Training to be cowboys

Times Reporter     

 

Each year at the Canadian Rockies International Rodeo (CRIR), hosted by the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA), hosts a rodeo school prior to the actual rodeo events. Anyone and everyone is welcome to take part in the rodeo school. 

For $25 per event you can learn a number of activities like chute dogging, steer deco, steer riding, calf roping on foot and, new this year, goat dressing. Shannon Rachynski from Calgary and Gerald Laboucan from Edmonton heard about the rodeo and decided to come check things out as volunteers. They were both easily convinced to try out the rodeo school. 

 “I was only signed up for one when I got here this morning (June 27) … it was the calf roping, and now chute dogging and goat dressing is added,” said Rachynski.

Laboucan participated in the steer deco, calf roping, chute dogging and goat dressing. He had originally been on his way to Calgary for Color Me Rad when a friend called and invited him to the rodeo. It was something new and fun, and he decided why not. 

“I have been having a blast ever since,” said Laboucan. 

“It’s so much fun once you start doing it. I have had three separate people say ‘oh, you’ve got the bug now.’ I’m totally going to be back next year and I’ll probably take them all next year,” said Rachynski. 

Both agreed there was no negative energy to be found, everyone was supportive and always clapping and cheering for each participant, no matter how they did. 

The instructor would give lots to think about, teaching little bits of information, but they are also encouraging people to participate because they want you to join in the events of the actual rodeo, said Rachynski. You’re learning about paying attention to the flags and the whistles but, Rachynski said, when you’re standing there holding this steer all you can think about is that you just have to get to the line.

Laboucan said he was a little scared with the chute dogging, and when you’re looking down at the other people going and you panic a little looking at the size of the animal and the horns. 

“Then when you get in and you’re just standing beside it and you get yourself ready and as soon as you just mentally yell Go!, everything else just is gone. You are just purely in that moment, in the adrenaline,” said Laboucan.

For the chute dogging there was a woman giving advice to the female participants on how they could get their calf down, and afterwards she would give tips on what could be done differently next time for improvement. 

“I learned after getting up off the dirt that I apparently wasn’t running with it (the steer), I wasn’t moving my legs at all which would explain why it was slow mo,” said Rachynski laughing. 

“We came out of the gate good together and I remember thinking this was good and then all of a sudden it was like ‘oh my God’ he was running and I was going down to the ground and that was it, it was over.”

Both have no doubt in their minds they will be back again next year for another shot at the rodeo school, and possibly enter in to some of the events. 

“I think it is just fun that you can do this and while you’re doing this they are actually encouraging you to just sign up and try the rodeo, try and compete. I think that’s awesome,” said Rachynski. 

“If you even have the inkling to do it, just do it, just sign yourself up,” said Laboucan. 

The rodeo returns to Strathmore every Canada Day weekend.