Imagine competing at a rodeo that features your name front and centre.
That’s exactly what will happen for Calgary Smith at the 2024 Calgary Stampede.
“I’ve always wanted to compete at the Calgary Stampede just because my name’s that,” said Smith, who is entered with partner Brady Tryan in Wednesday night’s team roping competition at the Nutrien Western Event Centre. “It’s so cool. I’m just excited to get to go.”
In what’s billed as Canada’s richest two days of roping, the Rocky Mountain Cup will take place over two nights with ladies breakaway roping on Tuesday followed by team roping 24 hours later (both starting at 7 p.m.). A total of $150,000 in prize money will be up for grabs.
“I’m excited,” said Smith, who most recently competed with Tryan at the Bigfork Montana Summer Rodeo on Friday and Saturday where they won $862 U.S. each. “I’ve never even watched it or seen it before, but I know it pays good and stuff, so I’m excited to go compete there.”
Hailing from Adams, Ore., Smith has never met anyone else with the distinct first name his parents gave to him.
“They just thought it was kind of a cool and unique name,” said Smith, who learned about the Calgary Stampede from watching taped – yes, taped – performances of the famous outdoor rodeo. “We have old VHS tapes and stuff that we had recorded off the TV that had old Calgary videos on it and stuff.
“Ever since I could remember rodeos and anything, it’s always been one we knew about just because it pays so good,” continued Smith, who goes by the nickname Gary, but never Cal. “It’s one everybody talks about.”
After the 2023 Canadian Finals Rodeo in Red Deer last November, everybody was talking about Smith and Tryan’s record-breaking performance.
They broke five records including winning four consecutive rounds, setting an arena record in Round 3 with a 3.5-second run (tied with Rhen Richard and Jeremy Buhler) as well as hauling in a whopping $62,837 in earnings during the show on their way to securing the year-end title.
“That was pretty special last year,” said Smith of his first trip to the CFR. “I kind of just went into it not really knowing what to expect. I’d never been up there or gone to any of the rodeos up there.
“We had not a great regular season, but it was pretty good. I think we went in there third in the standings and got to Red Deer and just knocked the first two down and we just kept drawing good and everything was working out in our favour all week.”
When Trynan asked Smith to join him on the Canadian team-roping circuit last year, it was a no-brainer to say yes.
“I didn’t take much convincing when he asked me to rope, but when he said he wanted to make the Canadian finals at least one more time, I was all for it,” Smith said. “I’m always ready to try something and do something new. It was new and different and got me out of the small circle in the northwest (U.S.) and let me go and see and experience new things.”
Although he hasn’t spent any extended time in the city he’s named after, Smith has acquired a couple mementos from Calgary.
“Last year when I came up for the first time I saw the sign that said ‘Welcome to Calgary’ and I took a picture of it and I said, ‘It feels like I’m home’,” said Smith, who also purchased a souvenir when he was at the airport. “I just bought a sweatshirt that says Calgary on it. I wanted a sweatshirt that has my name on it.”
He’s hoping to add a Rocky Mountain Cup title to his keepsake collection come Wednesday night.
“I don’t really know what to expect,” said Smith, whose job as a heeler is to quickly rope the feet of the steer after Tryan ropes the animal’s head. “I think it’s going to be cool being there, but then no matter how cool it is, I have one job when I show up there and it’s to make sure I catch the steer by two feet.
“If you’ve got one that runs hard, you’ve kind of just got to go knock ’em down and see what happens and then when you draw the good ones, you’ve got to make sure you take good advantage of it.”
Since Smith and Tryan are scheduled to compete at another rodeo south of the border on Thursday, they won’t be staying in Calgary for very long.
“I just know we rope Wednesday night and we’re up the next morning in Sheridan, Wyoming,” Smith said. “Whenever we get done roping – hopefully after the final four – we’re headed out as fast as we can.”