Day 2 of Calgary Stampede Rodeo: Early calendar start makes for tough travel decisions
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That's how Kyle Irwin describes his job on the rodeo circuit.
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Right around the annual start of the Calgary Stampede, both gigs kick into high gear for himself and the other rodeo stars of the world.
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Because not only is there $50,000-plus to be won here, but there's gobs of cash to be earned during the Fourth of July week in the United States.
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'Cowboy Christmas' it's called.
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And with that potential windfall come major decisions on which show to go to and how to get there.
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'I tell people we're more travel agents than cowboys,' said Irwin, one of the planet's top steer-wrestling talents. 'I can get somewhere now. I'm telling you … I can get somewhere.'
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That's a tremendous trait to have this time of the rodeo calendar.
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And it's even moreso important this year with the Stampede having started earlier than most years — that being right on Independence Day.
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Indeed, while many rodeos were whooping it up down south on the patriotic American holiday, the Stampede's opening round went Friday for Irwin and the other Pool A participants, which dramatically changes the travel plans this year.
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'We went to four rodeos over the Fourth this year,' said Irwin, of the last week that's seen him drive — relentlessly — to shows in Prescott, Ariz., Oakley City, Utah, St. Paul, Ore., and Basin City, Wash., before flying from Pasco, Wash., through Seattle to Calgary on Thursday morning.
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'Normally, we're going to 10 or 12 rodeos at this time of year,' continued Irwin. 'So you cut it short by coming up here this year. And back in the States, the guys that didn't get to come here are winning and catching you in the (world) standings. So that was a decision you had to make.
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'But when you're going up against 10 guys that pay six holes and $7,000 for the win, the odds are better here.'
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Indeed, the Stampede's quality money certainly has its draw.
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