Josh Frost has a love-hate relationship with Showdown Sunday at the Calgary Stampede rodeo.
The 29-year-old bull-rider from Randlett, Utah, loves to compete on the final day of the Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth, but he hates the fact that he’s been there three times and has finished in the crying hole on each occasion.
“I have made (the final 12) three times — rode my bull and ended up fifth all three times, and they take the top four to the Showdown,” said Frost, who once again qualified to advance to Sunday’s bull-riding finals. “So, Calgary’s always treated me really good, but I just haven’t had a rank enough bull in that (12-man) round to make the final four.”
Competing in Pool B from Monday to Wednesday, Frost finished in a fourth-place tie with defending Stampede champion Jared Parsonage, of Maple Creek, Sask., with $8,333.33 in earnings after the pair tied for top spot with matching 84-point performances on Tuesday. Both were bucked off their bulls on Monday and Wednesday, which resulted in a tie that had to be determined by a coin flip that Frost won.
“When people ask me what my favourite rodeo is, the Calgary Stampede is one of the first one that comes to mind,” said Frost, who will have even more of a soft spot for the annual extravaganza if he can find a way to win the $50,000 top prize. “As a regular-season rodeo, there’s no place like Calgary. This is one of the biggest tourist destinations that I’ve ever been to that’s actually a rodeo. And it’s as good as a professional event that I’ve ever been to.”
And just what does the No. 1-ranked bull-rider in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Ram World Standings have to do to accomplish his goal?
“Just need to draw a better bull,” Frost said. “You know, I’ve done my job every year. And most of the time with 12 guys, if you get a score, you’re going to be top four. But all three times I’ve been in that finals, everybody’s rode really, really good and I’ve been half-a-point to a point out.”
Following his three-day stint in Calgary earlier this week, Frost immediately headed south of the border to compete at the NFR Open powered by RAM at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs, Colo.
On Friday, he had a $7,500 payday due to his 87.5-point ride atop Wolf of Wallstreet, which was the only qualified ride of the night.
Although he was bucked off Big Wave the next afternoon, he was still one of the top three qualifiers to advance to Saturday night’s NFR Open championship round, meaning he’ll have to get up at the crack of dawn to catch a 6 a.m. flight back to Calgary.
Rodeo fans will notice that Frost prominently wears a patch promoting LaneFrost.com on his shirt when he competes.
A champion professional bull-rider, Lane won the 1987 PRCA bull riding title. The 1994 movie 8 seconds starring Luke Perry was made about Lane’s life and achievements that lead up to his tragic death following a bull-riding accident at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Wyoming on July 30, 1989.
“We try to keep Lane’s legacy alive — it gives little kids somebody to look up to,” said Josh, who is Lane’s second cousin. “It’s a long rodeo tradition for the whole family. Lane’s nephew (Stetson Frost) started this tradition — it’s called the Lane Frost Brand, just kind of to help his memory. They sell merchandise, so it’s a sponsor for me to help me get down the road.
“He was not only a great bull rider but a great person. He touched a lot of people while he was alive. It’s something I take a lot of pride in being a part of that family.”
IT’S ALL RELATIVE
One of Josh’s in-laws just missed out on qualifying for Showdown Sunday.
JR Stratford won Friday’s go-round with an 88-point ride on Smart as a Rock to earn $7,200.
Unfortunately, Stratford — whose sister Taylor married Josh’s brother Jate — was bucked off on his other two attempts and wound up finishing in fifth place in Pool C to just miss out on one of the four invitations back to Sunday’s finals.
“I actually was rodeo buddies with (Jate) first and that’s how he met my sister,” said the 21-year-old cowboy from Byers, Kan. “I guess don’t bring your sister to the rodeo. I’m kidding. He’s a good man.”
While he narrowly missed out on his goal of advancing to the Stampede finals, Stratford will now be cheering for Frost to win.
“We’re always pulling for each other at the end of the day, but you’re crazy if you say you don’t want to win,” said Stratford, who enjoyed his first Stampede experience. “It’s cool to see rodeo fans like this. This is totally different than where I’m from in a small town in Kansas, so it’s pretty dang cool to see everybody come support us.”