A perfect ride

Times Reporter   

 

Strathmore’s Scott Schiffner has to be feeling pretty surreal right now after his performance at the Calgary Stampede. 

After all, his performance earned him $100,000 for winning the 2014 version of the bull riding at the Calgary Stampede on July 13. 

This capped off what was a very successful week for Schiffner, who earned a berth in the Showdown Sunday by taking a Top 4 spot in Pool A. 

“In my case I hung out for the whole 10 days, I got to bring my family and they treat us like gold and get the opportunity to ride for $100,000, life’s pretty good on a day like this,” said Schiffner after his win.

On what was a very memorable day for Schiffner, his family was very calm and just let him do his routine before he rode. Especially his children.

“They did not say too much this morning and we ran out of (good luck) stickers (this week) so they were picking leaves and I got some pretty good wilted ones in my hat right now,” said Schiffner.   

Schiffner believed that he rode the ‘lucky’ money-winning bull and could not be happier with the outcome.

The bull that Schiffner rode to victory turned out to be the right one, as he felt comfortable on the whole ride. 

‘That bull was Mike Cory’s, I contracted the bull from the States, he brought six bulls up for me this week and rode them in an earlier round and (the bull) got me the exact same score,” said Schiffner. “My brother is the biggest bull riding fan and he is 10 years older then me and he came here today and asked me ‘when you make the final four which one do you want?’ and I was like ‘the one that will post a good score and is rider friendly.’ ”

With the success of the Canadian contingent on Sunday, Schiffner was really motivated to follow suit with his fellow competitors.

“To watch us (Canadians win) in the calf rope to me is the biggest statement right there because calf roping is dominated by Americans, especially Texans, and to come into that field and beat these guys, you better be pretty proud of yourself,” said Schiffner. 

It was a very special day for Canadians as not only Schiffner, but also two others made the final four in bull riding and he could not have been more proud of how the field played out.

“Having (three) of us Canadians in bull riding finals, it is a special day. I am really proud of Canada and I’m really proud of our cowboys,” said Schiffner. 

The Strathmore native cannot say enough about the amount of support he has received in his career thus far.

“I owe everything in the world to rodeo – my wife and kids, everything I own – and to just to top it off with days like this in Calgary, it makes me happy of the lifestyle I chose,” said Schiffner. “The biggest thing about Calgary is that it is the greatest rodeo in the world. My two favourite places in the world are the Calgary Stampede and the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton.”

According to Schiffner, another favourite rodeo is the Strathmore Stampede, set to take place Aug. 1-4.

“It’s always exciting – it is one of my favourite rodeos, but I don’t get to hang out long enough because we’re off rodeoing at other places,” said Schiffner of the Strathmore Stampede. “It is one of my favourite rodeos, for sure.”