Eight seconds – the longest and most difficult eight seconds imaginable; sitting atop a 900kg animal, using only a single hand with a braided rope to hold the rider in position.
A hush falls over the crowd of onlookers, as the rider checks his grip then signals with a nod. The gate flies open and the mass of muscle beneath him suddenly comes to life, leaping into the air then turning, first left then right, all while bucking and rolling with incredible force. The rider, still only using a single hand must offset the bull’s actions with his own in order to maintain balance and keep from being tossed high in the air or, even worse, slipping off the side and finding himself underneath the hoofs or in front of the horns of this massive, untamed behemoth. Finally, he hears the blare of the horn, signalling the end of the eight seconds. The bull rider releases his grip, as he is launched from the animal, he attempts to land on his feet but stumbles and rolls. Quickly looking back, he sees the bull, horns down with intent in his eyes, coming straight at him. He jumps to his feet as the rodeo clowns scramble into position, distracting the bull from his intended target ultimately leading the bull off the field. This is professional bull riding, one of the main attractions at the Calgary Stampede – a long standing tradition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Dubbed locally as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”, the Calgary Stampede is an annual agricultural fair and rodeo held in July each year, showcasing a very different type of sport. With roots extending back over 100 years, it is one of the largest events in Canada, attracting visitors from across the country and around the globe. The Stampede hosts one million guests on average each year during its ten days of festivities, with a 1.2 million record visitors this year. These festivities include an extremely broad spectrum of activities to suit every personality.
The event itself is held near the Calgary downtown core, but Stampede related festivities span the city. Communities and local businesses host free pancake breakfasts daily for anyone that would like to stop by for a little Western hospitality. Local restaurants and pubs hold various Western themed events throughout the week including live country music bands, mechanical bull riding and Western style cuisine. For ten days, cowboy hats, boots and jeans replace suits and ties, becoming the staple wear throughout the city.
The main event kicked off with a massive parade through the downtown core, which is marshaled each year by a celebrity. Past parade marshals have included Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Chris Hadfield and William Shatner. On the main fair grounds, there is enough going on daily to keep visitors occupied and entertained for days without succumbing to boredom or repetition. There are daily music concerts on the grounds included in the price of admission and a few larger events, hosting big names in music, throughout the week at a nearby stadium. Historically, the Stampede has attracted some of the biggest names in musical history and not just country music but everything from rock to blues, jazz and alternative as well. If you’re a thrill seeker, the midway has plenty of rides that will get your adrenaline flowing and turn even the strongest of stomachs. There is also a daily, energy-charged motocross show which includes everything from BMX racers to back-flipping motorbikes and snowmobiles on fire and finishes with a woman shooting herself from a giant, custom made cannon over a hundred feet into the air! For the foodies, there is a wide range of midway food to indulge in. Highlights from this year included the foot-long corn dog, scorpion pizza, deep-fried Oreos, mini-doughnuts, the 100 USD dragon dog and spareribs.
The main attraction at the Calgary Stampede however is the rodeo. It is one of the largest professional rodeos of its kind in the world. The athletes, both cowboys and cowgirls, that come to Calgary are some of the best in the world and compete in this event for over 1,000,000 USD in prize money. The rodeo occurs daily and consists of seven major events:
Barrel Racing – Female riders nimbly manoeuver their thoroughbred horse around a series of barrels in a race against the clock, competing for the fastest time, without knocking over any barrels.
Steer Wrestling – The name says it all! Cowboys race their horses after a young cow, called a steer, leaping off the horse and attempting to wrestle the steer onto its back, again racing against the clock.
Tie-down Roping – Cowboys, mounted on their horse, race after a calf, lasso it and then leap off the horse in mid stride in an attempt to tie together the three legs of the calf while racing against the clock.
Saddle Bronc – Cowboys attempt to stay on a bucking bronco (horse) for eight seconds. Successful riders are scored on their riding technique, including spurring and also on the horse’s bucking performance.
Bareback Riding – Like the saddle bronc event but without the saddle.
Bull Riding – One of the most dangerous and anticipated events of the show. It has been called “the most dangerous eight seconds in sport”. Cowboys attempt to stay on a bucking bull for an action-packed eight seconds. Successful riders are scored on their own riding technique and also on the bull’s bucking performance.
Rangeland Derby – Nicknamed the “half-mile of hell”, four thoroughbreds pull a covered wagon, or chuckwagon, around the racetrack. “Outriders”, accompanying cowboys, must “break camp” at the start and make sure they cross the finish with their respective wagon. This race originates from the old cattle drives when the cowboys entertained themselves with camp races as they neared home.
Every evening finishes with the Grandstand Show; a spectacle of dancing, singing, acrobatics and fireworks, celebrating Canadian heritage. All in all the Calgary Stampede is an event of epic proportions that has something for everyone. So if you’re looking for a reason to visit Canada this definitely is a great place to start.
Words + Photos By: Darryl MacDonald
