Hill bulls his way back to the NFR
Back to Vegas.
But, oh what a long and winding road it was for Beau Hill of Columbia Falls to travel to actually get there.
The PRCA veteran had to endure 118 rodeo stops along the way to guarantee a return trip to the National Finals Rodeo Dec. 3-12 in Las Vegas. Only one finalist had more - Clint Craig of Mena, Ark., with 122.
"I went to more (rodeos) this year (that's) for sure," said Hill. "Toward the end of the year, I was flying all over the place. Small rodeos (like) Laredo, Texas, San Dimas, Calif., Torrington, Wyo.
"(This season has been) a little bit harder," he continued. "My daughter (Lakia) turned two in August. Being away from her and my wife (Keri) makes it hard. I tried to fly home a little more than I used to."
But as the miles added up, so did the money. Hill wound up eighth in the final bull riding regular-season standings with earnings of $87,474.
Two of his bigger pay days came in the Pace Picante Tour Rodeo in Omaha, Neb., in September and in Dallas in November. He pocketed right around $14,000 both times.
After Omaha, Hill moved from 20th to 14th place in the standings.
"A big jump," he said. "That got me over the edge to keep qualifying."
Only the top 15 bull riders qualify for the NFR.
"It turned out good," said Hill. "I'm sitting where I want to be. I just have to do well at the Finals. Try to ride 10 out of 10 bulls. If you ride most of your
bulls, you'll have a shot to be a world champion."
Hill and the other 14 bull riders at the NFR will ride one bull every night for 10 straight nights.
"I'm excited to be going back," said Hill. "It was exciting riding in Vegas. All the fans. I did pretty well."
He also feels like he has as good a chance as anyone to win a world title.
"I think so," he said. "You come into so much money there you can catch up to people fast. What counts is who is the most consistent."
Hill's first NFR experience in 2002 was a memorable one. He went in sixth overall and finished seventh in the world.
His earnings were well over $100,000 that year.
"First year, I was pretty nervous," he said. "Going in this year I will be more relaxed. That will help. The experience of being there will pay off in the end."
Hill, 25, picked up a $50,000 check at the Calgary stampede for his biggest payday in 2002. He didn't have that luxury - one huge check - this time around.
"I was pretty consistent all year," said Hill of 2004. "Cashing out checks. Not always first."
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound cowboy has been competing on the PRCA circuit since 1999. That time has been well spent.
"Just all the experience, all the bulls I've been on this year," said Hill. "Everything is clicking."
He does enter the Finals, however, with one worry - a tender wrist. And it's his riding wrist (left) that is the sore one.
"The last couple of months it's been pretty painful," he said.
"Haven't had time to take off and deal with it."
Hill says he doesn't remember exactly when he injured it, just that it started to hurt more and more as the season wore on.
"I can't do push ups, don't have good motion with my wrist," he said. "It hasn't seemed to bother me too much."
Injuries, though, were a major reason he missed out on last year's NFR. A broken ankle sidelined him for three key months during the summer. That lead to a 17th place finish in the final standings, $2,000 short of being No. 15.
Coming so close last year has motivated Hill even more this year.
"Qualifying for the NFR keeps you going all year long," he said.
"I started out like I always do, mediocre in the winter. I always do well when the summer rolls around."
Next season will be Hill's seventh with the PRCA. Right now, he has no plans to back away from it. His career earnings heading into this season total $240,033.
"I'd like to keep doing it for awhile," he said. "I don't know how long for sure, as long as I can stay healthy and have fun doing it. When it starts feeling like a job, I'll quit.
"I (still) love the feeling of getting on (a bull)," he went on. "It's awesome. Being free, able to do what you want to do and make a living at it."
Besides that, Hill feels he's at the top of his game right now.
"I'm a little more relaxed now when I'm riding," he said. "I'm starting to feel things I didn't feel before. That experience pays off when you get in certain situations, helps you not to get bucked off."
Montana has another bull rider in Las Vegas at the NFR in Cody Buller of Glendive. He finished 10th with earnings of $85,350. Buller competed in 87 rodeos.
"Went to high school rodeos together, we battled each other in college and have been good friends ever since," said Hill.
"We were talking the other day and it's the first time two guys from Montana have been in bull riding (at the NFR) for quite awhile; since Clint Branger (Roscoe) and Scott Breding (Edgar)."
Breding, by the way, just happens to be Hill's rodeo idol.
Bull Riding
Top 15 Qualifiers
1. Dustin Elliott, Tecumseh, Neb. $143,249
2. Matt Austin, Wills Point, Texas $120,723
3. Jerry Shepherd, Levan, Utah $113,233
4. Cody Hancock, Taylor, Ariz. $106,968
5. Myron Duarte, Auburn, Wash., $101,208
6. B.J. Schumacher, Hillsboro, Wi., $95,248
7. Zach Oakes, Tonasket, Wash, $92,873
8. Beau Hill, Columbia Falls $87,474
9. Clint Craig, Mena, Ark., $86,520
10. Cody Buller, Glendive $85,350
11. Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D. $85,013
12. Paulo Crimber, Haltom City, Texas $84,850
13. Cory Melton, Keithville, La. $77,341
14. Jason McClain, Lewis, Colo. $75,997
15. Fred Boettcher, Tomah, Wi. $75,773