ProRodeo Sports News - February 8, 2019

Bareback rider Tristan Hansen had an 80-point ride on Kesler Rodeo’s Uptown Flash in the second round of the RAM Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo in Great Falls. Kirt Steinke photo

Kissimmee Bound

Bareback rider Hansen making RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo debut BY TRACY RENCK I t was an unlikely career choice for Tristan Hansen. Hansen’s family had no ties to rodeo – but that didn’t detour him. If anything, it motivated him. “I just picked something my family had never done, so I could be on my own and try and make it,” Hansen said. He’s doing just that as a bareback rider. In this, his PRCA rookie year, Hansen captured the Montana Circuit year-end championship and the average championship at the RAMMontana Circuit Finals Rodeo in Great Falls, Jan. 13. The Dillon, Mont., cowboy will get a chance to add to that since he qualified to compete in his first RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., March 21-24. “I picked a pretty good year to qualify for the National Circuit Finals Rodeo since the money counts toward the world standings,” Hansen said. “I know there are going to be NFR guys and world champions there, and I’m excited to get to compete against them. I feel like I can hold my own against them. If I can do that, it will be an eye-opener for people that I’m here and I mean business. “I will go to Kissimmee for the first time when I compete at the Silver Spurs Rodeo (Feb. 15-17). I’m really looking forward to the National Circuit Finals. I plan on competing and making a vacation out of it.”

“Since I started going to the Montana Circuit (Finals Rodeo) three years ago (on his PRCA permit) I wanted to win the average or the year-end,” said Hansen, 23. “It didn’t matter to me if that came together or separately, but to be able to do both at the same time I was really excited.” Hansen used his performance at the RAMMCFR to springboard to ninth in the 2019 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $13,120.

CHASINGA RODEO DREAM Hansen’s only introduction to the Western lifestyle was his momHeidi’s involvement with horses. “We would go watch the NFR and stuff, and I started liking rodeo and

ProRodeo.com

36

ProRodeo Sports News 2/8/19