Water Vallley, AB: Todd Chotowetz of Major, SK had one of the best years anyone has ever had in Semi Pro Rodeo in Canada in the Bull Riding. He won over $16,000 combined at the Wildrose Rodeo Association Challenge Finals in Barrhead, AB; The Lakeland Rodeo Association Showdown in St. Paul, AB; and Foothills Cowboy’s Association Cowboy Classic in Red Deer, AB. Some of which was ground money but that’s a ton of money for anyone, let alone being 18 and freshly out of high school! In winning all of his money in throughout about 6 weeks from the start of September until Thanksgiving weekend Chotowetz was crowned the 2011 Finals Champion in all three associations.
At just 18 years of age it’s quite the feat. I’m not sure even who to ask to see when the last time this was done. I’m thinking maybe Miles Pennington did it last but I don’t think Miles won the FCA Championship in his Semi Pro career. If anyone know’s who won all three last I would sure appreciate to know. It may have been 2009 Canadian Champion Brett Thompson to last do it back in the early 2000’s. Winning Canada is something many people can see Todd doing in the future as well.
While writing this piece I talked to Todd again to ask him a few things and found out some unfortunate news. He said he got hit weird playing hockey on Sunday and broke his collar bone. It was broke up by his shoulder so he said he won’t be able to ride again until February. Look for him to show up for another big year after healing up for the first 6 weeks of 2012.
Back to the story though. I wanted to get inside his thinking a bit so I asked him about what his goals were like and what his thinking was like going into the start of the year and if it changed or not. He replied saying:
“First I just wanted to make finals in all three. Then I was doing pretty good so I wanted to get Season Leader in as many as I could. ”
He continued on then to add that things changed once the finals rolled around.
“When I won the LRA I figured there was no reason why I can’t win them all.”
To end up the year he said winning the FCA Finals was the highlight of the season since he dominated and won all three.
There’s much more I could add but I would be taking away from this interview. So to finish it up here I was able to catch up with Todd for a few quick words back in Stettler, AB just over a month ago now and if you don’t know him you’ll find out here he’s a man of few words.
I hope you all enjoyed the story with Todd. I hope to see it be shared around the rodeo world on many different sites and newspapers.
Another person to have a big year this year was Ty Taypotat originally of Regina, SK. Ty made his first CFR in the Bareback riding and took this year’s honor as the CPRA Rookie of the Year. Here’s a story about him from the Regina Leader Post:
Ty Taypotat living his dream
By Ed Kapp, Leader-Post December 20, 2011 12:08 PM
Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/Taypotat+living+dream/5887658/story.html#ixzz1h7egzDOa
TS
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