HOG ISLAND PITMASTERS

HOG ISLAND PITMASTERS is a competition barbecue team with 16 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2012 and 2014. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the 2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship (2013), and finished Reserve Grand Champion twice. They are ranked #954 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

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At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#954

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1609

peak 1609 · rated over 15 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Dec 31, 2012

latest Mar 28, 2014 · 1.2 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#72

Master 2013 · every season

Grand champs

2 reserve · wins it all 6% of the time

Category wins

7 podiums

Overall top-10s

63% of 16 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 22%

overall standings

Best overall

688.5714 / 720

Master · Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship

Perfect 180s

Current form

657.95 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 659.65 (-1.69)

Walk rate

88%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

175.4288

Brisket · Smokin' on the Water

Consistency

±16.15

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 166.69 · weakest Pork Ribs (162.17)

Road miles

3,079

across 16 mapped stops · furthest 263 mi

Schedule strength

10%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1514)

Master avg

659.65 / 720

15 Master contests · 1 GC

Storylines (15 found in their record)

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

The heartbreaker

4.5712 points from the title

Came within 4.5712 points of the Grand Championship at Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship (Dec 31, 2012).

On the rise

+75 rating points in a year

Their power rating has climbed 75 points across 13 contests since Apr 5, 2013 — from 1535 up to 1609.

13 contests since Apr 5, 2013
now 1609

Giant slayer

57 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 57-team field at 2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship.

Mar 15, 2013

A multi-meat day

1 contest with 2+ category wins

They've won two or more meats on the same day 1 time — the best of them 2 category wins at Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship (Dec 31, 2012).

Pork 1st
Brisket 1st

They almost always walk

88% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 14 of 16 contests

A top-10 category call in 88% of their 16 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

688.5714 career-best overall

95.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 688.5714 at Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship — 95.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
Dec 31, 2012

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

KNOCK UR SOX OFF BBQ has finished one call ahead of HOG ISLAND PITMASTERS 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

Show 8 more storylines

A tough matchup

7–2 behind in the head-to-head

Burnin and Lootin ahead in 78% of their meetings

Burnin and Lootin has come out ahead in 7 of their 9 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.5 points behind their best meat

Pork Ribs is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.52 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 38% of the time against 47%.

Pork Ribs avg 162.17
Chicken avg 166.69
6 calls in 16 entries

The drought

14 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at 2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship on Mar 15, 2013 — 14 contests and 13.6 years ago.

last GC Mar 15, 2013
13.6 years ago

A strong matchup

7–2 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 78% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of BOWLING OVER PIGS in 7 of their 9 shared contests.

Announced themselves early

2nd at their very first contest

Finished 2 of 25 at their very first tracked contest, Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship (Dec 31, 2012).

Dec 31, 2012
25-team field

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

BIG B'S DOWN-N-DIRTY BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The long haul

3,079 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 3,079 miles across 16 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 263 miles to Smokin' on the Water.

16 mapped stops
furthest 263 mi

The metronome

±2.24% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.24% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.6% of a perfect score
16 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
2014 ↗	Master	#1726 (139 pts)	#2563 (69 pts)	#1953 (114 pts)	#1547 (179 pts)	#1583 (169 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#72 (2,144 pts)	#74 (1,935 pts)	#93 (1,787 pts)	#99 (1,713 pts)	#59 (2,114 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to HOG ISLAND PITMASTERS, each with one reason worth a look.

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

WARDEN'S Q

#960 of the rated field

1609 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 60%
Peak: 1617

Careers of much the same size, 15 contests to 16, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 15 contests
last seen May 9, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

FRIULI VIOLENT GRILLERS

#955 of the rated field

1609 power rating

Contests: 16
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 69%
Peak: 1609

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 Sep 14, 2019
on a 4-contest top-10 run

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Duck Dog Bar-B-Que

#957 of the rated field

1609 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 53%
Peak: 1612

17 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 53% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 17 contests
last seen Jul 29, 2016

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BIG BLOCK BBQ

#959 of the rated field

1609 power rating

Contests: 33
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 30%
Peak: 1640

Level with HOG ISLAND PITMASTERS on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 32 contests
last seen Sep 3, 2016

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FRIENDS OF OBR

#951 of the rated field

1610 power rating

Contests: 41
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 32%
Peak: 1648

They've been 1648 at their best, 38 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 41 contests
last seen Aug 17, 2018

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Smokin Gringos BBQ

#953 of the rated field

1610 power rating

Contests: 47
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 36%
Peak: 1630

47 contests to 16: their number has had years to settle where HOG ISLAND PITMASTERS's is still finding its level.

rated over 42 contests
last seen Jul 11, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER BBQ	13	9	4	69%	⚔ compare
BIG B'S DOWN-N-DIRTY BBQ	12	5	7	42%	⚔ compare
BOWLING OVER PIGS	9	7	2	78%	⚔ compare
Smokey and the Pirate	9	7	2	78%	⚔ compare
RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ	9	6	3	67%	⚔ compare
THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ	9	5	4	56%	⚔ compare
TOO ASHAMED TO NAME	9	5	4	56%	⚔ compare
SON OF SMOKE	9	5	4	56%	⚔ compare
Burnin and Lootin	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
WOODHOUSE BARBECUE	8	6	2	75%	⚔ compare
SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
LEFT COAST Q	8	4	4	50%	⚔ compare
All Sauced Up	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	15	7	0	2	171.4284	155.9544	166.69	top 28%
Pork Ribs	16	6	1	2	173.1200	140.5372	162.17	top 37%
Pork	16	8	1	1	174.8572	142.1944	164.74	top 27%
Brisket	16	10	1	2	175.4288	152.5712	165.92	top 23%

