Trip Report: West Coast BBQ Classic Long Beach

On May 9, I judged barbecue at the West Coast BBQ Classic in Long Beach, CA.

The contest was held at the world-famous Queen Mary in the Port of Long Beach. The waterside location was great, the weather was overcast, but the temps were comfortable and the large crowds really enjoyed the event organized by Arlie Bragg of Arlieque Event Management. Fifty-seven professional BBQ teams showed up to compete for trophies and cash and they turned in some great 'que.

Congrats to Big Poppa Smokers and My Smokin Grillfriend for taking GC and RC respectively, and to Knock UR Sox Off BBQ for the "perfect perfect" 180 score in brisket! Also a shout-out to Friends of TVWBB Vicious Smoke for 5th in Ribs, 5th in Pork and 10th Overall; Slap Yo' Daddy BBQ for 3rd in Ribs and 8th in Pork; Burnin and Lootin 7th in Chicken; and Butcher's Daughter 9th in Pork.

Here are a few photos from the event.


West Coast BBQ Classic signage.


The Queen Mary was the backdrop for this wonderful event.


Vending area and signage for eating contests.


Mr. Jack Daniels was available for photo ops.


A vendor preparing ribs for the visiting public.


Pig Pushers.


Outta Gas BBQ took first place in the People's Choice competition. Their detailed BBQ shack had something to do with that.

Another view of the Outta Gas BBQ shack.


Weber grills and smokers had a strong presence in Long Beach.


BC Smokers had their bomb-shaped smoker on-site.


When Pigs Fly pressed two Weber Ranch kettles into service for the competition.


Thank The Lard BBQ.


Vicious Smoke warming Parkay on WSMs.


Our friends at The Woodshed were cookin' in Long Beach.

Judges get down to the serious business of judging BBQ under the tent.


Judges gather and sign-in before the Southwest Shuffle.


22.5" WSMs standing at attention, cranking out competition 'que.


TVWB member banner flying at Butcher's Daughter/Slap Yo Daddy BBQ sites.


Donna Fong of Butcher's Daughter representing WSM Smoke Day 11.


Trophies and medals are ready for distribution to the winners.


Big Poppa Smokers takes Grand Champion at Long Beach.

Here are the results from Long Beach.

Grand Champion: BIG POPPA SMOKERS
Reserve Champion: MY SMOKIN GRILLFRIEND

Overall
1 BIG POPPA SMOKERS 699.3944
2 MY SMOKIN GRILLFRIEND 694.2628
3 KNOCK UR SOX OFF BBQ 693.6572
4 SMOKIN MO'S BBQ 689.1200
5 LEFT COAST Q 685.6572
6 FUNTIME BBQ 685.0856
7 SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ 682.8228
8 TOOT & STINKY CALI-Q 682.2972
9 JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE 682.1596
10 VICIOUS SMOKE 681.6572
11 THE PIT CREW BBQ OF SOCAL 680.5488
12 PORKETEERS 679.9428
13 NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q 678.2632
14 LADY OF Q 678.2516
15 SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ 677.6000
16 Smoqued California BBQ 676.6060
17 ZZYZX BAR.B.Q 675.3600
18 JW HAYES BBQ 674.8912
19 DG FIREHOUSE BBQ 674.2288
20 MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ. 673.6916
21 WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ 671.9772
22 BURNIN AND LOOTIN 671.3944
23 Yard Lobster BBQ 670.7656
24 WHEN PIGS FLY 669.7484
25 SMOKIN' REJECTS! 669.6456
26 BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER BBQ 669.0860
27 TWISTED BRISKET BBQ 665.6800
28 ROOFTOP BBQ 665.6572
29 SMOKE HOUND BBQ 665.5772
30 THE RIB DOCTOR LLC 663.4400
31 BIGMISTA'S BARBECUE 660.4912
32 SMOKIN IT UP BBQ 658.7316
33 Woodshed Team 657.6456
34 Smokin' Hart's 657.6112
35 Outta Gas BBQ 654.7768
36 PIG PUSHERS BBQ & CATERING 654.2284
37 DEAD PIG WALKING 653.6228
38 WOODY-Q 653.0288
39 THANK THE LARD BBQ 652.4572
40 BEAR'S-B-Q 649.6000
41 COOL GRILLING 647.4284
42 FU MAN QUE CREW 647.3256
43 OC DOUBLE BARREL SMOKERS 646.7540
44 THREE TEN BBQ 645.0400
45 BC SMOKERS 644.4800
46 Bubbas Smokeyard BBQ 636.9828
47 DESPERADO 630.1260
48 FOUR KING BBQ 628.9712
49 Wildebeest BBQ 621.5772
50 7 SINS BBQ 619.3028
51 Smoky Doky Barbecue 618.2628
52 PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ 617.0172
53 TEAM DOVE 595.8404
54 Triple T 574.1484
55 Dad's BBQ and Smokehouse 504.0228
56 Our Place BBQ & Soul Food 476.4340
57 This Little Piggy Went Smokin! 306.2628

