ProRodeo Sports News - May 18, 2018

ONTHE ROAD CLOSETO HOME Tie-down roper Matt Shiozawa and his family – wife, Ali, and daughters Stella, 8, Lulu, 6, and Ivory, 4 – just finished a big party, a combination birthday party for Lulu and Ivory (their birthdays are three days apart) and baptism party for Stella. With three young girls, the Shiozawas don’t have to travel far because of their home being situated in Chubbock, Idaho. “The good thing is things are kind of close here regionally for us throughout the Fourth (of July) and summer,” said Shiozawa, 38. “It’s not like we’re having to haul them halfway across the country. It’s hours vs. days for some of the people.” The 10-time Wrangler NFR qualifier also understands how to balance rodeo time with family time, especially when the kids are young. “It’s nice, obviously, to be together, but then there are a lot of times where it is – especially with Fourth of July – you could torture them, just because the travel schedule is so extensive,” he said. “But usually we try to have them a few places and if there are overnights, you buddy with a couple other guys. They (kids) are going to miss out on those quick, hot-shot trips over and back. They still get to go to the big rodeos over the Fourth and 24th (of July).” Shiozawa and Ali know exactly how to keep the girls happy. “They don’t necessarily love the miles in the truck, but we do try to make the effort to keep things fun,” Shiozawa said. “It’s really simple. Sometimes there are road markers that are historical deals – fun and educational. It’s always fun if there’s an entertainment park or something cool; a fishing hole, they love that. Rodeoing with the family is already like a campout anyways.” As with any career, splitting time between hours at the office or on the road and hours at home isn’t always easy. “It’s a balancing act,” Shiozawa said. “You have to make sure they don’t affect your schedule and you don’t burn them out on the traveling.” For Vin Fisher Jr., sometimes traveling with the kids is easier than traveling on his own. “It’s so much better (traveling with the family),” he said. “It sounds backwards, but it’s a lot more relaxing when I take them and they’re with me and I can enjoy it. When you’re gone by yourself or your traveling partners, you’re always in a hurry to get home and see what’s going on at home and what might be broken or need to be fixed or needing to get three kids to three different places at the same time. It’s actually a lot more relaxing when the whole family can go and you don’t have to worry about anything at home.” Brazile summed up traveling with family similarly. “Nothing better,” he said. “Can’t measure that.” No surprise, Jett Fisher is just about counting “It’s really fun,” he said. “We get to go do different things. We’ve seen Yellowstone Park and Mount Rushmore. Sometimes we’ll rent a boat and go to a lake. I really don’t miss home very much during that trip.” JUGGLING FAMILYWITHWORK down the days to Sheridan.

The Brazile family, (from left) Treston, Style, Shada, Swayzi and Trevor, pose for a photo while on the rodeo trail. Photo courtesy Brazile family

Matt Shiozawa and his family enjoy hitting the rodeo road together. From left, Ali Shiozawa, Matt, and their three daughters, Ivory, Lulu and Stella. Photo courtesy Shiozawa family

ProRodeo Sports News 5/18/2018

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