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Golf: Read her golf topics and the courses, resorts and destinations she's visited around the world. Archived Golf Articles Current Golf Articles Rodeos & Cowboys: Diana's first rodeo was an adventure into the "big city" of Omaha at age 9. After that first energetic, spine-tingling performance, she was hooked on rodeos and the intriguing cowboys that participate. Archived Rodeo Articles Current Rodeo Articles Adventure: Diana grew up in a neighborhood full of boys, so getting her hands dirty and knees scraped was just a part of being a tomboy. Adventure travel is about the thrill of the moment. From hang-gliding in Chattanooga, Tennessee to zip-lining in Playa, Mexico to riding her motorcycle through the Grand Canyon to the more sedate thrill of swinging over the canyon in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Diana is an adrenalin junky. Archived Adventure Articles Current Adventure Articles |
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Golf Programs-Take Your Best Shot
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Rodeo |
Wearing protective vests and headgear may seem like a no-brainer for competitors. Think again. Sometimes the risk of sustaining a season or career-ending injury is not enough to persuade changes in style and stance.
With a few bills in her back pocket, Kelly Kaminski remains grounded and focused as she dwells on “wanderlust” and deflects expectations to replace Charmayne James With 11-time world champion barrel racer Charmayne
James' recent retirement from major competition, Kelly Kaminski is
one of a handful expected to inherit the championship torch and carry it all
the way to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and beyond.
Rodeo cowboys offer life and limb for the excitement of the eight-second
ride on a bull or an even quicker tie-up of a calf, but what about those behind
the chutes sweating alongside the cowboys without the promise of a large purse?
Volunteers might not usually risk their lives, but they certainly offer up
their own personal sacrifices of time.
A little over a decade ago, Cody's mom went so far as to contact a company that manufactured protective jackets jockeys don during their races. "The company sent me some literature," Cody Lambert recalls, "and expressed an interest in doing something for rodeo. I wouldn't wear a vest that was uncomfortable or hindered me in anyway. Yet a protective vest was a good idea because if I didn't have to ride with broken ribs, or worse sit out, then I could make a better living for my family." The protective vests many roughstock cowboys wear today (in some part thanks to the inquiry Cody's mother made) weighs around four pounds, is made of Kevlar (the same material in police and military bulletproof vests) and helps absorb shocks by dissipating the force over a larger area. The rodeo vest also protects the torso from punctures and cuts. At the 1993 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Lambert was the only cowboy who wore a western-looking protective vest. When a bull's horn hit Lambert hard in the chest during the event, he credits the vest for his ability to walk out of the arena.
Veteran bareback rider Clint Corey had already worn a self-made leather vest padded in the back for protection from the buckle of the flank strap. Still, Corey was one of the first to begin wearing Lambert's vest. These vests were much more protective all the way around, not just my back, but the ribs and vital parts," Corey said. "At first it might have slightly changed my ride, but the added safety was definitely worth getting used to. I've had a lot of close calls with horses rearing up in the bucking chute and slamming back. Without the vest, I had guaranteed broken ribs. With the vest on, all it feels like is a hard push. I'm sure if Lane Frost had worn a vest, he'd still be around." In 1994 when Bodacious punctured 2003 Wrangler NFR bull riding champion Terry Don West's lung, he was told to get a vest. "Now my vest is just like putting my pants on. I hardly notice I'm wearing it, but when I need it, the vest is there to provide protection." When Saddle bronc veteran Billy Etbauer was "thumped on" at the 2002 Wrangler NFR, his father asked his son to wear a vest. Etbauer hadn't worn a vest before because he hadn't found one that was comfortable. "I never really worry about getting injured. Recently while competing in Austin, a horse flipped on me, and although I broke a rib, without the vest, it could've been much worse." Several years ago bareback and saddle bronc rider Cody De Mers participated in a college rodeo when a fellow cowboy wanted to try De Mers' vest. De Mers opted to ride without his vest that day — something he regretted. "My bronc went straight down the fence and folded me over the post. I scratched my back, bruised my ribs and was sore for two weeks. If I had worn my vest like usual, I'd have saved myself a lot of aches and pains." The protective vest is now worn by the majority of rodeo cowboys and may account for the decrease in spine injuries. In contrast, according to a Justin Sportsmedicine Team 20-year injury report, the head and face have, in the last 10 years, replaced the spine and knee as the area of the body most likely to be injured during competition, increasing from 15% of all injuries between 1991-95 to 18% from 1996-2000. The incidence of concussion increased dramatically to 55.9% of all major injuries, compared to 21.1% in the first five years covered by the Justin Sportsmedicine Team. The event with the most injured cowboys is bull riding. To protect the cowboy from head and face injuries, a handful have chosen to wear a safety helmet and/or face mask when drawing bulls known for hitting in the face. Still many bull riders do not wear a mask at all. West rarely wears head protection.
