The Kingsford® Points Chase
Chasing Kingsford
Lakeside Smokers Double Down Maine
Sep 07, 2011
Eliot, Maine will always hold a special place in the heart of the Lakeside Smokers as they came away from the Mainely Grillin’ & Chillin’ BBQ Festival as the Kingsford Points Champions and Grand Champions of the entire event. What made the event so special for the Smokers was managing to pull off a rare ‘double’ securing both the overall Grand Championship and the Kingsford Points Championship.With 5 years of competitive cooking under their belts Mike and Kris Boisvert, who compete as the Lakeside Smokers, are just entering into their stride as a competitive barbeque team.
The Lakeside Smokers began competing in 2006 after stumbling upon a barbeque competition at a beer festival. “Beer and brewing was a passionate hobby of mine at the time,” states Mike Boisvert. “As I walked around and talked to some of the people there that were barbequing, I realized that beer and barbeque go real nice together! So I jumped in and I’ve been having a blast ever since.”
Along with their French bulldog Maggie, the Smokers compete in about ten to fifteen competitions per year, gaining their first win in 2009.
“You never forget your first Grand Championship,” remarked Mike Boisvert. “For us that happened at The Rock N’ Ribfest in Merrimack, N.H.”
Having squared away a win in Maine and precious Kingsford points, the Lakeside Smokers look to their year-long goal of competing in the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg, Tenn.
“Every year that we compete our goal is to try to get an invite back down there,” said Boisvert. “It’s a very special place for us barbequers.”
Mike states that his most memorable moment is hearing their team name called for third place brisket at ‘The Jack.’ “Taking that walk to the stage is something that I’ll never forget,” remarks Boisvert.
With the Kingsford Points Challenge win under their belt and a Grand Championship in Maine, besting 39 other squads, the Lakeside Smokers got exactly what they wanted … the thrill of victory and bragging rights throughout all New England.
