October 2009 October 3, 2009 Well my 2009 regular season rodeo schedule is complete and I am currently second in the world standings less than $10,000 behind Lee Graves, who holds the top spot. I was really able to make up some ground in these last two months and the big win in Omaha (Neb.) at the Justin Boots Championships was just what I needed to finish out the regular season. Over these last two months, I have picked up good checks at three Washington rodeos - Bremerton, Ellensburg, and Puyallup as well as at the famous Pendleton (Ore.) Round-up, which celebrated its 99th year this year. Like I said, Omaha was great for me this year. I drew good steers and my good friend Jesse Peterson let both Gabe (Ledoux) and I ride his good horse Gunner, which I have ridden at the finals quite a few times. Ken Lewis hazed for us and things just seemed to fall into place. I got things started off on the right foot in the first round with a time of 3.6 seconds to finish 2nd in the round. I returned the next night posting a time of 3.6 seconds again to finish in a tie for 3rd giving me 7.2 seconds on two head placing me second in the average and advancing me to the semifinals, which featured the top eight. The time of 3.6 seconds must have been my lucky time that weekend as I stopped the clock in 3.6 seconds for the third straight time to win the semifinals, giving me the advantage of going last in the final sudden-death round. After turning in three 3.6-second runs, I figured it was time to change things up a bit so I stopped the clock in 3.4 seconds to take the victory over Josh Peek, who finished with a 4.0. All totaled I left the Nebraska town with $31,731 and a great position heading into Las Vegas in December. It was real important for me to close the gap as much as possible between Lee and I as he had been on a roll as of late and was getting tough to catch. I am now in a good position heading to the NFR in hopes of successfully defending my title. It would be a true honor to win again and to do it back-to-back would make it that much sweeter. After Omaha, Jesse let me bring Gunner back to my place in California so we can practice on him and have him ready to go to the NFR as our backup. I plan to ride Willie with Gunner as a backup if necessary. Unfortunately my traveling partner Jason Miller isn’t going to make it this year and Gabe is currently 15th but has to wait until after the Heartland Finals in Waco (Oct. 9-17) to see if any of the guys below him win enough to bump him out. We will all be waiting on pins and needles to see what happens. So as the 2009 regular season comes to an end, that can only mean one thing for me and that is it is hunting time. Besides the Wrangler NFR in December, this is by far my favorite time of the year and I look forward to it like a little kid looks forward to Christmas presents. As I type this, I am getting ready to head out for a 3 week hunting trip that will take me to Wyoming, Montana and Idaho where we will be hunting deer and elk. This is a great time for me to just get away and relax before turning my focus back to steer wrestling. Once I return I will have the California Circuit Finals in Norco on Nov. 20-21, then the NFR. Right now the plan is to ride Billy’s (Bugenig) horse, Smarty, at the circuit finals and save Gunner for the Finals. As for everything else, things are good. Cade is growing like a weed and is running all over the place now. He is talking quite a bit but many of the words I can’t understand. It is like he has his own language but it is very cute to listen to him. Well I better sign off so I can get the last minute things ready for my hunting trip. I will update you when I get back. Until next time, Luke Two-time and reigning PRCA World Champion Steer Wrestler |
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