Triplett conquers bulls at PBR event
With four scoring rides, hometown cowboy Matt Triplett stole the show at Friday night’s opening of the Rocky Mountain Extreme at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell.
The Professional Bull Riders sanctioned event features its Touring Pro Division, a new minor league offering up-and-coming bull riders a way to earn money and qualify for the Built Ford Tough Series and World Finals.
Every five events, the top five riders in the Touring Pro Division are allowed to move up into the Built Ford Tough Series.
Coming off a strong showing two weeks ago in Anaheim, Calif., Triplett is hoping to make that jump.
The 21-year-old from Columbia Falls entered twice in Friday night’s competition.
Triplett posted scoring rides of 80 and 76 in the long round and 88 and 87 in the short round, drawing wild applause from the stands with every ride.
Six of the 24 competing riders posted scoring rides in the long round to advance to the short round.
Zac Peterson of Velva, N.D., was the only other rider to have a scoring ride in the short round, with judges giving him and his bull a score of 80.5.
Pete Triplett was at the arena cheering on his son, who has been riding bulls since he was 13-years old.
“I’m his biggest fan,” said Pete Triplett, a former bull rider himself and now the owner of Triplett Bucking Bulls in Columbia Falls, which is providing three bulls for this weekend’s rodeo. “I get a pit in my stomach depending on what he draws. But if this is what he wants to do, I want him to be the best.”
And the best he was on Friday night.
Other stock contractors for the rodeo include C’N Stars Bull Company, of Baldwin, N.D.; Arrow K. Rodeo, of Lamoure, N.D.; and Two Bit Bucking Bulls, of Magrath, Alberta.
This weekend’s rodeo features big-name bulls Pandemic, a three-time Professional Bull Riders finalist, and Buckwild, the top bull in the Professional Bull Riders series.
The action continues Saturday night at 7. Gates open at 6 p.m.
Long Round
Kritter Lamb, Whitehouse, S.D., 84.5
Brandon Wallentine, Paris, Idaho, 82.5
Zac Peterson, Velva, N.D., 82
Matt Triplett, Columbia Falls, Mont., 80, 76
Ryan Prophet, 79.5
Taylor Cowan, Fort Pierre, S.D., 76.5
Short Round
Matt Triplett, 88, 87
Zac Peterson, 80.5
Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.