It’s almost time for bucking broncs and crazy cowboys to enter the Crowsnest Pass again.

The 37th annual Kananaskis Pro Rodeo is hitting the Coleman Sportsplex for an action packed weekend May 10-12.

Kananaskis Rodeo Association President, Joe Trotz, says the competition will be great again this year.

“It’s just great action. It’s a good rodeo. There's a lot of action at our rodeo and we have world-class stock and world-class cowboys. It’s always exciting. One bonus is that it’s the beginning of the year so most of the cowboys are healthy. Everybody’s out there trying to get their best ride and their best run.”

This years rodeo includes all the favourite events of the past and one special event that is being brought back after years of being excluded.

“We've got bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding, that's the rough stock end. Then we have the steer wrestling, calf roping, team roping and barrel racing as well. Also on Saturday, there will be a wild ride at the end of the bull riding event. . The wild ride will entail someone dressed up on a saddle bronc. Whoever has the wildest look and ride will win $500. Local contestants out of Pincher Creek and anybody from our area can enter.”

There will also be plenty of action for the younger generations at the rodeo this weekend.

“We have a junior rodeo that happens Saturday Morning. They can do team roping and a few of the other things that people who are in the pro circuits get to participate in. It's part of our whole function but it's not part of our main rodeo. We've got mutton busting everyday and we've got bike races everyday for the kids. We're giving away about 12 bikes this year.”

Overall, there will be around 360 contestants, which Trotz says is a good average and showing for this year’s rodeo.

There will also be a pancake breakfast put on by the Lions on Saturday morning as part of the rodeo festivities as well and the entertainment includes local country star Trevor Panczak.

Trotz believes that this rodeo is one of the best small community rodeos around.

“It’s pretty action packed. I don’t think in Canada or even North America you can come and watch a smaller community rodeo this good. We’ve got a lot of people who travel to come and see this rodeo. All the older cowboys and guys come and watch.”

Trotz also says that the location and small town feel, along with reasonable prices make the whole weekend a great experience for visitors.

“The nice thing about the rodeo is that it’s indoors so we never have to worry about the weather. People are very close to the action as well so you basically get dirt in your face at our rodeo.”

Due to construction near the sportsplex, Parking at the complex will only be available for contestants, volunteers and people with limited accessibility.

All other spectator parking other than limited accessibility will be available at Crowsnest Consolidated High School with a shuttle running from there to the complex starting an hour and a half prior to the rodeo and one hour after the rodeo each day.

Spectators can also park at the east end of the Crowsnest Christian Community Centre but no shuttle will be run from this location.

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