TERRY COLUMN: Beau's last go at fair rodeo?

At 36, Beau Hill is starting to feel the effects of a lifetime of bull riding.

The West Glacier bull rider sat out the last week to nurse a sore wrist that has been bothering him all season, the same wrist that required surgery to fix a torn tendon more than 10 years ago.

He aggravated the injury while posting his fourth win of the season, riding Smooth Talker for 73 points at the Bonner County Rodeo in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Hill, who stands at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, doesn’t fit the mold of a bull rider. His long frame puts more stress on his joints than his shorter competitors and their low centers of gravity.

Still, over 17 years, he’s earned nearly $700,000 in the PRCA, competed in the PBR and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo three times. Last season, competing in Las Vegas for the first time in 10 years, he finished third at the National Finals Rodeo to finish fourth overall for the season.

This season has been a bit tougher on Hill, with nagging injuries creeping up throughout the year.

Despite that, he’s won four times and is riding three times this weekend, beginning tonight in Caldwell, Idaho. He will travel to Lethbridge, Alberta on Friday night before settling at home ahead of the Northwest Montana Fair Rodeo on Saturday.

“It’s been one of those years. I’ve been healthy here and there, but it hasn’t been the greatest year for my health,” Hill said.

“It seems from the beginning of the year all the way through, I’ve been bad with my wrist. It’s kind of a chronic wrist injury I’ve had for a few years that seems to be progressively getting worse the older I get.”

As early as a year ago, retirement began to creep into Hill’s mind even as he was posting some of the best results of his career.

“It’s always in the back of my mind,” Hill said.

“I’ve been injured all year long. I’ve been riding with a lot of pain. It’s not nearly as fun as it was when I was 18, 19, 20 and nothing hurt.

“I’m about ready to start the next chapter of my life, I think here pretty soon. Whether that is after the end of this year or maybe a little bit next year, I haven’t decided. I’m going to wait and see how I’m feeling.”

The trip home will likely be a short one, but the Kalispell rodeo is always one Hill looks forward to.

“Kalispell’s always a great rodeo,” Hill said.

“You have the Kesler’s always bringing their great stock to the rodeo. They’re a first class stock contracting operation.

“Kalispell’s always great for me because I have a lot of family in the stands and a bunch of friends.

“It’s always nice to be able to go to a rodeo and go home and sleep in your bed that night.”

Feeling rested after the last week, Hill has a chance to impress again in Kalispell. He drew one of the top bulls in the Kesler Rodeo stable in Laugh Out Loud, who has yet to be ridden in six attempts this season.

“That’s an outstanding bull,” Hill said.

“I’ve seen him a few times this year. He’s one you can definitely win on or place real high. I’m happy with the draw. Hopefully I can do my part.”