Local Legends and World Champions Gather at Dusty’s to Compete in Heated BBQ Competitions All Weekend Long
The Canadian National BBQ Championships return to Whistler for the 10th year in a row July 29 to 31, 2011. As the highlight of the Pacific Northwest’s competitive BBQ circuit, the National BBQ Championships attract competitors from all over the world to battle it out for cash, prizes and entry into the American Royal World Championships in Kansas City and the Jack Daniel’s World Championship BBQ event in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
“The BBQ Championships have become a staple summer event in Whistler,” says Joshua Kearns, Dusty’s Bar & BBQ Manager at Whistler Blackcomb. “This is the 10th year in a row Dusty’s has hosted the event and every year it just gets bigger, better and tastier. With great food, great music and lots to see and do, it’s a great way to spend the B.C. Day long weekend.”
The BBQ fires up on Friday with a Whole Hog BBQ Demonstration from BBQ champion Jim Ericson. The demonstration is free and registration is not required. After learning the 24 hour process of cooking a whole hog, guests can sample the BBQ fare at Saturday’s Whole Hog Feed dinner for only $15. Tickets are available at Dusty’s and as the event sells out every year, advanced purchase is recommended. To cap off the evening, Dusty’s presents Whole Lotta Led, a Led Zeppelin tribute band who will hit the stage at 9 p.m.
Saturday is Local’s BBQ Day where residents and visitors can compete for chance to win over $2,000 in cash and prizes. The Backyard BBQ Burger Competition presented by Bull’s-Eye BBQ Sauce takes place at 1 p.m. and the winning burger will also earn the honour of being featured on the Dusty’s Bar & BBQ menu for a year. The King of the Grill competition will take place at 3 p.m. and requires contestants to submit their best grilled or smoked item cooked on-site to the judges and each dish must consist of a meat or vegetable or combination of the two. The C.A.S.I International Chili Championship also takes place on Saturday with turn-in at 2 p.m. The day will be rounded out by music from local legend, Guitar Doug in the afternoon and The Matinée at 10 p.m.
Sunday is the main event. In addition to over $5,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs, the title of ‘Canadian Champion” and an invitation to the World Championships in Lynchburg, Tennessee are also on the line.
Competitors will compete in four traditional categories: Pork Butt, Beef Brisket, Chicken and Ribs. Pacific Northwest BBQ Association (P.N.W.B.A) judges will score all entries with 25 per cent weighted on appearance, 25 per cent weighted on texture/tenderness and 50 per cent assigned to taste.
A fifth and non-traditional category has also been added to Sunday’s festivities and is in its 4th popular year – the Pork & Cork. In the Pork & Cork competition contestants will be judged on their abilities to make the perfect match between BBQ pulled pork and Ravenswood’s legendary Zinfandel wine.
If the finger-licking-good BBQ seems too good to pass up, a $5 donation to charity gets spectators a pass to Dusty’s and sampling priority from the competitors.
Spend your long weekend in Whistler with rooms from $99 per night. For more information on accommodation packages, the Canadian National BBQ Championships and other news, visit whistlerblackcomb.com.
About Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler Blackcomb, the official alpine skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, is situated in the Resort Municipality of Whistler located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia 125 kilometres (78 miles) from Vancouver, British Columbia. North America’s premier four season mountain resort, Whistler and Blackcomb are two side-by-side mountains which combined offer over 200 marked runs, over 8,000 acres of terrain, 14 alpine bowls, three glaciers, receives on average over 1,090 centimetres (430 inches) of snow annually, and one of the longest ski seasons in North America. In the summer, Whistler Blackcomb offers a variety of activities, including hiking and biking trails, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and sightseeing on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. For more information, visit whistlerblackcomb.com
