Catching an adrenaline rush at the Chilili rodeo
First published in The Independent newspaper, Edgewood, N.M., June 17, 2009.
By Scott Albright 06/20/2009
Chilili - Jeremy Gutierrez grew up around the rodeo in Chilili, but he’d never been bucked around on a steer before, until Sunday.
“The adrenaline rush was intense,” Jeremy said about his first ride. “I thought it was going to be like riding motocross, but it’s not.”
The 26-year-old Chilili native said he had never tried riding at the rodeo before even though riding has been in the family for years. Jeremy’s grandfather, Noe Gutierrez, was born and raised in Chilili where he’s been going to the rodeo every summer since it was formed in 1962. He said in the beginning the rodeo was just a couple locals having fun riding around on cows.
“We’ve been having fun for so long,” Noe said. “It’s a tradition.”
Sometimes Noe would ride backwards while another rider, straddling the same animal, would face the front. Noe stopped riding many years ago, but on Sunday his grandson carried on the tradition.
The mohawk style haircut, t-shirt and jeans that Jeremy wore didn’t match the cowboy hat wearing get-up of his grandfather, but the fun and excitement of riding was much the same as when Noe did it.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Noe said about the rodeo, admitting that some things have changed though.
“Usually we would ride using both hands. Now they only use one,” Noe said.
He said the rodeo used to consist of just a few family members who would show up to get away from the daily labors, but now people show up from all around.
One of Jeremy’s friends from Albuquerque, Chris Drennan, also rode for his first time on Sunday.
“This was the second rodeo I’ve ever been to,” Drennan said.
When asked why he decided to try riding he said, “why not?”
Both Drennan and Jeremy Gutierrez rode at the same time and were bucked off shortly after exiting the chute, but both riders said the few seconds they were on felt much longer.
Twelve-year-old Cruz Lugo of Albuquerque stayed on the calf he was riding for a bit longer than the two newbies, but Lugo has had more time to prepare for Sunday’s event. Lugo said he’s been rodeoing for three and a half months and has ridden a calf many times before. During his ride on Sunday Lugo held on a bit too long and came inches from hitting his head on the gate after getting thrown off the animal. He injured his arm during the fall, but said the pain was worth it.
“It’s better than being on a roller coaster,” Lugo said. “It’s probably one of the funnest things I’ve ever done.”
He said riding is an experience he didn’t want to pass up. He said it is something that if he missed out on he would look back and say he wished he had done it, and now he can say he has.
The next rodeo in Chilili will be July 12. Tickets cost $8 for adults and children ten and under are free. Competitions include bareback and saddleback bull riding and sheep and calf riding.
Travis Briscoe, a professional bull rider who began his career in Chilili, was at Sunday’s event.
To watch a video of Sunday's rodeo click here or go to the Sports page.
“The adrenaline rush was intense,” Jeremy said about his first ride. “I thought it was going to be like riding motocross, but it’s not.”
The 26-year-old Chilili native said he had never tried riding at the rodeo before even though riding has been in the family for years. Jeremy’s grandfather, Noe Gutierrez, was born and raised in Chilili where he’s been going to the rodeo every summer since it was formed in 1962. He said in the beginning the rodeo was just a couple locals having fun riding around on cows.
“We’ve been having fun for so long,” Noe said. “It’s a tradition.”
Sometimes Noe would ride backwards while another rider, straddling the same animal, would face the front. Noe stopped riding many years ago, but on Sunday his grandson carried on the tradition.
The mohawk style haircut, t-shirt and jeans that Jeremy wore didn’t match the cowboy hat wearing get-up of his grandfather, but the fun and excitement of riding was much the same as when Noe did it.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Noe said about the rodeo, admitting that some things have changed though.
“Usually we would ride using both hands. Now they only use one,” Noe said.
He said the rodeo used to consist of just a few family members who would show up to get away from the daily labors, but now people show up from all around.
One of Jeremy’s friends from Albuquerque, Chris Drennan, also rode for his first time on Sunday.
“This was the second rodeo I’ve ever been to,” Drennan said.
When asked why he decided to try riding he said, “why not?”
Both Drennan and Jeremy Gutierrez rode at the same time and were bucked off shortly after exiting the chute, but both riders said the few seconds they were on felt much longer.
Twelve-year-old Cruz Lugo of Albuquerque stayed on the calf he was riding for a bit longer than the two newbies, but Lugo has had more time to prepare for Sunday’s event. Lugo said he’s been rodeoing for three and a half months and has ridden a calf many times before. During his ride on Sunday Lugo held on a bit too long and came inches from hitting his head on the gate after getting thrown off the animal. He injured his arm during the fall, but said the pain was worth it.
“It’s better than being on a roller coaster,” Lugo said. “It’s probably one of the funnest things I’ve ever done.”
He said riding is an experience he didn’t want to pass up. He said it is something that if he missed out on he would look back and say he wished he had done it, and now he can say he has.
The next rodeo in Chilili will be July 12. Tickets cost $8 for adults and children ten and under are free. Competitions include bareback and saddleback bull riding and sheep and calf riding.
Travis Briscoe, a professional bull rider who began his career in Chilili, was at Sunday’s event.
To watch a video of Sunday's rodeo click here or go to the Sports page.