A local bull rider has scored some cash thanks to a couple of solid rides during the first week of the Calgary Stampede.
Bowden bull rider Tanner Girletz, who originally hails from Cereal, Alta., made it through to the final on July 15 after getting in through a wild card spot he won on July 14 with an 85-point ride. He was bucked off in the final.
During the first week of the Stampede, Girletz rode four times between July 6 and 9. His first two rides saw him ride away with 79 and 81.5 points, earning him $2,500, but his last two rides saw him bucked off.
“I had some bad luck the last couple days,” Girletz said on July 12.
The 26-year-old rider recently moved to Bowden after getting engaged. He's been in the Canadian Finals Rodeo five times, winning in 2006.
Bull riding is a family sport, with both his dad and grandfather riding bulls before him.
“I just decided to try it one day,” Girletz said. He said there was no family pressure to take up the sport and it was important to his father that Girletz decide on his own.
“I came to it by myself,” Girletz said.
His dad was a good rider, Girletz said, and his grandfather was a champion.
“My grandpa won Canada five times,” Girletz said.
Girletz started riding bulls when he was 16 and has continued his career ever since.
He's been to the Calgary Stampede six times, including this year's visit. He said it's a good event because the cowboys aren't having to rush off to the next rodeo, calling it a “nice little holiday.”
“It's pretty cool 'cause you get to ride four days in a row,” Girletz said. Girletz was in Pool A at the event.
Girletz was ranked eighth as of July 12 in the Professional Bull Riding Canada standings. He's been hitting only Canadian events this year.
“I've been riding pretty hard all year,” Girletz said. He qualified for the Stampede via the Canadian standings, even though the annual Calgary event doesn't count towards the Canadian finals. Girletz said the Stampede does count towards world finals, however.
When he's not rodeoing, Girletz works at a seed lot near Innisfail that he said is understanding of his rodeo schedule.
As he heads into his late 20s, Girletz said he doesn't practise quite as much as he used to.
“I used to ride a lot of practice bulls when I was younger,” Girletz said. He said the way he's trained to bull ride is just by getting on the animal's back.
“You got to be fairly physically fit,” Girletz said. During his career he's gotten “a little bit” hurt, with injuries like a broken arm, but has never suffered an injury he considers serious.
He's definitely planning on continuing to ride for the next few years, though he might reconsider the career path later.
“I might have a look at it when I turn 30,” Girletz said.
