Local cowboy proudly represents the Pass in world rodeo championships
Photo courtesy of Kyle Thomson
Kyle Thomson competes in the 2012 National Western Stock Show in the United States.
LINDSAY GOSS
Pass Herald Reporter
When it comes to the rodeo, local Crowsnest Pass resident, Kyle Thomson knows a thing or two. The rodeo star, who is originally from Black Diamond, Alberta, has participated in rodeos for the majority of his 34 years and says that it what brings “excitement and thrill” into his life.
“I have grown up around the rodeo,” Thomson said, adding that his grandfather was the first president of the Canadian Provincial Rodeo Association. In addition to his grandfather’s participation in rodeos, his father also partook in the sport, making Thomson a third generation cowboy.
Thomson first started riding steers when he was 13. By the time he was 16, he was steer wrestling and riding broncos.
“I started at the amateur level and stayed there all through high school. Then I turned professional in 2000.”
Although he “turned professional” at a considerably young age, Thomson said that moving up the ranks is harder than it seems.
“There is a lot of driving and a lot of late nights,” he said. “Sometimes I will drive for 17 hours to get to a rodeo, just to hop back in the truck to drive to another one,” he said.
“It’s a very hectic schedule and can be exhausting.”
But even with all the travelling that he does, Thomson said that one of his favorite rodeos is one rather close to home
“I love the Calgary Stampede. When people say its one of the best rodeos in the world, they aren’t lying,” said Thomson, who has competed in the Calgary Stampede rodeos multiple times. “It’s always a fun time.”
Thomson recently received the Bill Linderman Memorial Award, an award that is given to rodeo competitors who win a minimum of $1,000 in three events. The award is named after multi-talented World Champion Bill Linderman, who died in a plane crash in 1965.
Thomson received the award this past December in Las Vegas as part of the National Finals Rodeo, (NFR).
Although it is evident that Thomson has achieved many successes in his career with rodeos, he said that truly “making it” is getting to the Pro Rodeo World Standings.
Thomson explained that only the top 15 are accepted in the NFR world standings. Last year in the bronco riding, Thomson ranked 33.
“If things go right, I think I could make it this year.”
He explained that prior to this year, his goal was always to go to the Canadian Finals Rodeo, (CFR) in Edmonton. Now that he is competing more down south, that is where is goals are directed.
“It’s a rough sport, but it pays off in the end.”
Thomson and his family moved to the Pass several years back, after purchasing land in the area.
He presently has three children who have already started following in dad’s footstep with the rodeo.
