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Saddle bronc rider Sundell receives unexpected gift
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Wade Sundell of Boxholhom is currently ranked No. 1
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August 08, 2012 |
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A bronze statue and a pair of spurs were presented to saddle bronc rider Wade Sundell after his win at the Calgary Stampede held July 6-15 in Canada. -Photo provided
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What does the number one bronc rider in the world do in his free time? Wade Sundell of Boxholm would have a hard time answering that question. You see, over 250 days of the year he spends on the road, saddling up for more than 100 rides a year throughout the United States and Canada. After winning what is considered the biggest competition, The Calgary Stampede, Sundell, a 2003 OHS graduate, stopped by home for a short time before hitting the road to yet another rodeo. The Ogden Reporter caught up with him (on the phone) for a few minutes as he was making his way across Kansas where he would compete later that day in Dodge City.
He talked about his experience at the Canadian rodeo. Sundell brought home the top prize of $100,000 after beating out 19 of the toughest guys to win the event for the second time in two years.
"This competition is by invitation only," says Sundell, "and all of them [the riders] are dang good!"
But the awards presentation that day was far from the usual.
2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede. A century ago a full-blooded Cherokee Indian by the name of Tom Three Persons, a law enforcement legend of his time, won the saddle bronc riding event and was presented a saddle. That would be the first and last saddle given as a prize . . . until this year.
Sundell was invited to a room following his final ride. Walking in, he was greeted by 40 to 5o American Indians gathered around, all descendants he was told, of Tom Three Persons. They were there to present the new saddle bronc champion an engraved saddle in his memory.
When asked about his number one status with the top earnings so far in the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA), Sundell said "there is a lot of season left." The PRCA season goes from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
Sundell has been competing in saddle bronc competitions steadily since 2007, having taken a four year hiatus prior to that time during which he concentrated on bull riding. You can trace his riding career back to when he was just a tot riding sheep. He advanced from there to calves, then bull riding at rodeos. This year alone Sundell has won six events and was co-champion in five others. His earnings in 2011 placed him third in the world standings. |
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©The Ogden Reporter 2013
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