Calgary Trip - Part 2 - The Calgary Stampede

Saddle Bronc Riding

When you visit Calgary in the summer you need to be really deliberate about one thing: either come during Stampede with the rest of the tourists or avoid it altogether (like many Calgarians do). Billed as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", it's mainly a big-time rodeo, but it's also a city-wide, ten-day, western-themed party.

We went all-in, in part because we wanted the boys to experience a rodeo with all its rugged masculine glory, and partly because we want them to see Calgary in full colour.

The actual rodeo events are in the afternoon. They include Bareback (horse) Riding, Saddle Bronc, Tie-Down Roping (of a calf), Steer Wrestling, and Bull Riding. Those are the events we attended. It was a really hot day and we didn't pay for the shade. The boys survived the heat and were well-entertained. 

This shows our view which was great. I used my zoom lens for the photos.

The clowns and commentators are first-rate also and really add to the show. Some of the cowboys during the Canadian National Anthem:

Bareback Riding

Tie Down Roping:

My favourite cowboy is Fred Whitfield. He is 47 years old and a Tie Down Roper. The announcers like to tease him about his age. He's actually not the oldest competitor. There is a chuckwagon driver who is 63!

Bull Riding

In this photo you can see that the rider didn't last long on the bull's back. The bull "won."

There is also barrel racing done by women but we couldn't see it very well from our seats.

I really enjoyed watching the rodeo highlights on TV every night. I think I have caught the rodeo "bug." We are thinking of going to the Ellensburg Rodeo in September.


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