Rodeo season is about to kick into full speed as we settle into the warmer months. I live in an area that used to have 4 seasons. But now we seem to have cold and hot only. For most of the country with the exception of places like Wyoming and North Dakota we aren’t too extreme in the weather. But cowboys from the real North have different challenges than our southern cowboys.
I talked to Bareback Rider Mike Solberg about life as a cowboy in Alberta Canada. Mike is currently ranked #2 in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association. He’s 8th in the Kenton Randle Bareback Series with 209 He’s been at it professionally since 2005. I read that he has done all of the roughstock events before settling into Bareback exclusively. That makes him pretty special in my book.
Bareback riding is definitely one of the toughest on the body. Mike has ridden hurt in the Calgary Stampede. He had been kicked in the ribs a few weeks before. In 2013, he went to the Calgary Stampede for the third time. Solberg ended up in second place in the wildcard round, to make the Sunday Showdown, in the day he scored a 87.5 and just missed going to the final four, $100,000 round. He still took home over $10,000 according to an article by Samson Epp.
Mike just won an international contest for a sponsorship by Kimes Ranch Jeans (www.kimesranch.com) beating out a whole slew of other contestants. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram at Cowboylumberjak.
19114: Are you really a lumberjack? How’d you get/pick that name?
Mike: Haha no I’m not really a lumberjack, I’m a rancher. One of my buddies Clint Laye dubbed me that a three or four years ago, because of the way I rode back then. It kinda just caught on so I went with it. I’ve changed my style since then, way more in control, then slashing away haha.
19114: Where do you live? How big is your town?
Mike: I live by a small hamlet called Sunnynook, Alberta, it’s very small, maybe only two/three families live there, but I’m still about fifteen miles from there still, so I’m kind of in the middle of nowhere, the nearest grocery store is about an hour away, and my nearest neighbor is about four miles!
19114: What is your off rodeo season like?
Mike: My off season consists of getting our ranch ready for the winter months, hay put away, calves being weaned, and cows moved to winter pasture. In the fall, you can usually find me scouting for deer, or helping my neighbors wean calves. When all that has slowed down, or when I have time I drive an hour to go to the gym with a trainer every other day, and trying not to get out of riding shape after the season is over.
19114: How long have you been riding bareback professionally?
Mike: I’ve been riding professionally since 2005, but I didn’t really do that well until I met my wife, and she helped me out with regards to taking care of business, and showing me that if I really wanted to make money rodeoing, I had to take it seriously, and work hard at it. Ever since then I have seen my career goals being reached and money being made.
19114: I know that you went to college in the US, did that influence your riding style? If yes, how?
Mike: I’d like to say it did, but it really didn’t. My pa kind of taught me all the basics, and everything I needed before I went down there. After university though, when I started travelling with Russ Hallaby and Davey Shields, that was a game changer, they would tell you what you did wrong or right, and they’d show you how to fix it. They wanted to me to win, and without those two guys, I wouldn’t be riding anything like I am today.
19114: Are you competing in any big US events?
Mike: No I’m not, my wife and I own a 6400 acre ranch, so I’m tied down here, It’s tough to even get away on weekends. This place keeps us pretty busy, and I want to make it huge, so when I don’t have rodeo when I’m old, I’m set up.
19114: A big part of my blog is focused on the Northern perspective on “western Lifestyle”. Being from the North what are some of the differences from how you train and compete?
Mike: Well other than the fact, that in the winter when its -40, you can’t do as much outdoor activities haha, but other than that not much, guys train in the gyms, all the practices are indoor, and they’re generally fairly chilly, so a guy’s gotta keep everything warmed up from your body to your glove, when you’re cold everything hurts a lot more, and injuries can happen easier.
19114: How did it feel to be competing on Social Media for a shot at a Kimes Ranch Sponsorship?
