Archive for 2012
Traveling with the Family
Pushing the Barrier by Speed Williams
Recently I was asked how traveling with my family differs from traveling before having kids. When first married, Jennifer and I would share the driving, making sure we were there in plenty of time and I was rested and ready.
A header has to dictate the start so it’s important to be there early enough to do your homework. He needs to know how to get out from behind the barrier. He needs to find out what steer he’s drawn and then talk to someone who has run him to get all the information he can.
Traveling with kids usually makes it difficult to rest. For some reason when we arrive it seems the kids are always rested, so they are not ready to lie down for a nap. Now days we try to make sure the phones, iPad or computer are charged before leaving home, and we make sure we have movies they can watch going down the road.
Traveling with kids multiplies the hours it takes to get ready. There’s no more sleeping until two hours before competition. You have to get the kids dressed, fed and moving before you can even begin preparing to rope. If the kids get sick, your priorities change and then your preparation is lacking.
Though it’s more work and effort when the kids are along, it’s a labor of love. It means the world to me to be with my kids every day. I realize they will only be small and young once and I don’t want to miss any of it.
The other day I took Gabe with me to the rodeo in San Angelo while my mom and wife went to the Wildfire All Girl roping. The first morning I let him sleep and he was not happy about me leaving him in the trailer while I roped. The next morning I’m up in the slack at 8 a.m. We get up at 5 a.m., get him some breakfast and by 6:30, when they’re drawing steers, we’re saddled and warming up. Gabe really enjoyed having his horse there, but it was nerve wracking for Daddy to make sure he stayed safe.
So, to answer the question of how traveling with your family changes things – it changes your routine drastically. But then again, if you’re trying to be a good parent, it’s supposed to.
What’s new with me: Many times I’ve been asked to provide a way for people to see what the locked videos are all about. I’m happy to say you can now pay to view one video; five videos or twenty-five videos. My online store is also now up and running. I’ve had many requests from people who want to buy the ropes I actually use, that are made for me. These are now available through my online store at speedroping.com.
If you’ve never been to speedroping.com, my runs from the George Strait roping and most other places are there and free to watch. The locked versions are slowed down and include my commentary on what I was thinking and what went right or wrong.
For those of you who’ve been following Rope Myers on Full Metal Jousting, you can watch Gabe’s version on my website. It’s pretty funny.
Wildfire Open to World 2012 Champions win big
Bubba Buckaloo (left) and Dakota Kirchenschlager (right), 2012 Wildfire Open to the World Champions.
Salado, TX – Saturday, February 11th, was a big payday for the young team of Bubba Buckaloo and Dakota Kirchenschlager. As high team back, the duo needed to make a 9-second run to win the roping. A nice businessman run easily won first place with time to spare.
Buckaloo and Kirchenschlager bested 159 teams with an aggregate time of 45.11 on six-head – close to two-seconds faster than second place. They each won $50,000 in cash, Montana Silversmith buckles, Cactus Saddlery briefcases and Resistol Black Gold hats.
Both partners double dipped in the average. Bubba Buckaloo also won sixth place with Matt Zancanella for an additional $6,900. Dakota won seventh place with Tate Kirchenschlager, his cousin and regular rodeo partner, earning another $5,700.
“It just feels amazing,” says Kirchenschlager. “The thrill of winning this roping only comes second to the birth of my daughter, Bryln.”
“Bubba and I have been friends for a long time and it has always been a dream of ours to win the Wildfire Open. I’m very grateful to my sponsors and other folks that helped make this possible. I’d like to thank Fighting 7 Ranch, Fast Back Ropes, and Coats Saddlery.”
Full results are as follows:
Fast time, 1st rotation: 1. Kelsey Parchman/Justin Copp, 6.21, $7,200; 2. Casey Gattis/B. J. Dugger, 6.22 $4,260; 3. Charles Pogue/Jett Hillman, 6.31, $2840.