“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
Medium (20–39)	6	0	top 20%
Large (40+)	9	1	top 24%

More numbers

Busiest season 2013 14 contests · 1 GC

Contests a season 5.3 across 3 seasons in the data

Most contests held in CA 15 of 16 contests · 2 states in all

Contests visited 15 a different one every time

First title Mar 15, 2013 2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship

Opponents faced 334 finished ahead 565 times, behind 137

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

20142 milestones

Mar 28 Peak power rating (1609) Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
Mar 28 Most recent contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

20134 milestones

Mar 15 First Grand Championship 2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship
Mar 15 Biggest field won (57 teams) 2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship
Jul 20 10th tracked contest Smokin' For Gold
Aug 23 Career-best single call (Brisket)175.4288 Smokin' on the Water

20129 milestones

Dec 31 First tracked contest Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship
Dec 31 First call Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship
Dec 31 First category win (Pork) Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship
Dec 31 First overall top-10 Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship
Dec 31 First overall podium Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship
Dec 31 First Reserve Championship Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship
Dec 31 First multi-meat day Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship
Dec 31 First overall past 90% of a perfect score688.5714 Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship
Dec 31 Career-best overall score688.5714 Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+15.5	2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship	Mar 15, 2013
+14.6	Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship	Dec 31, 2012
+11.9	2nd Annual Pechanga BBQ Championship	Jun 21, 2013
+11.4	Smokin' on the Water	Aug 23, 2013
+11.1	Blues, Brews & BBQ	May 24, 2013

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-5.3	The Great American Cookoff	Jul 26, 2013
-1.9	Wine Country Big Q	Jul 12, 2013
-0.1	RubStock BBQ Championship: A Groovin' Time in the Foothills	Sep 13, 2013

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	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2014	1	0	1	0	100%	top 31%	90.2%	90.2%
2013	14	1	8	1	86%	top 22%	95%	91.4%
2012	1	0	1	2	100%	top 8%	95.6%	95.6%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Mar 28, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Sacramento, CA	9 / 29 (649.5884)	22 (155.9544)	13 (160.5484)	5 (167.4056)	6 (165.6800)
Nov 7, 2013	World Food Championships - World Barbecue Championship (Competitor's Series) Las Vegas, NV	—	—	37 (163.4628)	37 (163.3828)	32 (163.9656)
Oct 4, 2013	Dana Point State BBQ Championship Dana Point, CA	9 / 99 (673.6116)	23 (169.1200)	39 (163.9544)	5 (174.2972)	28 (166.2400)
Sep 13, 2013	RubStock BBQ Championship: A Groovin' Time in the Foothills Cameron Park, CA	16 / 39 (647.2800)	11 (168.5256)	18 (158.2400)	6 (164.5372)	22 (155.9772)
Aug 23, 2013	Smokin' on the Water Lakeport, CA	2 / 20 (683.9316)	5 (170.2628)	9 (167.4172)	5 (170.8228)	4 (175.4288)
Jul 26, 2013	The Great American Cookoff Woodlake, CA	31 / 53 (635.3600)	19 (165.6800)	46 (140.5372)	18 (164.5712)	9 (164.5716)
Jul 20, 2013	Smokin' For Gold Placerville, CA	4 / 25 (661.6456)	9 (165.0972)	2 (173.1200)	7 (161.1428)	6 (162.2856)
Jul 12, 2013	Wine Country Big Q Santa Rosa, CA	21 / 44 (631.8628)	12 (165.0972)	16 (160.5712)	39 (142.1944)	11 (164)
Jun 28, 2013	Silicon Valley BBQ Championships Santa Clara, CA	9 / 56 (658.8566)	2 (171.4284)	5 (169.7142)	12 (165.1428)	29 (152.5712)
Jun 21, 2013	2nd Annual Pechanga BBQ Championship Temecula, CA	5 / 70 (670.8570)	23 (165.1428)	8 (168.5714)	14 (165.1428)	4 (172)
May 24, 2013	Blues, Brews & BBQ Brentwood, CA	4 / 34 (666.2854)	2 (169.7142)	15 (160.5712)	10 (164)	2 (172)
May 17, 2013	Bakersfield's Biggest Baddest BBQ Championship Bakersfield, CA	8 / 65 (654.2854)	19 (163.4286)	23 (157.1426)	6 (167.4286)	5 (166.2856)
May 10, 2013	West Coast BBQ Classic Long Beach, CA	15 / 54 (657.7140)	30 (159.4286)	24 (160.5714)	17 (166.8570)	6 (170.8570)
Apr 5, 2013	The Ultimate BBQ Showdown East vs. West IV Wildomar, CA	16 / 48 (642.2858)	4 (170.2858)	29 (150.2856)	14 (161.1430)	17 (160.5714)
Mar 15, 2013	2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA	1 / 57 (672.5708)	4 (171.4284)	1 (170.8572)	12 (162.8568)	8 (167.4284)
Dec 31, 2012	Wild Wild West III BBQ Championship Lake Elsinore, CA	2 / 25 (688.5714)	7 (169.7142)	6 (169.1428)	1 (174.8572)	1 (174.8572)

HOG ISLAND PITMASTERS

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

Master avg

Storylines (15 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

On the rise

Giant slayer

A multi-meat day

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The weak link

The drought

A strong matchup

Announced themselves early

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

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)