ProRodeo Sports News - June 15, 2018

COWBOY CHRISTMAS PREVIEW

Steamboat Springs, Colo., offers six perfs, with Cowboy main event on July 3-4. Peter Arnold photo Roundup Days the

COWBOY ROUNDUP DAYS Steamboat Springs, Colo. July 3-4 steamboatprorodeo.com Steamboat Springs blows up for the Fourth of July with the largest firework detonation in the world weighing in at about 1,275 pounds. As an ongoing series, Cowboy Christmas in Steamboat Springs is unique because it is six performances spread over two weekends – June 30, July 1, 3-4, and 7-8 – but the main event is July 3-4, the 115th annual Cowboy Roundup Days. “We enjoy seeing a lot of PRCA contestants,” said Brent Romick, chairman of the Steamboat Springs Rodeo Series. “When you have 20 perfs spread over nine weeks with 10 separate rodeos, it creates an energy in the community of having the most rodeos of any town in the Rocky Mountain region. Roundup Days started it all, and with this tradition, we have a good time for the other weekends, but we have a fantastic time showcasing ProRodeo for those wanting the mountain experience and to get away from the traffic and congestion. It’s one of the best backdrops in ProRodeo.” Steer wrestler Aaron Vosler won the Cowboy Roundup Days competition last year and went on to place third in the RAMMountain States Circuit. Saddle bronc rider Tyler Turco also won and went on to rank third in the Mountain States. “They go as hard as they can during the Cowboy Christmas run, and by switching horses and things they will lay over in Steamboat Springs because it’s a breath of fresh air,” Romick said “Other guys do it strategically because everyone has a different tour and they will enjoy as beautiful an environment as there is for a rodeo in the summer.” Steamboat Springs is looking ahead as they incrementally upgrade their facilities. Contestants used new Priefert chutes last year, as well as a secondary warmup arena. “We have contestants cross through Steamboat throughout the year and it makes it a strong rodeo for us,” Romick said. Once the $5 million project is complete, seating will increase from 2,750 to 5,000. Although the city’s wide streets are now used for clearing off snow, their width traces back to when Steamboat Springs was a cattle shipping area about 116 years ago. “Everyone who grew up in this region had the tradition of rodeo and skiing – we have more Winter Olympians than anywhere else and we hold more rodeos because of our ranching tradition,” Romick said. “It’s almost a guaranteed rodeo success. We have sellouts because of the traditions of the people who grew up here and the visitors because of it being a world-class ski resort.” July heat doesn’t stop Steamboat Springs from adding a winter flavor to the festivities as they hold a ski-jumping competition using a plastic ski jump before the rodeo and fireworks. “You probably can’t see ski jumping before the performance (at other rodeos), but you can in Steamboat Springs,” Romick said.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/15/2018

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