Matt Lait and I at the rodeo office this morning.

My “Promise” for this year’s Stampede was to meet a real cowboy. I had the incredible opportunity to meet Matt Lait, a bareback rider and genuine, bonafide cowboy!! Matt is a five-time Canadian Finals Rodeo qualifier. In 2004, Matt was the reserve Calgary Stampede Champion, winning $25,000 for his efforts, at the age of 21!

Before we get started on his interview, here is a brief lowdown on what Matt’s passion is- Bareback.  It is one of the most physically demanding rodeo events. Using one arm, the cowboy holds onto the rawhide handhold of a riggin (a leather pad cinched around the horse’s girth). The handhold is snug-fitting and is customized to the individual’s grip. The stress on the rider’s arm is intense as the riding arm absorbs most of the horse’s power.
A bareback rider will be disqualified for touching the animal or equipment with his free hand, or bucking off before the end of the eight-second ride.
The bareback rider tries to reach as far forward as he can with his feet, then rolls his spurs back up toward the riggin. At the same time, he must keep from being pulled away from the handhold. The higher and wilder the rider spurs, the higher the marks. Sounds pretty crazy, right? Let’s read on and see what I learned from my chat with Matt this morning.

1. When did you start rodeo?

I was about 12 or 14 when I first got into it.  It was a slow entrance into rodeo…some kids are born into it but it was my best friend that got me into it.

2. What was your first big moment in rodeo?

I would have to say winning the $25, 000 right here at the Calgary Stampede in 2004 was my finest moment (so far!). That is a lot of money to win at the age of 21.

3. What did you do with your earnings?

Paid my truck off and went to school at SAIT for Petroleum Engineering Tech.

4. Where is the farthest rodeo you have travelled to?

Arcadia Florida is the farthest. That’s a lot of miles to put on!

5. Have you had any injuries that have hindered your progress in rodeo?

Unfortunately, yes. My biggest injury was a broken leg in 2004 that put me out for a year and half. Six weeks ago I broke my wrist so that has been really challenging. It’s difficult, lots of adjusting. When you’re healthy you let it hang out but when you’re hurt you have to change your technique to be in the least amount of pain.

6. Are you friends with your competitors?

Yes, it’s a pretty tight circle. Rodeo is like one large family. I am really lucky that my Mom and Dad are my biggest fans, along with my wife Allie. They try to travel with me as much as possible.

7. Do you have your sights set on winning big this year?

I had some big goals but being out for 6 weeks is going to maybe hinder them. But you can’t let them get out of sight… I’m still trying to accomplish them. I want to be Canadian Champion and make it to NFR (National Finals Rodeo) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

8. How do you get to NFR?

You have to ride a lot. Money won is points. It usually is about $68, 000 to qualify.

9. What is the hardest part of rodeo?

Being away from home, and staying healthy. Travelling definitely takes its toll.

10. I have been asking everyone I interview about his or her “Promise” for this year’s Stampede. I was surprised to learn you were actually IN one of the television commercials!

Yeah, I was in the Goth ad (to Promise Plaid is the new Black). For me, I promised my wife I’d win some money.

Matt, thank you so much for meeting me at the Rodeo Office today. I know how busy you are during Stampede- you are an amazing Cowboy and wish you all the best for the rest of this year’s rodeo as well as hope you make it to the NFR. I’ll be watching for you in the ‘big show’ on Sunday!

There are still lots of great seats available for the rodeo over the last few days of Stampede so come on down and cheer on Matt as he sets his sights on winning some big prize money. For updates and info on everything Stampede, make sure you follow us on Twitter at @calgarystampede , on Facebook through our official Facebook fan page, and stay tuned to the official Stampede Blog to learn more about some of the things happening Here. All Year.

Rodeo 101 – The Crash Course Version

By Killa Burkinshaw

With the 2010 Calgary Stampede starting today and the rodeo is at 1 p.m this afternoon (still time to get your tickets if you haven’t already!), there might be some of you out there who have never seen a rodeo before, or don’t watch it frequently enough to know what it’s all about.