Chicken
1 BIG POPPA SMOKERS 180.0000
2 MY SMOKIN GRILLFRIEND 180.0000
3 SMOKIN MO'S BBQ 178.8800
4 ROOFTOP BBQ 178.2972
5 WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ 176.5944
6 KNOCK UR SOX OFF BBQ 176.0000
7 BURNIN AND LOOTIN 174.8916
8 MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ. 174.8572
9 Smoqued California BBQ 174.3200
10 LADY OF Q 174.2972
11 THANK THE LARD BBQ 172.5716
12 DEAD PIG WALKING 172.0228
13 PORKETEERS 172.0000
14 FUNTIME BBQ 172.0000
15 VICIOUS SMOKE 172.0000
16 Outta Gas BBQ 172.0000
17 LEFT COAST Q 172.0000
18 NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q 170.8572
19 ZZYZX BAR.B.Q 170.8456
20 Yard Lobster BBQ 170.8228
21 TWISTED BRISKET BBQ 170.2856
22 JW HAYES BBQ 169.7256
23 SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ 169.6800
24 JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE 169.6684
25 Woodshed Team 169.1428
26 SMOKE HOUND BBQ 169.1200
27 PIG PUSHERS BBQ & CATERING 167.4744
28 THE PIT CREW BBQ OF SOCAL 167.4400
29 THREE TEN BBQ 167.4056
30 BEAR'S-B-Q 167.3828
31 OC DOUBLE BARREL SMOKERS 166.8112
32 TOOT & STINKY CALI-Q 166.2972
33 SMOKIN IT UP BBQ 165.0856
34 Smokin' Hart's 163.3828
35 Bubbas Smokeyard BBQ 162.8228
36 SMOKIN' REJECTS! 162.8112
37 BC SMOKERS 162.2628
38 SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ 161.6800
39 BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER BBQ 161.1544
40 DG FIREHOUSE BBQ 161.1316
41 WHEN PIGS FLY 160.0112
42 PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ 159.9772
43 THE RIB DOCTOR LLC 158.8572
44 Smoky Doky Barbecue 158.2856
45 FU MAN QUE CREW 158.2628
46 BIGMISTA'S BARBECUE 157.6684
47 Our Place BBQ & Soul Food 155.9656
48 WOODY-Q 155.9544
49 TEAM DOVE 151.9888
50 DESPERADO 151.9772
51 7 SINS BBQ 147.9656
52 COOL GRILLING 147.9428
53 Wildebeest BBQ 146.7884
54 FOUR KING BBQ 144.5028
55 Triple T 142.2284
56 Dad's BBQ and Smokehouse 123.2000

