Crunch Time
Ryan Gray has covered a lot of miles in his rodeo career so far since he turned pro in 2002.
But it’s a new trail he and nearly 100 other top riders and ropers are blazing that he thinks offers a bright future for the sport.
Gray and many of his buddies recently opened the inaugural season of competition in the Elite Rodeo Athletes on March 25 in Redmond, Ore. before a packed house and have since performed in Nampa, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah, April 8-9.
“We’re all making a big sacrifice, and it may not be for my career, but you know (for) the guys coming up is who’s going to benefit,” Gray said.
The end result is to deliver a true major league of rodeo where fans can be virtually guaranteed of seeing their favorites compete live, or on television where ERA has secured a contract from Fox Sports 2 for all of its 15 regular-season events, plus the five days of the championship in Dallas Nov. 9-13.
“Basically they want to see what they see in Vegas, more than just once a year, and not have to go to Vegas to see it,” Gray said. “The whole idea and foundation behind the ERA is being able to deliver the best guys (and women) in the world against the best horses.”
With the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association, that was simply not possible because of the dozens and dozens of events they sanction across the U.S. Travel, injuries and other rodeos can get in the way of the best laid plans of any competitor.
“We know our schedule for the entire year,” Gray said. “I know where I’m going to be in September.” And in five weeks too.
The next ERA event takes place May 20–21 in Albuquerque, N.M. and after that the schedule is open until Sept. 3 when ERA goes outdoors at Sheridan, Wyo.
The ERA schedule was left open in the prime summer months so that competitors could gobble up cash — and lots of miles — during Cowboy Christmas where from June through August the schedule is jammed with events.
But the PRCA has banned ERA riders — who also own shares in the new venture — from competing.
According to PRCA by-laws, competitors who have ownership in any competing organization will not be allowed to renew their application.
That leaves Gray and others to find independent and open rodeos such as at the Calgary Stampede, Houston, Texas and a few more to make some cash and keep themselves in shape for the resumption of the ERA schedule and the scramble of events that precede Dallas.
There’s much to like about the ERA concept, among them fewer events which means more time with his family, something the Cheney High grad has not had much of in recent years as he piles up 10s of thousands of miles on the road and in the air.
“When I was 18, 20, 25, I didn’t care,” Gray said. “Obviously I did that because I love what I do.”
Now, the older he gets, Gray wants more time on the ranch outside of Reardan, Wash. He and wife Lacy recently welcomed a girl — two-month old Laramie — who joins 2-year-old brother Ransom in the Gray clan.
Gray thinks the idea of more downtime with potentially better pay will be contagious.
“That’s what so great about ERA, you have guys who are going to come out of the woodwork that don’t want to travel and don’t want to be away from home,” Gray said.
In three events so far Gray’s top ride has been a seventh at Nampa in one of the rounds. But that, he said, is to be expected considering Gray’s hardly ridden at all in the past six months following a nasty incident in Ellensburg where a kick to the face broke multiple bones.
“I haven’t placed yet, I’m not really worried about that,” Gray said prior to last Saturday’s Salt Lake City stop. “I feel like I’m riding good.”
And while Gray might not be on top of his game right now he thinks the ERA is.
“So far they have exceeded my expectations for what we have been trying to accomplish,” Gray said. “Every time you go to an ERA event the fan is guaranteed to see the top 10 riders every time.”
That’s something that has never existed before, Gray said.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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