location: Phoenix, AZ Name/Nickname : David	The fall off in AZ bbq comp scene is multi dimensional. First is the difficulties with dealing with maricopa county health dept, they just don’t get it. That is why historically the events have been in other parts of the state. I am curious to see how the new mesa event turns out. The biggest promoter in Phoenix had a falling out with KCBS and that is where you get BCS. But several of the active teams that want to compete still are looking for the things that get you to the royal and the jack and that comes from KCBS. Costs have increased and prize funds have decreased and then if you include the fun stuff that has happened inside KCBS, well you get where you are today. Many of the events have gone to steak comps and historically we have driven to cali or Nevada or other near by states. There you are __________________ Q-To-U-BBQ in Cave Creek, Arizona (RIP 2020) 2010, 2011 and 2019 Best BBQ in N. Phoenix Toys 4 BBQ'N Competition BBQ Team 4x Hunsaker Drum Smokers FEC 100 (sold), FEC 120 (sold), FEC 240, FEC 500 (sold), PG 500 Shirley Fab 52 x 24 Patio (sold) 250 gallon trailered Moberg

09-06-2023, 09:55 PM	#6
jimstocks53 Take a breath! Join Date: 02-05-13 Location: Tyler, TX	I think the wealth of cable shows, online videos, and websites (not this one, of course), and the social isolation imposed by the pandemic has at least temporarily ruined what was a growing BBQ community of comps. That said, the somewhat artificiality of comps with standards of cooking at odds with what most home Q'ers prefer or are able to achieve has also undermined comps as a sport for many who might have attended. No audience - no show.