Wednesday, June 6, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Sisters salutes...
Oregon Army National
Guard Sgt. Dane Moorehead
— a 2008 graduate of Sisters
High School — won the
National Guard Best Warrior
Region VI 2018 competition
on Joint Base Elmendorf-
Richardson, Alaska, May 15.
The four-day competi-
tion tests soldiers’ mental and
physical toughness through a
series of events that demon-
strate technical and tactical
proficiency to determine
the top non-commissioned
officer and junior enlisted
soldier.
To make it to the regional
level, the soldiers have
already out-performed their
peers at the unit and state
level. The competitors come
from Alaska, Idaho, Montana,
North Dakota, Oregon, South
Dakota, Washington and
Wyoming.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Dane Moorehead won the National
Guard Best Warrior Region VI 2018 competition on Joint Base Elmendorf-
Richardson, Alaska, May 15.
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Andrew Loscutoff
Columnist
Rodeo fitness:
What does it take
to be a cowboy?
It’s rodeo week in Sisters
Country and the town is
buzzing with excitement as
the annual event kicks off
with a show of man against
beast. Humanity possesses
a certain curiosity about
where its position in the ani-
mal kingdom stands. The
sport of rodeo piques this
curiosity as men and women
will take on different events
to show strength, agility, and
grace in the arena.
These individuals possess
a special skill; they’re ter-
rific athletes. What does it
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take to be a rodeo star? Just
like track and field, rodeo
has a variety of different
events. Each requires spe-
cialization in certain skills.
From bull-riding to barrel-
racing, the cowboys and
cowgirls are very different
athletes.
Bull-riding is a rodeo
favorite. A strong core,
thighs, and holding arm
are obvious requirements.
Other skills that are impor-
tant are reaction, proprio-
ception (body awareness of
position), quickness, and
balance. These skills are
developed through expe-
rience, but also can be
trained; a cowboy can spend
time in the gym working
on rotational core strength,
dynamic lateral movement,
reactive drills and much
more. A modern rodeo ath-
lete spends time on fitness.
This is a good idea because
in real-world practice, the
bull will always buck them
to the ground. Injury is
highly likely.
Roping events take a
cowboy with a lasso rope
and asks them to rope and
contain a calf or steer. The
events demand timing and
precision. The athlete must
stay balanced and focused
7
while the horse gallops.
This is a difficult skill,
which requires strength in
the thighs to stand above
the saddle while the horse is
running underneath. Imagine
it similar to skiing moguls
and attempting to rope a run-
away calf.
Barrel racing is an amaz-
ing feat of animal and rider
working together to produce
the fastest time through a
course of barrel obstacles.
It requires the rider to direct
the horse, balance, and use
their body as a counter to the
forces produced by the horse
— all at 20 to 30mph. The
speed and strength required
by the animal is impressive,
but the rider is equally as
skilled in controlling this
speed while maintaining
focus and balance.
The rodeo is more than
dusty blue jeans and cold
beer. It’s a throwback to
American heritage and it
is also a display of human
athleticism. The rodeo is an
entertaining show of ath-
letes pushing their bodies.
This year, take note of the
fitness of these individu-
als and recognize what it
takes to perform in “The
Biggest Little Show in the
World.”
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Tours available.
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