The Thomas & Mack Center arena, where the world’s best cowboys and girls start getting after it tonight, was built for basketball. Now adapted with dirt and chutes for the national finals, there isn’t much room for error on the part of pro rodeo’s big men who’ll fly off their mounts to bulldog steers ten runs at a world championship. Jason Miller will attack his second year at this event with confidence. “I feel a lot more relaxed and the horse I’m riding has been here several times so he dang sure knows the drill,” Miller said. The Lance Creek, Wyom
ing pro has been in California for a couple of weeks practicing with Luke Branquinho who sits in the number one spot coming into the finals. “We’ve been working real hard out there and I’m pretty excited to get started,” Miller noted. All of the top steer wrestlers had a vote in picking the best steers to compete in Las Vegas. Miller and Branquinho spent their practices running those animals and chose the ones they thought would do Photo: Jason Miller, Steer Wrestlerthe best here. “This little building is a quick start. We want steers that leave and run hard. You are on top of them so fast they can get to stopping pretty easy. We looked for the steers that will give each of us the best opportunity at a fair shake,” Miller said.Photo: Jason Miller, Steer Wrestler
Ace Seizes On Opportunity
Bull rider Kanin Asay had one heck of a year. He won the Xtreme Bulls tour event in his home state of Wyoming and capped it off championing the finals in Xtremes. Asay bested everyone to win the Mountain States Circuit Finals recently in Denver, finishing with two 90-point rides. He made more than $36,000 dollars over Cowboy Christmas (Fourth of July rodeos) and moved to second place in the world standings where he remains going into tonight’s first round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. His learning began with Dad (a former bull rider) and mimicking Mom’s balancing expertise. And Kanin practices hard at home but not on bulls. “I
ride horses bareback. It’s the closest you can come to being on a bull without actually riding one,” Asay said. Lesson one we can learn is how to pronounce Kanin’s name. It’s Cannon (like the blasting apparatus) A-see. He may be young – 21 – and it’s his first finals. But keep a close eye on this bull rider. Asay is over six-feet-tall so he’ll strap those long legs on like a vice. His toes point out and he will be ready. Kanin cites former bull riding legend Jim Sharp as his model. Sharp once stayed on all ten rides successfully here at the national finals. Asay looks to go all out to try and match Sharp’s stellar accomplishment.
Bull rider Kanin Asay had one heck of a year. He won the Xtreme Bulls tour event in his home state of Wyoming and capped it off championing the finals in Xtremes. Asay bested everyone to win the Mountain States Circuit Finals recently in Denver, finishing with two 90-point rides. He made more than $36,000 dollars over Cowboy Christmas (Fourth of July rodeos) and moved to second place in the world standings where he remains going into tonight’s first round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. His learning began with Dad (a former bull rider) and mimicking Mom’s balancing expertise. And Kanin practices hard at home but not on bulls. “I
ride horses bareback. It’s the closest you can come to being on a bull without actually riding one,” Asay said. Lesson one we can learn is how to pronounce Kanin’s name. It’s Cannon (like the blasting apparatus) A-see. He may be young – 21 – and it’s his first finals. But keep a close eye on this bull rider. Asay is over six-feet-tall so he’ll strap those long legs on like a vice. His toes point out and he will be ready. Kanin cites former bull riding legend Jim Sharp as his model. Sharp once stayed on all ten rides successfully here at the national finals. Asay looks to go all out to try and match Sharp’s stellar accomplishment.Photo: Kanin Asay, Bull Rider
Governor Supports Team 
Wyoming’s Chief Executive Dave Freudenthal is in Las Vegas for the first round tonight. He, and First Lady Nancy, will make a couple of public appearances supporting the pro rodeo athletes that are sponsored by the state tourism office. Team members met personally with the Governor last night. No other state can say their governor made the effort to greet, shake hands, and wish good luck to its representatives at the opening of rodeo’s biggest show. That gesture is sure to give a little boost to our very proud, and talented, group of Wyoming contestants.
Wyoming’s Chief Executive Dave Freudenthal is in Las Vegas for the first round tonight. He, and First Lady Nancy, will make a couple of public appearances supporting the pro rodeo athletes that are sponsored by the state tourism office. Team members met personally with the Governor last night. No other state can say their governor made the effort to greet, shake hands, and wish good luck to its representatives at the opening of rodeo’s biggest show. That gesture is sure to give a little boost to our very proud, and talented, group of Wyoming contestants.
Photo: Governor Dave Freudenthal
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1 comment:
Good stuff -- very enjoyable reading!
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