So, I figured it might be useful to do a brief overview of the the events that you’ll be seeing at this year’s Calgary Stampede beforehand so that you’ll all be ready to fully enjoy the experience when you arrive. With that in mind, I present to you, the loyal Stampede Blog reader, Rodeo 101 – The Crash Course Version!

Now, will everyone please take their seats? Good. Then let’s get started! These are the events that you’ll be seeing this year. For more details (including video!), click on the links that are included in the descriptions. There may be a test at the end, so pay attention!

• Bareback Riding (details): This event is the most physically demanding of all the rodeo events where a cowboy has to try to ride a horse with no saddle for eight seconds. This is a judged event, and the more wild, high, and classy the rider spurs, the higher the marks. The cowboy with the highest score wins.
• Bull Riding (details): The most dangerous of all the rodeo events, this is the one that Hollywood likes to make movies of. Like Bareback Riding, a rope with a handhold is wrapped around the bull, and the cowboy can only hold on to this rope (his other hand must be held up in the air) while trying to survive riding the bull for eight seconds. This is a judged event and the highest score wins.
• Barrel Racing (details): This is the only woman’s event that we currently have at the Calgary Stampede, which is probably just as well since guys aren’t normally known for grace and beauty under pressure…ahem. Where was I? Oh yeah. In Barrel Racing, cowgirls and their horses navigate a course consisting of circling three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern. This is a timed event, so the fastest cowgirl to successfully complete the course wins.
• Saddle Bronc (details): Like Bareback and Bull Riding, this is another event where the cowboy must survive a ride for eight seconds without getting bucked off (cowboy speak for getting thrown off an animal). This time, the horse is saddled, and the cowboy must time his movements with those of the bronc’s buck. This is a judged event, and the cowboy with the highest score wins.
• Steer Wrestling (details): The objective of this event is simple: wrestle a steer to the ground. Sounds simple in theory, but obviously difficult in practise. Timing, speed and control are all needed as it is quite possible for the steer to get away from the cowboy, and the steer must be wrestled to the ground in the correct manner in order for the run to count. This is a timed event, and the cowboy that can get it done correctly the fastest wins.
• Tie-Down Roping (details): This event derives from the duties of actual working cowboys, which sometimes required catching and restraining calves for branding or medical treatment. It is a very technical sport which requires practise to perfect – both roper and horse skills are  needed to successfully compete in this event. This event shares many similarities with Steer Wrestling, except instead of wrestling a steer to the ground, the cowboy must catch up to a cow and tie it up in a certain way. This is a timed event, and the cowboy that can tie the calf in the correct manner the fastest wins.
• Team Roping (details): This event shares traits with both Steer Wrestling and Tie-Down Roping, and requires two people to complete. One person must capture the steer with his rope while the other is responsible for tying the steer’s hind legs. There are very strict rules that dictate how the steer can be roped, and violating any of them will result in penalties. This is a timed event, and the team that can perform their duties the fastest wins.
• Novice Bareback: Exactly like Bareback Riding, except the participants in this event are all aged 20 or younger. This is an excellent opportunity to catch some of the next generation of rodeo superstars in action!
• Novice Saddle Bronc: Exactly like Saddle Bronc, except the participants in this event are all aged 20 or younger.
• Wild Pony Race: This event is always a crowd pleaser! The Wild Pony Race is where you can watch the next generation of rodeo cowboys pursuing a wild pony. Several teams of youngsters in groups of three aged 8-12 try to tame a pony long enough to get their rider on the pony for a 2 jump ride. The team that has the fastest time doing this wins. The more you cheer the more they try, so keep cheering them on!

And there you have it! Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what you’re going to see when you visit the rodeo this weekend. Feel free to amaze your friends with your newfound knowledge (and make your teacher proud)!

Now, what you’ve all been waiting for. No, there won’t be a final exam (yes, I know I’m a nice teacher), but there WILL be a final assignment!

Your final assignment is simple: Come down and check out the Calgary Stampede this year! I hope to see you all there (or else!).

Now, Class Dismissed!

