ProRodeo Sports News - April 20, 2018

GRILLE COWBOY

Steer wrestler BRIDGER CHAMBERS, 29, has had a raucous start to the 2018 season. Ranked seventh in the world standings with $33,187 as of April 16, the towering, Montana cowboy finished second at the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., after winning the Montana ProRodeo Circuit Finals in January in Great Falls.

WITH NICK CICERE PSN

You’ve had high finishes at several big rodeos this year, including second place at the RAM NCFR, and most recently, finishing third in Logandale, Calif. What’s this recent run of success been like? Bridger: I’m just trying to take it all in stride. I’ve never gone rodeoing hard, I’ve always stayed in my circuit. I’ve never been able to, and I started out this winter practicing more than I ever have. The goal was to just go make three good runs at the circuit finals and try to make it to Florida. I set little goals first, and as I had a little more success, I made those goals bigger. At the beginning of the year, I was never planning on going this hard, but things change. Aside from winning more than $17,000 in Kissimmee, how much did you enjoy your first trip to the RAM NCFR? Bridger: It was fun. I didn’t do a whole lot. My wife and mom came down, so we really didn’t do any running around as far as sightseeing or anything like that. I was trying to stay focused with my horse and what was going on there, but it dang sure beat all the snow that was at home.

Speaking of home, as a Montana cowboy, how much did rodeo influence you growing up? Bridger: I did it from a real young age. My mom always had horses, but I never came from a rodeo background or a rodeo family or anything like that. I had an uncle who roped a little bit, so I was always interested in it. I started in junior stuff when I was 5 or 6 or 7 years old, going to little rodeos by the house. In high school, there were times, in the fall, I was going from football practice, then I’d go rope after that. Then I’d play basketball in the winter. We were always busy. So, you knew pretty early that rodeo was something you wanted to take a crack at? Bridger: Yeah. I always wanted to do it. I did it a little backwards compared to most guys. I got married a few years ago, had some kids, so now trying to be on the road is a little tougher. But I’ve always had the support of my family and friends, so it makes it a little bit easier. Being 6-foot-5, 200-plus pounds, was steer wrestling an easy choice? Bridger: I didn’t start until I was a junior in high school. I always roped, and I always fancied myself as a calf roper. Steer wrestling was something that I kept liking more and more and something that I continued to have more success at. These last few years, it became something that I wanted to focus more on. I understand that you walked onto the basketball team at Montana Western. How important was it for you to give college basketball a shot? Bridger: It was really important for me because my dad was my coach growing up. I first went to school at the University of Montana and just rodeoed, but I decided I wanted to give it a shot, because I knew I could go to Western and do both. Thankfully, the basketball coach was OK with it, and it’s something that I’m really happy I did. The last year there, I went to the college finals in team roping and went to the (NAIA) national tournament in basketball. As far as I know, I don’t know anyone else who has done that. What did your vertical look like? Bridger: It wasn’t much. I’m pretty vertically challenged. How many kids do you have? Bridger: I have four. Maddie is 12, Hudson is 11, Crew is 3 and Case is 2. What do they think about dad being a rodeo cowboy?

Bridger: The older ones are pretty sports related, so they’re all about basketball. Crew, the 3-year-old, he doesn’t get too excited about it but the youngest one, Case, he’s all cowboy. It’s pretty hard leaving him because he wants to go to the rodeo, too. I send him all the videos I can and talk to him, but he’s definitely all cowboy. Is there anything you like to do outside of rodeo to clear your head? Bridger: My brother is really into hunting, he’s a taxidermist, so I like to go do that with him. I like to go fishing with my dad. Before the winter rodeos, I like to play in pick-up basketball tournaments and go

try to be Uncle Rico for the weekend. Part of me is a little disappointed I didn’t get to go do that this month, but it was for a good reason. Do you have a job outside of rodeo? Bridger: My dad and I own a drug dog business. We go to schools and prisons and search for contraband. We drive all across the state and into the Dakotas and into Wyoming and try to keep drugs and stuff like that out of schools.

BRIDGER CHAMBERS

ProRodeo Sports News 4/20/18

ProRodeo.com

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