Sky High BBQ

Sky High BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 20 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2023 and 2026. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (2025). They are ranked #2344 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#2,344

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1525

peak 1525 · rated over 14 contests3 invitational or side-series contests not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Sep 15, 2023

latest Aug 28, 2026 · 3 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#111

Backyard 2026 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve · wins it all 5% of the time

Category wins

4 podiums

Overall top-10s

20% of 20 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 56%

overall standings

Best overall

676.4688 / 720

Master · Bands & BBQ at the Point

Perfect 180s

Current form

666.39

last 5 Master vs avg 666.03 (+0.36)

Walk rate

50%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.2972

Chicken · GLBBQA Spring Fling

Consistency

±10.96

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 169.63 · weakest Pork (165.68)

Road miles

3,198

across 20 mapped stops · furthest 404 mi

Schedule strength

59%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1575)

Purse competed for

$70K

listed at 18 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 8 state-championship entries

Master avg

666.03 / 720

8 Master contests · 0 GCs

Backyard avg

339.97 / 360

7 Backyard contests · 1 GC

These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.

This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.

Storylines (8 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

Against the odds

20-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

The ratings favoured the top seed the other 80 times in 100

Their Grand Championship at Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Sep 19, 2025) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 20-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, Rudes BBQ.

High-water mark

676.4688 career-best overall

94.0% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 676.4688 at Bands & BBQ at the Point — 94.0% of a perfect 720.

Master
Sep 13, 2024

A tough matchup

8–0 behind in the head-to-head

THE BBQ BUS ahead in 100% of their meetings

THE BBQ BUS has come out ahead in 8 of their 8 shared contests.

A strong matchup

4–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Drum Smoke BBQ in 4 of their 4 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

6 of 6 shared chicken entries lost

QUE U ahead 100% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, QUE U has out-cooked them in 6 of 6 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

Skinny Pig BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The long haul

3,198 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,198 miles across 20 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 404 miles to 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Wells Cup, Cocktail Ancillary, Dessert Ancillary (Saturday, May 23, 2026).

20 mapped stops
furthest 404 mi

Show 1 more storyline

The metronome

±2.10% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.10% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 93.1% of a perfect score
20 contests

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2026 ↗	Backyard	#111 (415 pts)	#122 (385 pts)	#78 (662 pts)	—	—
2026 ↗	Master	#1020 (60 pts)	#1093 (60 pts)	#653 (272 pts)	#1067 (60 pts)	#800 (135 pts)
2025 ↗	Backyard	#127 (452 pts)	#142 (417 pts)	#161 (372 pts)	—	—
2025 ↗	Master	#542 (315 pts)	#532 (390 pts)	#459 (506 pts)	#597 (295 pts)	#556 (325 pts)
2024 ↗	Backyard	#305 (111 pts)	#282 (146 pts)	#346 (91 pts)	—	—
2024 ↗	Master	#770 (176 pts)	#638 (286 pts)	#931 (146 pts)	#834 (166 pts)	#662 (261 pts)
2023 ↗	Master	#1135 (88 pts)	#1206 (88 pts)	#1019 (147 pts)	#1199 (83 pts)	#1174 (93 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Sky High BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

78 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

GO BIG OR GO BBQ

#2,336 of the rated field

1525 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 27%
Peak: 1527

0–3 in 3 shared contests (0% to Sky High BBQ)

These two have cooked 3 of the same contests — GO BIG OR GO BBQ ahead 3–0 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.

rated over 14 contests
last seen Jun 26, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

SMOKIN N TURNIN BBQ

#2,332 of the rated field

1525 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 21%
Peak: 1535

Their last contest in the data was back in 2015, 11 years before Sky High BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 14 contests

⚔ Compare careers

SWINEDOTTE CO BBQ

#2,339 of the rated field

1525 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 12%
Peak: 1525

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 15 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Aug 21, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Purdom's BBQ

#2,335 of the rated field

1525 power rating

Contests: 20
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 30%
Peak: 1535

Careers of much the same size, 20 contests to 20, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Apr 3, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

PEQUEA PULLERS

#2,348 of the rated field

1525 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 7%
Peak: 1525

15 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 7% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Aug 24, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

WHO ARE THOSE GUYS?

#2,337 of the rated field

1525 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1525

They were already cooking in 2013, 10 years before Sky High BBQ's first contest.

rated over 16 contests
last seen Aug 24, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
Rudes BBQ	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que	8	2	6	25%	⚔ compare
THE BBQ BUS	8	0	8	0%	⚔ compare
WE WILL ROCK QUE	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
All Smoked Up BBQ	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
Shmack Q	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
C&M BBQ	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
Shiggin aint easy	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
QUE U	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
BBQ Maestros	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare
Skinny Pig BBQ	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare
Wapatui Smokers	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare
Bleacher Bums BBQ	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
Sailor Nicks BBQ	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
DB BBQ	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	16	6	1	178.2972	158.2056	169.63	top 51%
Pork Ribs	19	6	3	174.2972	154.8112	165.77	top 62%
Pork	8	0	0	170.2628	161.6572	165.68	top 70%
Brisket	8	2	0	175.4172	159.9544	167.90	top 52%

“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.

