November 2008 Nov. 25, 2008 I figured I had better get everyone updated before the “Super Bowl of Rodeo” known as the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo gets underway on Dec. 4. It is hard to believe it is already here but I am ready to get the action started. Since I last wrote I went hunting, competed in Dallas at the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Championships and at the Dodge California Circuit Finals in Norco. I have had some relaxation mixed with some competition and hope that will prove to be the perfect recipe for another world title on Dec. 13. The whole month of October was spent in New Mexico and Wyoming hunting with my dad. We had a good time and I got a nice bull elk in New Mexico that was a 360 and dad got a real nice buck in Wyoming. We were pretty pleased with our catch. It was nice for me to just get away from it all and spend time with my dad. It is a great way for me to relax and allowed me to come back to the rodeo arena in Dallas, a lot fresher. The Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Championships was the last official 2008 rodeo that counted toward the world standings and the Wrangler NFR. I won just under $13,000 ($12,891 to be exact), which was good but I had a chance to win more and it just didn’t work out that way. I won the first round in a time of 3.8 seconds and then finished sixth in the second round with a time of 4.6 seconds. My traveling partner and reigning world champion Jason Miller won the average with a total time of 7.8 seconds on two head and I finished third with an 8.4. The top eight advanced to the semifinal round where all previous times were erased. In the semifinals, I turned in the fastest time of the weekend with a 3.3 second run. As a result, I had the privilege of going last in the final round. Jason (Miller) and Dean Gorsuch were tied atop the leaderboard with runs of 3.6 seconds, so I knew I had to be quick. I nodded my head and we were off but when I looked at the clock it read 3.8 seconds, putting me third in the round. Although I didn’t win, I was able to close the gap on world standings leader Wade Sumpter, who ran into some bad luck in Dallas and left empty handed. As I enter my seventh NFR, I am just about $3,000 out of the top spot. I rode Jesse Peterson’s horse Gunner in Dallas and will have him as my backup horse in Las Vegas. Following Dallas, I had Christina Richman, a barrel racer from California, haul him back to my house for me, so that we could practice on him during these weeks leading up to the Finals. One of my traveling partners Gabe Ledoux plans on riding him at the NFR, while Curtis (Cassidy), Jason (Miller) and I will ride Curtis’ horse and the 2008 AQHA/PRCA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year Willy. We will leave Skids at home but if we need him he won’t be too hard to get to Las Vegas. I have a lot of confidence in the mounts I will have available to me in Las Vegas. Following Dallas, I competed in my circuit finals in Norco. I won the first round in a time of 3.7 seconds but didn’t do anything else. I did end up winning the year end title and Billy Bugenig, who traveled with me last year before he got hurt, won the average title in the circuit. Gabe and Jason have been at my place since the circuit finals and we have been practicing every day. We have about eight-head of horses and 25 head of steers, which we have been using trying to get primed and ready for 10 grueling days of competition. Things will get started for us on Tuesday, Dec. 2 with various meetings and last minute preparations. The first round will be Thursday, Dec. 3. For those that can’t make it to the Thomas and Mack Center to watch it live be sure to catch the action from all 10 rounds on either ESPN2 or ESPN Classic. Visit www.prorodeo.com for a complete schedule. With that said, I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving and look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas. Be sure to check out my schedule for where I will be signing autographs during the 10 days as well as my nightly results. Talk to you from Vegas, Luke |
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