Rodeo Rolling into new season
September 18, 2013
Rodeo sports
9/18/13
JGW
Rodeo Rolling into new season
With 66 team members, the Feather River College rodeo team is off and running once again. The women's rodeo team has 35 members, and the men's team has 31. This year's team is extremely dedicated, often practicing more than 20 hours a week.
Many of the first-year students said they decided to come to Feather River College due to the rodeo atmosphere. The majority of the team's members, 39 out of 66, are first-year FRC rodeo athletes. They came to Quincy from differing backgrounds and areas.
"I decided to come here because they have such a good rodeo team, the coach is great, and it's a beautiful area to live in," said Courtney Wood, a competitor in four rodeo events.
Having athletes from different parts of the world prompts the FRC rodeo team to be very diverse in talent. The rodeo team members share one goal when they step into the arena: to compete to the best of their ability. The FRC rodeo team will travel up to 600 miles just to compete in the events they love. After speaking with many rodeo athletes to determine the different goals of the team, one goal in respect to competition kept popping up.
Breakaway roper and barrel racer Ashley Martinkus stated, "If I had to pick one goal for our team, it would be to win the women's and men's team for the West Coast regional finals." Many on the team agreed.
Unable to get enough of rodeo, and striving toward their goals, many competitors wanted to get a jump-start on the season by joining professional circuits. Approximately 21 competitors of the Feather River College team compete in additional rodeos besides the college circuit.
Many compete in the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association (CCPRA) and about eight from the team are members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).
First-year student and CCPRA competitor Quincy Crum said, "I feel CCPRA rodeos help us better compete in college rodeo because we gain more outside competition, and get the chance to rodeo with different people."
Rodeoing outside of the college circuit allows each person to compete against higher levels, get advice and even compete against a few others whom they will also compete against in college rodeo.
PRCA steer wrestler and second-year student Kyle Davilla says, "I think participating in PRCA helped me out with college rodeo because I have gained a competitive experience. Being able to compete with the 'big dogs' gives me a competitive edge at college rodeos because I have the experience riding against and training with the pros."
Many are still participating in professional rodeos on the weekends to better themselves, and to prepare for the first season of college rodeo, which is right around the corner.
Second-year goat tier and breakaway roper Kayla Norcutt commented, "In regards to the first rodeo of the season, I feel more relaxed than I did at the first rodeo last year because now I know how it's run, and exactly what I need to do to be more competitive."
The first West Coast Region rodeo will be held in Quincy at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds with free admission. The rodeo starts Friday, Oct. 4, at 5:30 p.m. followed by the rodeo dance with Chad Bushnell playing in the Tulsa Scott Building. On Saturday, Oct. 5, the rodeo starts at 2 p.m. The Feather River rodeo team members say they would love for everyone to come out to see what local rodeo is all about.
9/18/13
JGW
Rodeo Rolling into new season
With 66 team members, the Feather River College rodeo team is off and running once again. The women's rodeo team has 35 members, and the men's team has 31. This year's team is extremely dedicated, often practicing more than 20 hours a week.
Many of the first-year students said they decided to come to Feather River College due to the rodeo atmosphere. The majority of the team's members, 39 out of 66, are first-year FRC rodeo athletes. They came to Quincy from differing backgrounds and areas.
"I decided to come here because they have such a good rodeo team, the coach is great, and it's a beautiful area to live in," said Courtney Wood, a competitor in four rodeo events.
Having athletes from different parts of the world prompts the FRC rodeo team to be very diverse in talent. The rodeo team members share one goal when they step into the arena: to compete to the best of their ability. The FRC rodeo team will travel up to 600 miles just to compete in the events they love. After speaking with many rodeo athletes to determine the different goals of the team, one goal in respect to competition kept popping up.
Breakaway roper and barrel racer Ashley Martinkus stated, "If I had to pick one goal for our team, it would be to win the women's and men's team for the West Coast regional finals." Many on the team agreed.
Unable to get enough of rodeo, and striving toward their goals, many competitors wanted to get a jump-start on the season by joining professional circuits. Approximately 21 competitors of the Feather River College team compete in additional rodeos besides the college circuit.
Many compete in the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association (CCPRA) and about eight from the team are members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).
First-year student and CCPRA competitor Quincy Crum said, "I feel CCPRA rodeos help us better compete in college rodeo because we gain more outside competition, and get the chance to rodeo with different people."
Rodeoing outside of the college circuit allows each person to compete against higher levels, get advice and even compete against a few others whom they will also compete against in college rodeo.
PRCA steer wrestler and second-year student Kyle Davilla says, "I think participating in PRCA helped me out with college rodeo because I have gained a competitive experience. Being able to compete with the 'big dogs' gives me a competitive edge at college rodeos because I have the experience riding against and training with the pros."
Many are still participating in professional rodeos on the weekends to better themselves, and to prepare for the first season of college rodeo, which is right around the corner.
Second-year goat tier and breakaway roper Kayla Norcutt commented, "In regards to the first rodeo of the season, I feel more relaxed than I did at the first rodeo last year because now I know how it's run, and exactly what I need to do to be more competitive."
The first West Coast Region rodeo will be held in Quincy at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds with free admission. The rodeo starts Friday, Oct. 4, at 5:30 p.m. followed by the rodeo dance with Chad Bushnell playing in the Tulsa Scott Building. On Saturday, Oct. 5, the rodeo starts at 2 p.m. The Feather River rodeo team members say they would love for everyone to come out to see what local rodeo is all about.