"When I do wear it, it doesn't affect my ride, but I really just prefer to ride without it, although I can look at my face mask and see the horn damage it's taken for me," he said. "Riding with my cowboy hat is just the way I've always done it." However, West does encourage his bull riding students to invest in safety equipment. "If you ride bulls, you're going to get hit. Spend a couple hundred dollars. Wear the helmet and the face mask, and you're safer." In 2002, bull rider B.J. Schumacher had his teeth knocked out during a ride when he wasn't wearing face protection. "I had to turn out of a bunch of rodeos and barely made it to the Finals. I made a conscious decision, more financial than safety, to wear a helmet after that," he said. "I'd already ridden 11 years with no major problems, but wearing a helmet makes sense if I wanted to stay competitive in the business." Now Schumacher looks at his helmet and sees dents. "I know it [helmet] saved me one time because I was knocked out with it on." Wearing protective vests and headgear for the rodeo cowboy may seem like a no-brainer, but wearing safety equipment is a personal decision. If a cowboy wants to wear it, he will. If he doesn't, he risks sustaining a season or career-ending injury. Etbauer epitomizes the cowboy's mindset on protective gear. "It's like a new pair of boots. You can put it on and complain about it, but sooner or later you're going to have to break them in. When you do, that new pair fits like an old friend and you don't even notice the boots are on.
Currently sitting atop the Jack Daniel's world standings, the pressure might be enormous for many, but Kaminski remains relatively composed. "I try not to worry about what anybody else is doing. I focus on Rocky [her horse] and me and what we're doing." Her tactic has worked well so far. Before 2002, her earnings totaled only $48,346, but in 2002, her career earnings expanded to $209,542. In 2003, she's already won several key rodeos and will compete this weekend (Nov. 7-9) in the Pace Picante ProRodeo Classic, presented by the Texas Stampede, in Dallas.
Kaminski, a former seventh-grade teacher who grew up in a non-horse setting, remembers the tough times when she was so broke that a bungee cord held her first trailer's tack door shut. And to ease the pressure to perform, she began putting money in her back pocket. I suppose it's superstitious, but I don't want to get worked up about the money," she said. "I've been really broke in the past. I figure if I put a little money in my back pocket, even a dollar bill, I won't be broke. It works for me, takes the pressure off, and I seem to compete better." In addition to her ability to stay grounded, Kaminski credits "wanderlust" as one of the many reasons she can be mentioned in the same sentence with James. "This is a tough job with hundreds of hours and miles logged behind the wheel," she said. "All the women in my family have this wanderlust gene, and I've got it too. I love to travel. Sure I miss my family, but each trip is an adventure." The simple things in life — smooth roads, mom-and-pop cafes, sightseeing, local history and culture, and country music — motivate Kaminski.
"Martina McBride's new song, Girls, talks
about living on dreams and Spaghetti O's and that really touches home," she
said. "Sometimes when I'm driving to another rodeo, getting lost, tired or
just plain burnt out, I think of all the girls back home. I'm one of the lucky
ones; I get to do this for a living. I keep thinking that I'm doing this for
them, not just for me, for all the girls that have dreams."
Rodeo cowboys offer life and limb for the excitement of the eight-second
ride on a bull or an even quicker tie-up of a calf, but what about those behind
the chutes sweating alongside the cowboys without the promise of a large purse?
Volunteers might not usually risk their lives, but they certainly offer up
their own personal sacrifices of time. Months before the excitement of a rodeo even begins, thousands of behind-the-scenes hours are invested in making a rodeo a success. In fact, it takes more than 2,000 volunteers to make possible a rodeo like Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD)—the world's largest outdoor rodeo of its kind—or the Texas Stampede. For the last two years, the Texas Stampede has hosted the ProRodeo Tour's summer finale and this year will host the sport's newest championship, the Pace Picante ProRodeo Classic (Nov. 7-9). In addition to intense rodeo competition, the Texas Stampede is distinguished by its fast-paced production, energizing music, show-stopping use of technology and top-name concert acts. And don't forget, its high caliber of volunteers. Like other rodeos, the Texas Stampede consists of more dedicated volunteers than competing cowboys and cowgirls. Eight seconds to a volunteer is a drop in the bucket in terms of time contributed in the name of the rodeo. The Stampede, which began with four men with Texas-sized hearts and a vision, has expanded to a network of nearly 1,200 volunteers. Every volunteer is required to attend an orientation session to become better acquainted with the organization, culture and opportunities for involvement. Volunteers receive more specialized training when they sign up for specific committees and projects. The Texas Stampede attracts volunteers through different avenues. Some are rodeo or concert fans and want to be a part of the excitement. Others catch the excitement through friends who are already volunteers. Sacrifices Must Be Made
And these guys excelled at their lessons. Williams and his cohorts envisioned a rodeo that not only provided money to their charities, but also provided more money to all involved in the sport of rodeo, from the announcers to the stock contractors to the contestants. They wanted a top-notch rodeo with a big paycheck and they were successful. According to Williams, "We had big ideas, but it took volunteers with big hearts to bring these to fruition." Caroline Curtis, co-chair of the Wranglers (the Stampede's young professionals group), originally became involved because her best friend is Williams' daughter. By day, Curtis is a recruiting coordinator with crazy job hours. "You can volunteer for The Stampede as little or as much as your free time allows. Even when I'm only able to work a few hours here and there, I still feel like I make a difference." |
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Diana is the editor of Denver’s Motorcycle Rider News and Singles Entertainment newspaper. For her latest and greatest Harley adventures go to Web Hit Counter Sponsor: BCBG watches |
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SAFETY FIRST? 
Copyright © 2000-2008 Diana Rowe.