Pitmaster for Dances With Smoke Barbeque

Tom Wallin has been grilling and barbecuing most of his life, however his true "obsession" with real "low n' slow" southern style barbecue began in 2004 when he and his wife (Kay) became Kansas City Barbecue Society Certified BBQ Judges and in the process were introduced to the world of Competition BBQ.  After having a new custom BBQ Pit built, he entered his first competition in early 2005 under the name Dances With Smoke Barbeque.  During the past six plus years he has competed in over 75 competitions all over the US and western Canada.

In 2008, Dances With Smoke won the Canadian National Barbecue Championship.  He has also been Grand Champion at State BBQ Championships in Washington and Oregon. Additionally, over the years he has been Reserve Grand Champion at State Championships in Washington, Oregon, Montana, and the Provincial Championship in British Columbia.  He was also Reserve Grand at the 2009 Canadian National BBQ Championship.  He has assembled 28 First Place category finishes so far in his career, along with 32 Second Place finishes.  Dances With Smoke Barbeque was the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association's Team of the Year in 2007, 2008, and 2009. 

In 2008, Dances With Smoke competed at the Jack Daniel's World Invitational BBQ Championship in Lynchburg, TN, which for BBQ teams is like the world series of BBQ.  The event brings in the top 78 barbecue teams from all over the world.  He took a 6th Place finish in Beef Brisket and placed 29th overall.  The next year, he competed in the American Royal Barbeque Championship in Kansas City, MO.  This is the largest BBQ Competition in the world.  That year, the Open Competition had 473 teams from around the World competing.  His Pork Ribs placed 33rd out of 472 other entries.

Tom served on the Board of Directors of the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association for 5 years, having served two of those years as President.  The PNWBA has approximately 600 members and puts on BBQ Competitions and Classes throughout the four western US States and the four western Provinces of Canada.  A total of 38 events were put on in 2009.  The organization is a 501c3 and many of their events help of raise money for local charities.

After years of filling friends, clients, and sometimes strangers, requests for bottles of his award winning spice rubs to use at home, Tom launched Dances With Smoke BBQ & Grilling Rubs at the beginning of 2010.  The first two products were a Steak Rub and a Lemon Rub.  A few months later his competition tested Pork and Briskets Rubs were for sale as well.  Click on the Products page for more information.