By field size and state

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	4	1	top 63%
Medium (20–39)	7	0	top 45%
Large (40+)	5	0	top 67%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
IL	8	1	top 51%
MI	4	0	top 73%
TN	1	0	top 52%
WI	1	0	top 38%
IA	1	0	top 69%
KY	1	0	top 42%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 1)	2	9	top 47%	Aug 28, 2026
Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY)	2	10	top 56%	Aug 22, 2026
GLBBQA Spring Fling	2	36	top 71%	Apr 18, 2025

More numbers

Busiest season 2026 7 contests

Contests a season 5 across 4 seasons in the data

Most contests held in IL 10 of 20 contests · 6 states in all

Contests visited 13 3 of them more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 19 entries · 0 wins · 6 calls

First title Sep 19, 2025 Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY)

Opponents faced 411 finished ahead 250 times, behind 393

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20262 milestones

Aug 28 Peak power rating (1525) Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 2)
Aug 28 Most recent contest Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 1)

20254 milestones

May 9 10th tracked contest Smoke in the Mitten
Sep 5 First overall top-10 Vine St BBQ Competition & Fest (BACKYARD ONLY)
Sep 19 First overall podium Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY)
Sep 19 First Grand Championship Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY)

20244 milestones

Apr 19 First call GLBBQA Spring Fling
Apr 19 First overall past 90% of a perfect score674.7772 GLBBQA Spring Fling
Apr 19 Career-best single call (Chicken)178.2972 GLBBQA Spring Fling
Sep 13 Career-best overall score676.4688 Bands & BBQ at the Point

20231 milestone

Sep 15 First tracked contest Saluting with Smoke Single Meat - Rib Burn (ONE MEAT RIBS)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+17.1	Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY)	Sep 19, 2025
+13.6	Vine St BBQ Competition & Fest (BACKYARD ONLY)	Sep 5, 2025
+8.4	Brighton Barbeque Bash	Aug 22, 2025
+7.8	Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 2)	Aug 28, 2026
+3	Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY)	Aug 17, 2024

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-7.4	GLBBQA Spring Fling	Apr 18, 2025
-6.4	Saluting with Smoke - Honor Q Reboot	Sep 16, 2023
-5.1	Iowa State BBQ Championship	Apr 4, 2025
-4.3	Smoke in the Mitten	May 9, 2025
-3.4	GLBBQA Spring Fling	Apr 17, 2026

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Season	Contests	GCs	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2026	7	0	2	71%	top 56%	95.9%	93.9%
2025	7	1	2	43%	top 49%	96.7%	93.5%
2024	3	0	0	67%	top 50%	94%	93.7%
2023	3	0	0	0%	top 92%	89.6%	89.3%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Aug 28, 2026	Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 1) Cherry Valley, IL	14 / 24 (332.5028)	20 (158.2056)	8 (174.2972)	—	—
Aug 28, 2026	Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) (Contest 2) Cherry Valley, IL	9 / 25 (345.1316)	9 (172)	9 (173.1316)	—	—
Aug 28, 2026	Smokin Ribs for the Kids (ONE MEAT RIBS) Cherry Valley, IL	—	—	3 (174.2744)	—	—
Aug 22, 2026	Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY) Fairbury, IL	10 / 16 (343.3944)	10 (172.5716)	11 (170.8228)	—	—
May 24, 2026	8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Master Series Invitational and the Backyard Series Invitational (Sunday, May 24, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN	43 / 82 (331.9200)	36 (169.1200)	45 (162.8000)	—	—
May 23, 2026	8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Wells Cup, Cocktail Ancillary, Dessert Ancillary (Saturday, May 23, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN	—	—	—	—	—
Apr 17, 2026	GLBBQA Spring Fling 🏅 Coldwater, MI	33 / 48 (675.3488)	40 (165.7028)	42 (163.9660)	26 (170.2628)	10 (175.4172)
Sep 19, 2025	Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY) Loves Park, IL	1 / 17 (348)	2 (176)	3 (172)	—	—
Sep 5, 2025	Vine St BBQ Competition & Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Park Ridge, IL	5 / 38 (342.8460)	6 (170.8572)	8 (171.9888)	—	—
Aug 22, 2025	Brighton Barbeque Bash 🏅 Oshkosh, WI	11 / 29 (674.8000)	13 (169.1200)	3 (173.7144)	17 (167.9656)	16 (164)
May 9, 2025	Smoke in the Mitten 🏅 Westland, MI	21 / 26 (662.1368)	11 (171.9656)	21 (158.8000)	23 (162.2628)	14 (169.1084)
May 9, 2025	Smoke in the Mitten (ONE MEAT RIBS) Westland, MI	—	—	17 (166.2628)	—	—
Apr 18, 2025	GLBBQA Spring Fling 🏅 Charlotte, MI	47 / 56 (653.5200)	51 (164.5256)	52 (158.8116)	49 (162.8000)	38 (167.3828)
Apr 4, 2025	Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA	34 / 49 (666.1604)	18 (171.9772)	39 (161.1088)	21 (170.2628)	37 (162.8116)
Sep 13, 2024	Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY	13 / 31 (676.4688)	16 (171.4172)	19 (166.2516)	15 (167.9772)	13 (170.8228)
Aug 17, 2024	Smoke on the Midway (BACKYARD ONLY) Fairbury, IL	13 / 26 (335.9660)	8 (171.9888)	17 (163.9772)	—	—
Apr 19, 2024	GLBBQA Spring Fling 🏅 Charlotte, MI	36 / 62 (674.7772)	5 (178.2972)	50 (161.0972)	52 (161.6572)	9 (173.7256)
Sep 16, 2023	Saluting with Smoke - Honor Q Reboot 🏅 Yorkville, IL	16 / 18 (645.0516)	16 (168.0116)	18 (154.8112)	17 (162.2744)	15 (159.9544)
Sep 15, 2023	Saluting with Smoke (COMPETITOR'S SERIES) unrated Yorkville, IL	16 / 17 (640.3884)	15 (162.2516)	16 (158.7884)	—	—
Sep 15, 2023	Saluting with Smoke Single Meat - Rib Burn (ONE MEAT RIBS) Yorkville, IL	—	—	21 (162.8000)	—	—

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

Sky High BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Backyard avg

Storylines (8 found in their record)

Against the odds

High-water mark

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

The long haul

The metronome

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)