General News
14 August, 2024
American youths lap up Australian rodeo culture
They breed them tough in the United States, particularly in Texas.
Despite being only 17 years old, American youth team bull rider Braxton Letcher already walks like a man who has faced off against a lifetime of bucking bulls.
The Mount Isa Rodeo was his first competition since breaking his leg during a practice session about four months ago – so his right leg is still a bit stiff.
He also had to recently overcome a dislocated knee that didn’t quite heal correctly on his left leg.
Combined, the two leg injuries have made his walk a stiff shuffle with joints that don’t bend quite the way you would expect.
Braxton said his inflexible legs forced him to employ some trial-and-error thinking to endure the series of flights from New Mexico to arrive in Outback Queensland.
Braxton said he tried a few tactics – including leaning against the window and stretching his legs over the pulled trays on the seats across the rest of his aisle.
At another point on the flight, he just camped on the floor between the seat aisles, although he reckons he lasted about two hours before the flight stewards grew wary of his idea.
“I had to do what I could on the flight – I didn’t want to miss coming to Australia – I already missed a rodeo in Mexico because of my broken leg,” he told North West Weekly.
“Australia was top of my list of places I wanted to visit – but mainly for the beautiful women, if I’m honest.”
The idea to bring a youth team of bull riders from the United States was born last year after a night of barbecue and beers and talking about bulls at a north Texas ranch.
The Australian youth bull riding team had been competing at the World Championship Miniature Bull Riding championships and following a practice session at Brownwood, east of Dallas, the conversation turned to some American youths making the flight across to Mount Isa.
The casual conversation turned into formal discussions and the Youth American team began preparing for Mount Isa.
Texas bull rider Austin Matheny has been competing since he was 10 years old. Now aged 16, he says he plans to make it in the pro circuit in years to come.
“There are some ropers in my family but no bull riders,” he said.
“My mother always wanted to have a bull rider in the family – so when I was 10 years old she took me out to an arena with some friends and they let me have a go on a bull and I fell in love with the sport.
“It’s pretty amazing we already made it all the way to Australia.”