Testimonials

"Last year was my first year doing competition BBQ and I attended the Frostbuster. I used it two fold. First, I tried out some new and different recipes to see if they would work (they didn't) and second I used the time in front of the judges to ask specific questions that would help me improve my scores in competition BBQ. This definitely helped me in becoming a much better BBQ competitor. The Frostbuster BBQ is one of the best learning tools available for any cook in competition BBQ. What is great about it is you cook everything like a KCBS BBQ contest, including turn-in times, boxes and all judges are CBJ's. You receive your scores and judges comments and are then allowed 15 minutes to ask the judges anything you would like. As cooks, we complain about not having feedback from the judges or wonder what they were thinking on a score. This is your chance to find out. The Smokehouse 72 guys do a great job in putting this on and provide a valuable opportunity for all BBQ competitors."
                                                                                               Jason Crees
                                                                                               JAESTAR BBQ


Ever wonder what them crazy judges were thinking? Ever want to tell a cook what you thought of their BBQ entry?
This is the concept of the Frostbuster BBQ contest. Only with a gob of fun and and comradery thrown in.
Having been a judge 3 of the 4 years I always look forward to shaking off the winter doldrums and get back to smelling BBQ on the pits and hooking up with old friends and making some new ones there.
As a judge any chance I get to improve my process I'm going to take advantage of it.
And the cook teams always seem to appreciate being able to visit the judges eye to eye and discuss their scores and critiques.

                                                                                               Ed Hartman
                                                                                              KCBS MCBJ



Frostbusters is a great way to start the judging season. It makes you really think about the score you are giving something, since you have to justify your score to an actual person.
                                                                                                Lyn
                                                                                                KCBS  CBJ


I think that this is probably the best program that I have ever seen to help build the cook / judge relationship. Judges are encouraged to come out & fraternize with the teams on Friday evening and Saturday morning right up until time for the judges meeting - which is when the cooks start to build their turn-in boxes.
The scoring is done using KCBS rules but our score cards have plenty of room for comments. Then the judges get to look the cook in the eye & not only give them their scores but to tell the cooks WHY they gave that score. The cook can then ask any judge any questions that come to mind, like "How can I turn that 7 into a 9?" or "What didn't you like about my flavor profile?"
I've been privileged to help judge in all three of the past Frostbuster comps and I haven't heard anything negative from any of the cooks or judges. Everyone seems to get a lot out of it and it's a great way to start out the season!

                                                                                               Dave
                                                                                               KCBS MCBJ


I have been to 2 Frostbuster BBQ events and this year will be my 2nd. This event is dedicated to cooking teams (first timers or long time seasoned veterans) who want to get open & honest feedback about their foods appearance, taste and tenderness by talking directly to certified KCBS BBQ judges. Honest feedback is what all competition cooks desire in order to make make their food the best it can be at any competition. This event is also the perfect place to practice new techniques and flavor profiles for the upcoming BBQ competition season. If honest and direct feedback is what you want, then this event is for you. The sharing of ideas, no matter how great or how small can be found at this event and it is a very valuable learning tool to help you hone your craft.
                                                                                                      Francis Dutton
                                                                                                      SMOKIN' BONZ BBQ




"After cooking the Frostbuster for the last 2 years, it was a good learning experience being on the judging side this year. Learning how the other judges scored the same turn-ins was a valuable lesson, specifically when your own scoring wasn't consistent with other judges. As a cook, I like to see consistent scores from the judges in at least appearance and tenderness, yet I am humble to say, I’m not any better! From what I can tell, the take-away is to do your best to turn in the most consistent pieces and know that no two pieces of meat are exactly the same. This is especially true in certain categories and in one end of the table to the other.

I'd highly recommend any cook that has been frustrated with their scores judge a Frostbuster, more so than any contest because of the exposure and open dialogue you get with the teams and other judges."



                                                                                            Greg Bjork
                                                                                            Totally Sauced BBQ
                                                                                             (2013 judge)


While the chilly weekend helped the contest live up to its name, Frostbuster 2013, the organizers/hosts, facilities and other teams were contrarily warm and inviting. After not competing for over 4 years, we decided to knock the rust off and see if we could find our competition groove again. The open format judging was reinforcing and valuable to reacquaint us with the KCBS style of judging. The seasoned judges face to face feedback confirmed our intuitions and will allow us to tweak and adjust as we move forward to re-entering the competition circuit. But more than that, it was great to meet new teams, see old friends and shake of the winter hibernation with what we feel are the best people in the world, BBQ’ers… Good luck to everyone who was there, we hope to see you, and hear of your successes down the road.



                                                                                               Tom and Char Manhart                                                                                                RooBQ’n
                                                                                                (2013 team)

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