A Unique Breed of Extreme Athlete

Tyrell Smith

A rodeo cowboy is a rare breed of extreme sports athlete and Tyrell Smith is no exception. From a young age, it seemed he was destined to be a star in the world of professional rodeo.

At the age of ten he began riding junior bulls in Canada. He proved himself by qualifying for the Manitoba junior bull riding finals two consecutive years in a row, 1999 and 2000. In 2001 along with his family he moved to Great Falls Montana, following his father and his professional rodeo stock contracting firm to the United States.

The vastness of the Montana culture provided a perfect proving ground for Tyrell and his talents. His sophomore year, he began his high school rodeo career as a bull rider, dreaming of making it onto the PBR tour when he turned eighteen.

After winning two consecutive Montana state titles riding Bulls, 2003 & 2004 and one amateur title, he was old enough to turn professional in 2005. Tyrell maintained his Bull Riding career by earning a trip to the Montana professional Rodeo Circuit finals in Great Falls, his first year riding professionally. But, plagued by injuries in 2006, Tyrell made the decision shift from Bull riding to Saddle Bronc riding in 2007.

His first season riding Saddle Bronc Horses, he earned a trip to the Montana Professional Rodeo Circuit Finals in 3rd position. Finding himself completely healthy for the first time in almost two years, Tyrell headed down the long rodeo trail to begin making a name for himself.

In the 2008 season, Tyrell found himself in a fight for a spot at the National Finals in Las Vegas Nevada. In his first year on the national circuit he made appearances at all the major events such as San Antonio TX, Denver CO, Fort Worth TX, Montgomery AL, Tucson AZ and Salinas CA. In the end. the young talent from Montana finished in the top fifty in the world and earned him a seat next to the veterans in the 2009 season.

By 2009, Tyrell was making a name for himself as one of the toughest and most talented Saddle Bronc riders in the world. Starting the season off with a bang, Tyrell made trips to the Montana Professional Rodeo Circuit Finals and the Hawks Memorial Rough Stock Rodeo. Finally Tyrell won second at the Odessa kick off rodeo, which placed him in the top ten in the world in January.

The season quickly became Tyrell’s breakout year, turning many people’s heads to look at the rising star. With a full head of steam Tyrell battled it out with the Veterans showing everyone who was watching that he belonged in this world. Ending the 2009 season ranked 20th in the world the young talent hasn’t looked back. Looking at the 2010 season he has earned another trip to the Montana Professional Circuit Finals and sits shoulder to shoulder of past champions and other leaders of the sport.

Professional Accomplishments

2009 season:
20th in the world (end of the season)
Third consecutive trip to the Montana Professional Rodeo Circuit Finals
91pts and 1st place in Kalispell, MT
Won two of the Final three Professional Montana Rodeo’s on the Labor Day weekend: Dillon and Plains, MT.
1st place in Libby Mt, and Polson, MT
2nd at the Williams Lake Stampede. Williams Lake British Columbia
2nd at the Sundre stampede. Sundre, Alberta
1st at Fort Smith, ARK
1st at San Angelo, TX
2nd at the Odessa kickoff Rodeo. Odessa, TX
2nd at the Chase Hawks Memorial Rough stock Rodeo. Billings, MT

2008 season

45th in the world (at the end of the season)
Second consecutive trip to the Montana Professional Circuit Finals
1st at White Sulfur Springs and Dillon, MT
1st at Pleasant Grove, UT
1st at Broadus, MT
1st at Industry Hills, CA

2007 season:
69th in the world (at the end of the year)
First trip in the Saddle Bronc Riding to the Montana Professional Rodeo Circuit Finals
1st at Fort Benton and Chinook MT
1st at Spokane, WA

Amateur:
Two State Bull Riding Titles, 2003-04. 2003 World Professional Bull Riders Champion.