For reasons still unclear to me, I wasn’t allowed to shoot the 2009-2011 versions of the Oakdale Rodeo. So for the first time since 2008, I made the short drive over to the Oakdale Saddle Club to get some pictures for the Flying U Rodeo Co. and Zuma Press. Lots of rain in the prior few days left the arena under over a foot of mud, a non-trivial amount of which left attached to my gear, jeans, and boots. But mud makes for great pictures, and Oakdale has a unique shooting position that looks directly across the chutes which makes getting caked in dirt worth it.
At their rodeos, Flying U raises a flag-bearing mounted horseman/woman out of a giant boot during the national anthem. I wanted to get a picture of the inside of he boot, and I got there just as Cindy Rosser was loading her horse:
Cindy Rosser loads her horse into the Flying U Rodeo Co. boot prior to the national anthem.
I very rarely shoot from the conventional positions, especially at rodeos, but the main position at Oakdale is right beside the bucking chutes, angled to look across all of the chutes. If you do it right, the pictures from here look like you’re actually in the arena:
Bull rider Ty Hamaker of Centenial, WY rides Silver Legacy.
Bull rider Garrett Vig of Newell, SD loses his helmet as he gets bucked off Party Crasher.
Bull rider Jacob Marshall of Huntington, UT rides Rawhide.
Bull rider Casey Butters of Wallsburg, UT gets bucked off White Wolf.
Bull rider Nate Perry of Elk City, OK gets driven into the mud by Black Sabbath.
Trevor Kastner somehow had a nice ride and got off on his feet, skipping most of the dirt that tagged even the most successful riders..
Bull rider Trevor Kastner of Ardmore, OK rides Checkmate.
Bull rider Trevor Kastner of Ardmore, OK rides Checkmate.
…until his friend Seth Glause ran out and tackled him into the mud:
Bull rider Seth Glause tackles Trevor Kastner after Kastner's ride.
Dustin Smith won the bull riding, but got thrown and landed on his head. I guess the winner’s check soothes all:
Bull rider Dustin Smith of St. Paul, OR gets bucked off Patriot after scoring 84 points and the win.
Saddle bronc rider Wes Burns of Clayton, NM gets bucked off Shadow Dancer.
Bull rider Jordan Lewis of Santaquin, UT gets shoved in the mud by Vortex.
Bull rider Cody Robinson of American Fork, UT gets knocked around by Red Dog.
Bull rider Kyle Joslin of Caldwell, ID gets bucked off Loco Weed.
Bareback rider Eric Mader of Keuterville, ID rides Flying Blue.
Bareback rider Cody DeMers of Kimberly, ID rides Lone Ranger.
Bareback rider Cody DeMers of Kimberly, ID
Bareback rider Luke Creasy of Brownfield, AB rides Peppy Bound.
Saddle Bronc rider Elliot French of Tres Pinos, CA gets bucked off Flood Stage.
Saddle bronc rider Cade Taylor of Burley, ID gets bucked off Gold Dollar.
Saddle bronc rider Rusty Allen of Eagle Mountain, UT rides Deception.
Saddle bronc rider Chase Bennett of Santaquin, UT gets bucked off Cruel Intentions.
The steer wrestlers always have it worst when it comes to a muddy arena, because they simply can’t do their job without getting coated:
Steer wrestler Jim Banister of Cottonwood, CA surfaces from the mud.
Steer wrestler Orry Lemmons of Castro Valley, CA.
Steer wrestler John Clymo of Oakdale, CA
Lots of barrel racers turned out (didn’t show up) because their horses are more vulnerable in the slop, but the ones who did made the most of it:
Barrel racer Brenda Mays of Terrebonne, OR
Barrel racer Aimee Kay of Bluff Dale, TX
Some early clips:
Dustin Smith & Patriot on Sports Illustrated's Photos of the Day April 15, 2012
Jim Banister on NBC Sports Pictures of the Week
Do you have any pictures of the rodeo queens?
I do, if you’re interested in buying pictures, let me know which queen and i will put up a proof gallery.
You take some AMAZING photos!! Great Job!!
Do you have any pictures of Justin Rickard (bull rider) oakdale,Hayward,Livermore,