Mike: It was definitely interesting haha, there were a couple restless nights there, wondering if I was going to win, or if I was behind, trying to think of ways I can get more people to vote. I wanted it so bad, I’ve never had a clothing sponsor before, so I told myself if I won, I would go above and beyond to promote Kimes.
19114: How important is having sponsors?
Mike: I think it’s really important to have sponsors, they help you down the road, whether it be fuel costs, entry fees, clothing, or keeping you healthy and in shape. All that costs a lot of money, and especially these days where, everything is starting to get pricier. It also boosts your confidence from what I’ve found so far, you want to make the best impression you can for your sponsors, so I think it makes you ride tougher.
19114: Do you have any advice on getting sponsors for other cowboys and cowgirls?
Mike: Go out and talk to companies, tell them what you do and how you as an individual are going to help promote their company, what’s the worst that can happen? They say no? Then move on to someone else, you do that, and then you end up with zero costs to get down the road.
19114: Do you list the rodeos that you compete in on your Instagram or Twitter accounts?
Mike:I don’t really list them on my accounts, just for the simple fact that I’m not even sure which rodeos I’m going to go to yet haha. I do post about where I’m off to, and how I did at rodeos, I just like to keep my followers informed on what I’m up to, and how things are going on the trail.
19114: What are some of the issues that you and your fellow BB riders face?
Mike: Falling numbers in guys interested in bareback riding, is the first thing that comes to mind, just because everyone sees the PBR, and how cool riding bulls is, so they want to be a bull rider. I have seen quite a number of kids though, these past couple years, getting into bareback riding and doing very well, so I think it’ll make a comeback
19114: Where do you see the sport in the future? 5, 10 years from now?
Mike: With social media, and people like you, and Paige from RodeoChat (@RodeoChat), connecting fans with competitors, I could see rodeo turning into a huge sport. You see movies out about bull riding and stuff, and more and more people want to be cowboys. Just for an example how many people got into rodeoing just from the movie 8 seconds? I bet more than you think. I know for sure a stock contractor, and an NFR bull rider. If the sport keeps going in the direction it is, it could be huge
19114: Favorite rodeo to compete?
Mike: Oh man favorite rodeo…. I’d have to say Calgary Stampede, Its electric haha. The fans, the cheering, the buckin’ horses, the thought of winning 100,000. There’s nothing like it!
19114: Is there a Bronc you want to get on that you haven’t?
Mike: I’ve always wanted to get on Lunatic Fringe of Burchs when it was a bareback horse. Mucho Dinero of Wayne Vold’s would be another one I really would like to get on one day, they look fun to get on and they look like you could spur to be 90!
19114: Most memorable ride?
Mike: My most memorable ride would have to be in 2013 in the wildcard round at Calgary I think. I had Twin Cherry of Calgary’s, and I was 88.5 points and ended up second, and got to ride in the Sunday round. It was the most excitement I had ever felt, and it felt like I could ride and compete with the big guns!!
19114: What are your goals for 2015? Bareback goals for the future?
Mike: My goals for this year would be to make the Canadian Finals, and come in number one, and end up winning the finals. I’m really focused this year on that, just win every time I get on a horse. Right now I’m contemplating buying my card down south, just so I can qualify for Houston, that’s one rodeo I’ve never competed at, and I’d really like to make a go for that. Then hopefully back to Calgary for 2016, after that I guess we’ll play it by ear.
I want to thank Mike Solberg for being so open and wiling to talk to me and my followers. I hope you all will be following Mike as he goes after the CFR title this year. I, for one, am hoping he gets his PRCA card and comes and competes in the US. Don’t forget to follow this cowboy on Twitter and Instagram at Cowboylumberjak.
I also want to thank RodeoChat’s Paige for introducing us to Mike. And for my friends at ChewCoffeeDip,com for their support. And for Mr. Nobody for designing my new header. I love to hear from you. So please leave me your comments.
Coming soon exploring being a rodeo parent and rodeo kid. And remember “We Rodeo Big In The North”
cowgirl19114 
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