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Planes, trains and automobiles |
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Written by Dale Woodard
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Friday, 21 August 2009 |
Jason Miller won’t be coming away from Whoop-Up Days with any money in his wranglers.
But hey, even a world champion can’t come out on top at every event.
And there are plenty more on the slate for the steer wrestler from Lance Crook, Wyo.
But on Friday night at Exhibition Park the 2007 World Champion’s time of 4.4 seconds in the steer wrestling event wasn’t enough to earn him a payday.
“You know, I didn’t do no good here,” said Miller shortly after his ride. “I was a little bit slow and was 4.4, just too long. I’m not going to win any money.”
Now as quickly as Miller arrived in Lethbridge, he’s gone again, back out on the summer rodeo trail.
“We came in from Moses Lake, Washington this morning and we’re headed to California, to San Juan Capistrano (today). It’s a busy time of year for us.”
Of course, Miller doesn’t hit the road alone.
“There’s always at least two of us, sometimes four of us,” he said. “You just split up the driving. Planes, trains and automobiles, whatever it takes to the next one.”
Miller conceded he hasn’t been shooting the lights out this summer.
“It’s just been average, it hasn’t been great, but it hasn’t been bad,” he said. “You just hang in there. I need to win a little bit more to get to the finals. I guess if it was over right now I would probably have it made, but we have about five weeks left and I need to win a bit more.”
The top 15 will punch their ticket to Las Vegas in December.
“I’m pretty sure I’m in the top 15,” said Miller. “I have a little less than $50,000 won and it’s going to take over $60,000 to make the final.”
Still, the Wyoming cowboy is feeling good about his chances for another trip to Sin City and a chance to take home another title.
“We can count 70 rodeos toward the final and I’ve probably got more rodeos left than I can get to. We’re going to be really busy and I probably won’t be able to get to all 70.”
As his 2007 world title indicated, Miller as the skills to make it back to the world stage.
“I rode a great horse. I rode (Lee) Cassidy’s in 2007 and just got started from the very first night,” said Miller. “I won second in the round, and I think placed seven out of 10 times. You see it every year, somebody gets on a roll from the very beginning and it just carries right on over through to the final.”
Getting ready to take his run in the team roping event, Al Bouchard didn’t have to travel as far Miller to take part in Whoop Up Days.
“It’s a good payout and it’s only an hour from my house,” said the rider from Scandia. ”It’s a good rodeo, good stock.”
Bouchard’s season has seen its share of peaks and valleys.
The animal underneath him played a part in the equation.
“I’ve had some horse troubles, but it’s been going OK. I’ve been winning some money,” said Bouchard. “Just compatibility problems. Horses are individuals like people are and sometimes they have different ideas than what we have.”
Like most of the riders on hand Friday night, Bouchard is back on the road today as he heads across the border to compete at Kalispell tonight.
“Then I come home for a couple days and then I head to Kenwick and Lendon (Washington) and (then) Kamloops. You get tired of driving. You never get sick of roping at the rodeos, but you get sick of the driving. It’s probably not as hard on me as it is on my wife (Myra). She’s at home with the baby (Clara).”
Still, Bouchard hits the competitive professional trail, rope in hand.
“I’ve always swung a rope when I was a little kid. I’ve been pro 11 years now, so I guess I’m getting old,” he said with a smile. “You have to be a horseman to be in this event. It’s a very technical event and a tough one to master.”
After capturing the 2005 Calgary Stampede title, Bouchard is still aiming high.
“I plan on trying to win the Canadian title, that’s my goal,” he said.
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