Pork Ribs
1 SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ 179.4400
2 DG FIREHOUSE BBQ 174.8572
3 SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ 174.2628
4 BIGMISTA'S BARBECUE 173.7372
5 VICIOUS SMOKE 173.7028
6 BIG POPPA SMOKERS 173.1200
7 JW HAYES BBQ 172.5600
8 TOOT & STINKY CALI-Q 170.8800
9 THE PIT CREW BBQ OF SOCAL 170.8688
10 LEFT COAST Q 170.8344
11 FUNTIME BBQ 170.8344
12 Wildebeest BBQ 170.2744
13 Yard Lobster BBQ 170.2628
14 SMOKE HOUND BBQ 170.2628
15 NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q 169.7144
16 SMOKIN MO'S BBQ 169.1544
17 MY SMOKIN GRILLFRIEND 169.1316
18 KNOCK UR SOX OFF BBQ 169.1200
19 DEAD PIG WALKING 169.1200
20 MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ. 168.5716
21 PORKETEERS 168.5600
22 SMOKIN IT UP BBQ 168.0116
23 TWISTED BRISKET BBQ 167.9772
24 WOODY-Q 167.9772
25 PIG PUSHERS BBQ & CATERING 167.3828
26 BURNIN AND LOOTIN 167.3828
27 COOL GRILLING 166.8912
28 Smoqued California BBQ 166.8572
29 SMOKIN' REJECTS! 166.8456
30 BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER BBQ 166.8344
31 JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE 165.6800
32 WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ 165.1772
33 THE RIB DOCTOR LLC 164.6056
34 ZZYZX BAR.B.Q 164.5488
35 Woodshed Team 164.5256
36 FU MAN QUE CREW 163.4400
37 LADY OF Q 163.4288
38 This Little Piggy Went Smokin! 162.8572
39 Smokin' Hart's 161.7144
40 FOUR KING BBQ 161.7028
41 Outta Gas BBQ 159.9884
42 PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ 159.9772
43 BC SMOKERS 159.4172
44 THREE TEN BBQ 159.4172
45 WHEN PIGS FLY 158.8688
46 THANK THE LARD BBQ 158.2400
47 DESPERADO 156.5144
48 ROOFTOP BBQ 154.8344
49 BEAR'S-B-Q 154.2288
50 Triple T 151.9544
51 Bubbas Smokeyard BBQ 150.7884
52 OC DOUBLE BARREL SMOKERS 149.1200
53 7 SINS BBQ 149.0972
54 Smoky Doky Barbecue 146.8344
55 TEAM DOVE 142.2400
56 Dad's BBQ and Smokehouse 139.4056
57 Our Place BBQ & Soul Food 20.0000

Pork
1 FUNTIME BBQ 177.7372
2 WHEN PIGS FLY 177.1428
3 SMOKIN MO'S BBQ 176.5600
4 TOOT & STINKY CALI-Q 174.2628
5 VICIOUS SMOKE 173.7144
6 SMOKE HOUND BBQ 173.7028
7 THE RIB DOCTOR LLC 173.1544
8 SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ 173.1544
9 BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER BBQ 172.5600
10 WOODY-Q 172.5600
11 JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE 172.5484
12 THE PIT CREW BBQ OF SOCAL 171.4172
13 SMOKIN' REJECTS! 171.4172
14 COOL GRILLING 170.3200
15 MY SMOKIN GRILLFRIEND 169.7256
16 BIG POPPA SMOKERS 169.1316
17 Smokin' Hart's 169.1312
18 SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ 168.5828
19 KNOCK UR SOX OFF BBQ 168.5372
20 BC SMOKERS 168.0344
21 PORKETEERS 167.9772
22 FU MAN QUE CREW 167.9656
23 Smoqued California BBQ 167.4516
24 BURNIN AND LOOTIN 166.8572
25 WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ 166.8228
26 OC DOUBLE BARREL SMOKERS 166.2972
27 NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q 166.2744
28 LEFT COAST Q 166.2628
29 ZZYZX BAR.B.Q 165.7028
30 ROOFTOP BBQ 165.6800
31 THANK THE LARD BBQ 165.1428
32 DG FIREHOUSE BBQ 165.1200
33 Yard Lobster BBQ 164.5484
34 TWISTED BRISKET BBQ 163.4172
35 PIG PUSHERS BBQ & CATERING 163.4056
36 FOUR KING BBQ 162.7884
37 Woodshed Team 162.2744
38 LADY OF Q 161.6684
39 JW HAYES BBQ 161.1656
40 SMOKIN IT UP BBQ 160.5488
41 Our Place BBQ & Soul Food 159.9656
42 7 SINS BBQ 158.8456
43 THREE TEN BBQ 158.2172
44 Smoky Doky Barbecue 157.7144
45 DEAD PIG WALKING 157.6800
46 BEAR'S-B-Q 157.1428
47 Bubbas Smokeyard BBQ 157.1200
48 Wildebeest BBQ 156.5372
49 Outta Gas BBQ 156.5256
50 BIGMISTA'S BARBECUE 155.9656
51 DESPERADO 155.3828
52 MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ. 153.6800
53 PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ 150.2628
54 TEAM DOVE 145.6800
55 This Little Piggy Went Smokin! 143.4056
56 Triple T 133.1428
57 Dad's BBQ and Smokehouse 108.2740

