Enjoy the 44^th Season of the Snowmass Rodeo with Western Family Entertainment Every Wednesday Evening from June 14 to August 23, 2017

Snowmass, Colo., (February 28, 2017) – Today, the Snowmass Western Heritage Association announces dates for the 2017 Snowmass Rodeo. The summer rodeo runs every Wednesday from June 14 through August 23, 2017, rain or shine.  Celebrating its 44th season, the Snowmass Rodeo is one of the longest running rodeos in Colorado and includes exciting competitions such as Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding, Team Roping, and Barrel Racing. Children can participate in the Calf Scramble and Mutton Busting events.

Rodeo arena gates open at 5:00pm. Pre-rodeo activities including a petting zoo, a bouncy house, and kids roping, mechanical bull ridesa cowboy saloon, and BBQ dinner options sure to please any guest. The rodeo begins at 7:00pm with professional events including Bareback Riding, Bull Riding, Team Roping, Barrel Racing, and Saddle Bronc riding. Kids are welcome to compete in the Calf Scramble and Mutton Bustin’.

“The Snowmass Rodeo is one of Snowmass’ longest standing traditions,” says Rose Abello, Tourism Director, Snowmass Tourism. “The rodeo is a not-to-be-missed event for guests visiting the Roaring Fork Valley in the summer. We are thrilled to celebrate 44 years of rodeo traditions and look forward to many more.”

Professional Rodeo Activity Descriptions:

• Bareback Riding – While simplistic in equipment, bareback riding is trickier than it looks. Not only are the horses powerful, but the riders must be in excellent physical shape to stay aboard during the eight-second ride. With nothing to hold but a suitcase-like handle, the cowboy must maintain balance and remain controlled and coordinated with the horse’s motion throughout the ride.
• Barrel Racing – Three barrels, one horse, and one woman, barrel racing is simplistic and graceful. The rider must race around the barrels set in a cloverleaf pattern, while making sure not to knock any over, all while staying within the time limit. The sport is timed to the hundredth of a second.
• Bull Riding – Riders climb on the back of a 2,000 pound bull before it explodes from a gate with one thing on this mind: to get the rider off his back. To stay aboard the bull, the rider grasps a flat braided rope, which is wrapped around the bull’s chest, just behind its front legs and over the withers. With a nod of his head, the gate is flung open and the bull bounds into the arena. While this is the most dangerous event in rodeo, it involves the least amount of rules. Riders must stay on for eight seconds while refraining from touching themselves or the bull with their free hand.
• Saddle Bronc Riding – Saddle Bronc Riding is known as “rodeo’s classic event.” It derived from the practice of breaking saddle horses, but evolved into an event that combines strength, style, grace, and rhythm. The contestant sits in a saddle with no saddle horn at the front. For support, the rider holds a thick rein, which can only be held with one hand. When the gate swings open, every move the rider makes is an effort to remain synchronized with the horse’s movements. If the rider touches any part of the horse or himself with his free hand or bucks off before the eight-second whistle, he is disqualified.
• Team Roping – Partnership, precise timing, and anticipation – this is what team roping is about. Between header and heeler, this is the only true team event in rodeo. Both contestants begin in their respective “boxes” on either side of the chute containing the steer. Once the steer has received its head start out of the chute, the header takes off in pursuit of the steer, roping it around the horns, then turns the steer quickly to the left so the heeler has a shot at its hind legs. The fastest time wins.

In addition to professional rodeo activities, the Snowmass Rodeo offers events and activities for guests to participate in as well.

• Calf Scramble – Children between the ages of 4 and 10 lineup in the arena while calves with ribbons on their tails are released from their pens. The objective is to grab a ribbon or any part of that ribbon off a calf’s tail and return it to the Arena Official. Once all the ribbons have been removed from the calves’ tails, the contest is over and all participants receive a prize.
• Mutton Bustin’ – Little buckaroos “cowboy up” and hold on to a woolly sheep for eight exciting seconds. Participation is limited to boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 7, weighing less than 50 lbs.
• Burro Racing – Burro racing is a crowd participation event, requiring three teams of three. Three burros are lined up with one person riding on the burro, one person pulling on a lead rope, and one person pushing the burro. The first team of three to get their burro around the barrel and across the finish line wins.

The Snowmass Rodeo takes place at the Snowmass Rodeo Grounds.  For more information on the Snowmass Rodeo or to purchase tickets visit: snowmassrodeo.org. Click here for video of the 2016 rodeo.

About Snowmass, Colorado – A renowned winter playground and vibrant mountain community just 9 miles from downtown Aspen, Snowmass consistently ranks as one of the best ski areas in the world. In addition to unmatched natural beauty and over 300 sunny days a year, Snowmass ski resort offers guests 3,332 acres of multi-level terrain and boasts the second largest vertical drop in the United States. 95% ski-in/ski-out lodging, 37 restaurants, numerous shops and boutiques, a bounty of off-piste activities, and a friendly, small town feel beckon visitors year-round. For more information and a complete calendar of events and activities, please visit: www.gosnowmass.com.

Snowmass Rodeo Contact:  Darce Vold, SWHA Executive Director, darcevold@snowmassrodeo.org

Snowmass Tourism Media Contact: Sara Stookey, Public Relations Coordinator, Snowmass Tourism, 970-922-2285 or sstookey@SnowmassTourism.com.

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