2013 RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo Steer Wrestling Champion Ethen Thouvenell
“…’This is a big honor to win here, a huge honor,’ Thouvenell said. ‘We had a lot of great bulldoggers out there. You don’t get to do this every day. All the greats have done it.’ And now, he’s among them…”
The following story is courtesy of our friends at ProRodeo Sports News (April 26, 2013 issue).
2013 RNCFR Champion Steer Wrestler Ethen Thouvenell - Photograph by James Phifer (used with permission)
Big paycheck saves Thouvenell from hunting for a different job – by Bob Stephens
“Ethen Thouvenell wore a look of liberation following his steer wrestling victory at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. It’s no wonder, since the 33-year-old probably needed to win more than any cowboy at the Oklahoma City event.
“I was going home to get a job, because I was dead broke,” he said with a big smile. “This is a big relief. I can pay my bills now.”
Thouvenell earned $14,396 from April 4-6 at the RNCFR. He’s pocketed more than $429,000 in his career but had hit a tough stretch recently.
“My winter’s been real slow and I needed to win something,” he said. “It’s been pretty stressful. If I hadn’t won here, I was going back home to build up some money for a while.”
The 33-year-old Thouvenell, who competes on the California Circuit, faced a similar situation in the past.
“In 2010, I left the house with $270 and made the (Wrangler National Finals Rodeo),” he said.
He placed in four rounds of the 2010 WNFR and was ninth in the world standings. In 2012, he placed in four rounds at the WNFR and was seventh in the world standings.
At Oklahoma City, Thouvenell won the second round in a lightning-quick 3.2 seconds, breaking the RNCFR record of 3.3 seconds, set by Stockton Graves in 2011.
Graves had a 10-second penalty leading off the RNCFR final round this time and Thouvenell followed with a 3.5 second run. Dean Gorsuch and Seth Brockman both no-timed.
“I knew Gorsuch had the steer I had a 3.2 on, so I wasn’t going to back off,” Thouvenell said. “I wanted to go out fast and put pressure on the other two guys.”
Pressure is something cowboys are accustomed to dealing with, he said.
“There’s always a bunch of pressure. It never stops,” Thouvenell said. “Everybody says it’s a mental game, and it is, all year long. We love to compete, but you’ve got to win money to stay out here.”
Earning the championship meant more to Thouvenell than just money.
“This is a big honor to win here, a huge honor,” Thouvenell said. “We had a lot of great bulldoggers out there. You don’t get to do this every day. All the greats have done it.”
And now, he’s among them.”
The California Circuit again congratulations Ethen Thouvenell for his determination and dedication to the sport of professional rodeo!
The following is an interview conducted with Ethen at the RNCR - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGfQyNx07JI.
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