I Smell Smoke Smokes the Competition in
Lake Placid Barbeque Festival 

LAKE PLACID , N.Y. --- The I Smell Smoke Barbeque Team won the title of festival grand champion during the Lake Placid, NY-I Love Barbeque Festival (ILBBQF) held Monday and Tuesday, July 3 and 4, in Lake Placid , N.Y. Competing against 17 squads, from Texas to New York , the Fitzwilliam, N.H. team accumulated the highest point total over the two-day event in the four categories of brisket, chicken, pulled pork and ribs.

"This is great, this was a blast, we loved being a part of this contest," mentioned pit boss Steve Farrin. "This was an awesome first time event; you can bet that we'll be back. Other teams are going to hear about how great this event was and I can almost promise you that more will be here next year."

The inaugural festival was held on the same speedskating oval where Eric Heiden won his five Olympic gold medals during the 1980 winter games. Seabrisket, of Seabrook , N.H. , finished second in the final overall rankings, while the Purple Turtle Catering Company, of Norwalk , Conn. , rounded out the top three teams.

"It's beautiful to be somewhere where there's so much history. Think about it, teams competed on the same oval where Heiden won all those medals, there's not another venue that can boast that," said Jerry Mullane, of the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), who sanctioned the event. "Also, to have people who have actually won Olympic medals judging this event makes it very unique. There's so much history and so much personality here. it's unreal."

The near perfect weather conditions and the aroma of wood smoke making its way through the village of Lake Placid enticed almost 7,000 people to participate in the festival, which also featured food demonstrations, rides, music, celebrities and of course plenty of food for the public. The proceeds raised benefited the Thomas Shipman Youth Center , which provides a supervised safe and exciting environment and programs where local children can grow and develop as individuals.

"I'm just amazed by the turnout and support for this event," noted festival chairman Tom Costello. "We thought that this event would be successful, but couldn't imagine how successful it would really be. The teams that participated all came away excited about possibly returning next year and this event could never have been possible without the support of the volunteers, charitable groups and sponsors."

As the ILBBQF festival champion, the I Smell Smoke Barbeque Team also earned the title of New York State champion and the team is also eligible to compete in the American Royal and Kansas City Barbecue national championship, held every year in Kansas City , Mo. This team, along with three additional New York state teams, could also qualify for the Jack Daniels world barbeque championships.

ILBBQF would like to extend its gratitude to its gold level sponsors including the Can-Am Hockey Group, Empire State Coca-Cola of Northern New England and the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) .  Sponsors include Bill McBride Subaru, Cherrie Sayles Real Estate, Comfort Inn, Ironman North America, Lake and Mountain Properties, Lake Placid Hilton Resort, Lake Placid Main Street Association, Lake Placid Summit Hotel and Suites, Kelly Ken nedy Graphics, ROCK 105, the Tri-Lake Federal Credit Union, Upstate Auto Chrysler-Dodge, USA Luge and Patrick DelRosario DJ Services.  Additional supporters include Boyer's Adk. Septic Service, National Bank and Trust (NBT), Lake Placid Horse Show Association, Best Western Golden Arrow Hotel, Dr. Balestrini, Vulcan Lead, Citizens Bank, the UPS Store, Marriot Corp., Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, iTOURis, The White Face Lodge, Mirror Lake Inn, John and Sandi Taylor, Harlow Excavation and Construction, Alpine Motor Inn, Merrill Thomas Real Estate, A.G Edwards, All Season Tent Company, Lake Placid Central School District Superintendent Dr. Ernie Stretton, Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau, Village of Lake Placid , the Town of North Elba and All Seasons Tents & Event Rentals.  We look forward to inviting all Tri-Lakes businesses to become sponsors of ILBBQF.

Photo features members of the I Smell Smoke Barbeque Team with award check of $1,500.00