We’re back with another edition of Stampede Mythbusters.  I’ve been asking around to find out if people are going to Stampede this year and this myth seems to be a popular reason people give when they say they don’t plan on attending.  It’s a great topic to investigate because it’s something that applies to everyone – Stampede is too expensive.  Or is it?

Now, don’t get me wrong, if you WANT to spend a lot of money during Stampede, there are oodles of ways to lighten your wallet.  But, if you’re like me, you want to have a great time, enjoy some old faves, check out some new things, and know that your bank account isn’t going to be hit too hard at the end of it.

How much does it REALLY cost?

Let’s start off with some numbers so that we’re all on the same page.

Stampede Gate Admission – $14 ($11 if you take advantage of some of the deals – see below.)

Rodeo admission – $12 gets you in, but you’ll be standing.  For good value, I recommend the Bronze seats – $24.50 which includes your gate admission and the best part is you’re up high so you’re covered from excess sun (or rain!).

Grandstand and chucks – $15 puts you on the tarmac (lots of excitement down there for the Chucks, but harder to see for the Grandstand).  For good value try the silver seats – $41.50 – you’re down low so you’ve got a great view of everything, plus it includes your gate admission.

What does it get me?

Stampede Gate Admission is a smokin’ deal.  Essentially, you get access to everything except the rodeo, chuckwagons/evening show, concerts going on in the Pengrowth Saddledome, and rides on the midway.  Honestly, the Coke Stage concerts themselves are worth the admission price but you’ll also be able to check out things like the Acrobatic Ice show, the High Dive act, old faves like the Superdogs, the Western Oasis, and the Stampede market; honestly I could go on and on.

Your pre-purchase rodeo and evening show tickets INCLUDE admission to the Park.  Often it’s a better deal to buy your seats ahead of time.

I HIGHLY suggest using the Stampede Planner to see what sparks your interest and which days will let you get the most bang for your buck.  I really like the ATCO Kitchen Theatre so I ran a search on that and am going to stop by to check out the dueling chefs!  The best part is the free samples at the end!

Looking for a Deal?

There’s no need to pay full price to get into the park or to ride the Midway.  There are several deals that offer you at least a couple bucks off your gate admission.  Check out the deals page to find the one that’s right for you.  If you plan on snapping up the midway deal, act fast.  It’s only available at Safeway stores until July 8^th.

Ok, I think that’s a pretty good overview of what it really costs to get in the gate, watch the rodeo, or take in the Chucks and Grandstand show.  If you want to upgrade your experience with the purchase of something like mini-donuts, luckily they are only a few dollars more!

The point I’m trying to make is that you really do get a LOT for your dollar; you can still enjoy your old favorites as well as the new attractions.  If you are looking to save some money, there are ways to do it too.

Finally, why not win to get in?  There are lots of cool contests going on through the Stampede Twitter and Facebook pages.  Check out Twitter at @calgarystampede and @HereAllYear, or the official Facebook fan page, and stay tuned to the Stampede Blog as Stampede Mythbusters keeps bustin’ those myths!

After months of preparation, thousands of dollars, a dozen hired hands, five separate race meets and one burning desire that only seems to get stronger as the days pass, here we go again.

The Calgary Stampede is just around the corner and we are coming to town.  It has always been an exciting time for me, this time of year.  Even when I was not driving or outriding, I loved coming into Calgary and turning into the Stampede grounds for the first time of the year.  There is nothing like the smell of the river and the sounds of the Stampede equipment moving everything around feverishly to get ready.  That is something I will never forget, and something I love to do every year.  Even more so now that I am racing, when I pull through that gate for the first time, I get excited and giddy.  I know it sounds a little less manly than a chuckwagon driver should be, but this is our Disneyland.  When we roll in it’s the start of something great for us, it’s the realization of one of our greatest dreams.

The dirt on the Stampede track has a distinct taste, the grounds have a specific noisy murmur, the river has an unmistakable continuous bubble that you can almost feel rather than hear and the Calgary Stampede has no equal.

I can’t wait to see you there.

Mark

www.sutherlandracing.ca