Fast time, short round: 1. Brady Tryan/Broc Cresta, 4.9 $7,200; 2. Clay Smith/Nick Rowland, 5.55, $4260; 3. Colby Lovell/Cesar DeLaCruz, 5.88, $2840.
Average: 1. Bubba Buckaloo/Dakota Kirchenschlager, 45.11, $100,000; 2. Brady Tryan/Broc Cresta, 46.72, $27,500; 3. David Key/Paul Eaves, 47.19, $24,000; 4. David Motes/Jaytin McCright, 47.79, $20,600; 5. Shane Philipp/John Philipp, 48.08, $17,200; 6. Bubba Buckaloo/Mat Zancanella, 48.4, $13,800; 7. Tate Kirchenschlager/Dakota Kirchenschlager, 48.44, $11,400.
The Mental Game
Pushing the Barrier
The mental game plays a huge part in the success of your team roping. Being confident in yourself and your horses is crucial. That confidence comes from the practice pen. Practice making correct runs of various situations. Whether it’s being fast, just catching and being under eleven-seconds, or whether you need to be seven. There are a lot of situations that need to be practiced and each is done differently.
Don’t make it a habit of going to the practice pen and doing the same thing over and over. If you run to the hip in the same position, every time, what will happen at a roping if your steers ducks, or checks off. Neither the barrier nor the steers will be the same anywhere you go. There are different ways to practice scoring, riding, and reaching. As you practice different situations correctly you gain confidence.
Another confidence booster is knowing your horse will work, giving you the opportunity to execute the run. Again, this comes from your experience in the practice pen. That confidence is a luxury I had when I was hauling Bob and Viper. I knew Bob was going to run to the cow and let me set up the run without having to reach. He was great in the long score because he could run so fast. Viper was great in the short scores because he was very athletic and had lots of cow. He scored well and went wherever the cow went and allowed me to use my arm to do whatever I needed.
If you are not confident your horse will work, it’s hard to have a positive attitude. If you know your horse won’t score, is going to duck, or do other things wrong then it’s impossible to be confident.
Another part of the mental game is not second-guessing yourself. One year at the NFR I was 0 for 3. When I backed in the box in the fourth round I still came firing and threw my rope when the barrier pulled. I had to lie to myself and convince myself I had done everything right and won the last three rounds. When you nod your head you don’t need any doubts. When you second-guess yourself you make a lot of mistakes.
Make a variety of correct runs in the practice pen. Rope the dummy on the ground from a variety of positions. This kind of preparation is key for your confidence and mental game. You need to know you can overcome a variety of situations.
What’s going on with me: This week we went to three different open ropings, including Odessa and Waco. The short rounds and my runs are up on my website at speedroping.com. We now have over 1,300 videos available for viewing. There’s some great video of recent practice sessions with Jade Corkill, Marty Becker and Clay Cooper.
Next week we’re headed to Florida for the NTRL Finals in Jacksonville, my hometown. There we’ll have a booth and I’m looking forward to visiting with a lot of old friends.
My son is learning how to take over my job. The other day he roped the Hot Heels and came in my office and did the voice over about his roping and riding Blackie. If you need a good laugh, be sure and watch it. It’s very cute.
Travis Graves joins the Fast Back Ropes pro team
Granbury, TX – Fast Back Ropes is proud to welcome PRCA heeler, Travis Graves, to the Fast Back Pro Team. Travis has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals three times and his current partner is Fast Back teammate, Clay Tryan.
“I’m very happy to be part of the Fast Back Pro team,” says Graves. “I’m really excited to have such an arsenal of top quality ropes at my disposal. My favorite in my bag right now is the new Redline.”
In order to be closer to the roping action and his partner, last year Travis and his wife, Tamika, relocated from Oklahoma to Morgan Mill, Texas. Tamika travels with Travis throughout the year and works part time as a nurse.
Travis and Clay earned $72,981 at the 2011 Wrangler National Finals for a season total of $189,649 each. They were both reserve world champions and placed third in the average.
