Home »
Bullriding in the Rockies kicked bull
Photos courtesy Bram Rossman/ExtremeXposures
A display of man verses beast could not have been better illustrated.
The 13th annual Bull Riding in the Rockies — an ongoing fundraiser for local Kootenay International Junior Hockey League hockey team, the Columbia Valley Rockies — was staged in downtown Invermere on July 22.
Traditionally held inside the photographically-challenging Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena, the production was moved to an empty lot across the street last year, due to renovations at the arena.
Thankfully, the trend continued this year.
With Mother Nature offering a brief reprieve from the rain-soaked rest of the month, the sunny evening was a visual feast for photographers and the large audience too.
Bullriding is widely considered the most dangerous sport in the world. While many riders opt to wear helmets, the traditionalists still choose to simply don a cowboy hat as their only head protection. All riders, according to the rules, must wear a padded protective vest.
Cutlines
Whoa snap!
Brian Hervey, of Brant, AB, does his best to hang on to a bull named Super 7s.
Sunset Bull Ride
The outdoor venue provided excellent opportunities for a photographic feast of light and action.
Rodeo Clowns and Kids
Rodeo Clown Ricky Ticky (left) and two young assistants easily kept the crowd entertained with their antics during pauses in the action.
Rodeo Clowns
Rodeo Clown Ricky Ticky had a number of wild acts, including a fire brigade which created more smoke and fire than it extinguished, during the World Professional Bull Rider’s Bullriding in the Rockies event in Invermere on July 22.
Mexican Poker
Edgewater’s Brandon Goodwin had the honour of taking up roost in the open local’s (loco’s?) seat at the Mexican Poker Table, during the 13th annual Bullriding in the Rockies event, held on Friday, July 22.
According to the even program, “Mexican Poker is a contest to see who can stay the longest at the Poker Table with a raging bull breathing down the necks of the players. Four or five players, previously chosen, will be given a seat at the table. Positions will be drawn for them. Once all positions at the table are filled, the bull will be let loose into the ring.”
Getting’ Bucked
Texis, a bull provided by Bowden Alberta stock contractor, Main Event Inc, gives Dace Chisan a final spin before sending the Two Hills Alberta rider packing.
Bull Eyes
A proud Canadian.
Bowed Heads
Hats off for the national anthem.
Big Winner
Lorne Sampson, of the Shuswap Nation, BC, rode Feel the Fear during his first-round ride. Sampson made it to the second round where he emerged as the eventual event winner, during the World Professional Bullriders’ Bullriding in the Rockies event in Invermere on July 22.
Big scary bull
Dace Chisan of Two Hills, Alberta, takes a wild ride on a bull named Texis during the 13th annual Bull Riding in the Rockies event held in Invermere on July 22.
Pushing limits challenging boundaries and then going a step beyond is all in a days work for Bram Rossman. A provincial and national award-winning photojournalist based in the Kootenay Rockies, Bram’s passion for the outdoors has led him and his many lenses up mountains down rivers and through snow storms in an on going quest for outstanding images of the people and places around him. His work can be viewed at WWW.EXTREMEXPOSURES.ca
