Happy Summer, Snotitude fans! My husband and I kicked off the summer of 2015 with a trip out to North and South Dakota. We put over 1300 miles on our rental car and saw all sorts of amazing scenery, wildlife galore, toured historical places and national parks. We planned the trip so that we could end up in Bismarck, North Dakota for Chad Berger's Blue Def Velocity Tour bull riding event on June 19-20th (that will be next weeks blog!) What we didn't plan on was attending a second bull riding event, so this was a totally happy surprise!
I am a planner, reservation maker, and organized packer, when I travel. Paul and I discussed places we wanted to visited, mapped out the travel, made our reservations months in advance. A few weeks before the trip, I was on social media and saw a link, advertising the new, updated website for Chad Berger Bucking Bulls. I clicked on it and started poking around...looking at pictures....reading the information...and finally, looking at the list of scheduled events. With a squeal of delight, I read out loud to Paul, that Chad Berger Bucking Bulls would be at an event in Sturgis, SD one of the nights we were going to be there!!! How excited was I!?!!! But the event location was listed as The Knuckle Saloon. How do you hold a bull riding event at a saloon?
This is how.....
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| First, you bring in the bulls. Chad Berger had the most bulls at the event. There were two (?) other local contractors there, but I did not know their names. The little bull on the left is one of my new "crushes". His name is CHAVEZ, and oh the snotitude this little dude has!!! |
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| The back pens were set up on the side street behind the saloon. They managed to get the big rig backed up so there was sufficient room for trucks and bulls. Wood chips were put down on top of the cement. This was not great footing for the bulls, as they seemed to slip a little as they moved around. I'm thinking a load of dirt would have been a smarter option, but I digress... |
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| The Knuckle Saloon has an open expanse, and that is where the bull riding "arena" was set up. By open, I mean, open on two sides, covered by a roof, and as you can see, a second story balcony. I bet this place is jamming come "Biker week"! The first chute, on the right, was where the flank rope and bull rider's rope were put on the bull. The middle chute and left chute were used to buck the bulls out of. |
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| There is no locker room or extra space, so the cowboys changed their clothes and worked their ropes at one end of the arena. I was running around, looking for Chad Berger to say hello, and I happened upon a cowboy changing his pants...oooops!!! |
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| Introductions began, after entertainment from a mostly rocking country-western band. The event was a PRCA sanctioned event. Most of the cowboys were not known to me, and the majority were local Dakota boys. What I did cheer wildly for, was the bull introductions...naturally! Bulls from Chad Berger, YELLOW WOLF and WIPE OUT (shown here) were introduced to the packed house. |
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| I can not identify bulls or riders in these pictures, as there was no day sheet, the announcer was hard to understand and I had a wooden beam partially blocking my view. When we bought our tickets, the bartender told us to get there early. Evidently she meant several hours early, as seats were very hard to come by over an hour before start time! Paul and I stood on a picnic table, throughout the event, just to see. |
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| The arena was small...like maybe half of a basketball court-sized. I was amazed that they even were able to set up the chutes, pens and bring in sets of bleachers. When it was time to run from the bull, the cowboys and bull fighters didn't have much room. Here, you can see a bull fighter climbing the out gate. |
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| Two bull fighters were used, and no safety horse. There just wasn't room. Most of the bulls took a few laps around the arena before they left. The folks who were sitting on those bleachers, down below, must have left with some "atmosphere" on them. LOL! I laughed as a few of the bulls greeted the fans personally..... |
Unfortunately, I can not give you a bunch of statistics or scores. After contacting event judge Casey Stirling, I was able to find out that Chasen Cole, from Hermosa, SD won the event.
I have to say that we had a blast! This was like nothing I've attended before. The place was packed, with mostly the cowboy/rancher/bull riding fan crowd, but the occasional biker was most curious and welcomed as well. If I am correct, this was the 13th or 14th year this event was put on, so obviously a success and fun part of the summer schedule in Sturgis.
A good time was had by all...on a Saturday night in Sturgis...at the Knuckle Saloon!
Photographs property of and taken by Susan Hanrahan
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