ProRodeo Sports News - June 15, 2018

COWBOY CHRISTMAS PREVIEW

ROOFTOP RODEO Estes Park, Colo. July 5-10 rooftoprodeo.com

Not only is the Rooftop Rodeo in Estes Park, Colo., one of the highest in the PRCAwith an elevation of 7,500 feet, but it’s also one of the most diverse. Estes Park sits just outside Rocky Mountain National Park. In 2017, 4 million people visited the national park, with more than half of those passing through the park between June and August. In the middle of those months is the Rooftop Rodeo, July 5-10. And the tourist crowd, already on hand to visit the park, flocks to the rodeo. “About 75 percent of the nightly crowd has never been to a rodeo,” said Mark Purdy, Rooftop Rodeo chairman of the board. “We’re a town of 6,000, but we have 4 million visitors every summer. We really try to cater to that.” Started in 1926, the rodeo is nearing its 100th anniversary. First and foremost, it caters to the cowboys, Purdy said. “We take care of the contestants as well as anybody in the country,” Purdy said, adding that contestants receive free parking and free stalls. “We have what we call our, ‘Disney Experience.’ When they step in, we want to make sure they know they are welcome here.” Purdy’s favorite aspect is the view from the Rooftop Rodeo. “No. 1, our setting,” Purdy said. “I know other places in Colorado will argue that, but I don’t think anybody has a better setting than we do. Eight o’clock at night, when the sun is just going down over the ridge and it turns bright orange, it’s just beautiful.” More than 13,000 fans attend the rodeo over the six nights. “We’ve been blessed with some great comments over the last few years where a lot of people are starting to feel like we are a little NFR,” Purdy said. “When people say that, that’s pretty cool.” ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/PRCA RODEO Window Rock,Ariz. July 5-7 facebook.com/NavajoNationFair/ Window Rock, Ariz., presents a window of opportunity for a successful Cowboy Christmas run. Last year’s Annual Fourth of July Celebration & PRCA Rodeo featured a $75,470 payout with many past winners of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo competing. The Window Rock area features some of the most iconic Southwestern scenery a rodeo fan or competitor could ask for – such as the “Window Rock” landmark rock formation the town was named after. That formation is important to the traditional NavajoWater Way Ceremony and is one of four places Navajo medicine men go with their woven water jugs to get water for their ceremony for abundant rainfall. “They’ll pose and take photos up there, and some of them even go driving to the canyon – it’s the EighthWonder of the World,” saidWanda Nelson, the sponsorship marketing coordinator for the Window Rock rodeo. As part of the Navajo Nation’s Fourth of July celebration, this rodeo is rich in Navajo tradition combined with ProRodeo stardom. Erich Rogers, the 2017 team roping heading world champion, is part of the Navajo Nation, as is seven-time Wrangler NFR qualifier Derrick Begay. “They’ve made the NFR and are a big part of our production and represent our nation and make us honored that they made the pro arena, as well,” Nelson said. Window Rock uses Wrangler NFR-caliber livestock, and the winner’s circle often includes cowboys in hot pursuit of making the Top 15.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/15/2018

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