ProRodeo Sports News, June 29, 2018

WRANGLER TOUR

Touring Stage Multiple Wrangler Tour events for Cowboy Christmas

Steer wrestler Dru Melvin, seen here at the 2014 Wrangler NFR, won the 2017 Greeley Stampede. He’s hoping to do it again to help him get to the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Finale.

BY MATT NABER C owboy Christmas can make or break a cowboy’s shot at the five of them during Cowboy Christmas. In 2017, the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Ariz., the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede, the Ponoka (Alberta) Stampede, the Greeley (Colo.) Stampede and the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo were worth a collective $1.7 million. Now, the five biggest rodeos during Cowboy Christmas are worth more than ever since succeeding there could mean qualifying for the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Finale. “They obviously have to have some stature to be part of the Wrangler Tour with money added, so it’s not any old rodeo,” said 2016World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider ZekeThurston. “But, it doesn’t affect how you prepare for it, it’s just another rodeo and you try to do your best.” Seven months after winning the world title, Thurston won the 2017 Ponoka Stampede and the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Ariz. The Wrangler ProRodeo Tour was unveiled in April and concludes Sept. 6-9 with the Justin Finale in Puyallup, Wash. The finale will feature the Top 24 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and with the addition of the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour this year, the stakes are higher than ever. The Tour consists of 24 rodeos, including the finale, with

contestants for each event. They will advance Sept. 9 into an eight-man semifinals and four- man finals. “It’s always a goal to be at Puyallup at the end of the year,” said steer wrestler Dru Melvin, who competed at the Wrangler NFR

PRCA ProRodeo file photo by Larry Smith

in 2006 and 2014 and won the 2017 Greeley Stampede. “That makes a big difference on who’s going to Vegas and who’s not. There’s a lot of money up for grabs for the next eight weeks. There’s going to be some moves made and a lot of money to go after.” All cowboys eligible to compete in the Tour rodeos can earn Tour points and qualify for the finale in Puyallup. Considering nearly a fifth of the Tour rodeos are during Cowboy Christmas, the PRCA’s best are not resting on their laurels. Steer wrestler Kyle Irwin won the St. Paul Rodeo and the Cody Stampede on his way to making his thirdWrangler NFR qualification last year. Irwin made the biggest jump in the world standings during Cowboy Christmas in 2017, bouncing from 37th with $19,402 on June 27, 2017, to 11th with $43,908 on July 6. “I felt like it gave me the momentum I needed to go and make the Finals,” Irwin said, adding that he didn’t compete much during this winter since his

ProRodeo Sports News 6/29/2018

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