Brisket
1 KNOCK UR SOX OFF BBQ 180.0000
2 LADY OF Q 178.8572
3 BIG POPPA SMOKERS 177.1428
4 MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ. 176.5828
5 LEFT COAST Q 176.5600
6 MY SMOKIN GRILLFRIEND 175.4056
7 JET COATINGS - MONKEY STYLE 174.2628
8 ZZYZX BAR.B.Q 174.2628
9 WHEN PIGS FLY 173.7256
10 BIGMISTA'S BARBECUE 173.1200
11 DG FIREHOUSE BBQ 173.1200
12 SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ 173.1200
13 JW HAYES BBQ 171.4400
14 NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q 171.4172
15 PORKETEERS 171.4056
16 TOOT & STINKY CALI-Q 170.8572
17 BEAR'S-B-Q 170.8456
18 THE PIT CREW BBQ OF SOCAL 170.8228
19 SMOKIN' REJECTS! 168.5716
20 BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER BBQ 168.5372
21 Smoqued California BBQ 167.9772
22 ROOFTOP BBQ 166.8456
23 THE RIB DOCTOR LLC 166.8228
24 Outta Gas BBQ 166.2628
25 DESPERADO 166.2516
26 Bubbas Smokeyard BBQ 166.2516
27 Yard Lobster BBQ 165.1316
28 SMOKIN IT UP BBQ 165.0856
29 OC DOUBLE BARREL SMOKERS 164.5256
30 SMOKIN MO'S BBQ 164.5256
31 FUNTIME BBQ 164.5140
32 TWISTED BRISKET BBQ 164.0000
33 7 SINS BBQ 163.3944
34 WILD WILLY'S SMOKIN HOT BBQ 163.3828
35 Smokin' Hart's 163.3828
36 COOL GRILLING 162.2744
37 BURNIN AND LOOTIN 162.2628
38 VICIOUS SMOKE 162.2400
39 Woodshed Team 161.7028
40 SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ 160.5028
41 THREE TEN BBQ 160.0000
42 FOUR KING BBQ 159.9772
43 FU MAN QUE CREW 157.6572
44 WOODY-Q 156.5372
45 THANK THE LARD BBQ 156.5028
46 PIG PUSHERS BBQ & CATERING 155.9656
47 TEAM DOVE 155.9316
48 Smoky Doky Barbecue 155.4284
49 DEAD PIG WALKING 154.8000
50 BC SMOKERS 154.7656
51 SMOKE HOUND BBQ 152.4916
52 Wildebeest BBQ 147.9772
53 Triple T 146.8228
54 PAPA LA RUE'S BBQ 146.8000
55 Our Place BBQ & Soul Food 140.5028
56 Dad's BBQ and Smokehouse 133.1432

Nice write-up in The LA Beat about the West Coast BBQ Classic:

http://thelosangelesbeat.com/2015/0...-annual-west-coast-bbq-classic-in-long-beach/

The 4th Annual Queen Mary West Coast BBQ Classic took place Saturday, May 9 in Long Beach. When the sauce settled, Sterling Ball’s Big Poppa Smokers was awarded the Grand Champion Trophy. “The City of Long Beach, with the Queen Mary as the setting and Arlie (Bragg) as the promoter, this is one you really, really want to win and I’ve got to tell you, it feels great!”, Sterling said. “It’s nearly a major—-we won the American Royal in 2012 and this one feels awesome”, he continued. “We were very happy to have a perfect score in chicken. Getting the GC in this contest is just a perfect gift!”.

Click to expand...

That's awesome - thanks.

Thanks for sharing Chris....you always do an awesome job.

Wow grand and reserve both got perfect scores in chicken.Big poppa been killing it.

Thanks for the write up Chris, nice to see some of the folks I've learned from. Barb and I will be stopping by the Woodshed soon when we go back to see the kids and grandkids. Got to say their wood products are great!