The door has barely closed on the CFR, but the groundwork for the 2024 rodeo season is already underway. We are busy helping athletes recover and recondition following injuries, but our eyes are set on preparing cowboys and cowgirls for another grueling year of rodeo competition.
Until spring of 2020, there was no funded infrastructure dedicated to the training, fitness, or well-being of rodeo athletes. Seeing this gap in care, we launched the very first Rodeo Spring Training Camp in May 2021, and with the generous support of the Ty Pozzobon Foundation, CPRA, Precede OHS & the Acumen Clinic have hosted 89 participants in 6 camps since.
We caught up with CPRSMT Executive Director Brandon Thome, & Communications Coordinator Jocelyn Fredine to talk more about what athletes can expect at one of the 2024 Rodeo Spring Training Camps:
Q: How can Rodeo Spring Training Camp help athletes get ready for the upcoming season?
B: Over the course of 2.5 days, athletes will participate in comprehensive baseline testing with a full detailed history, musculoskeletal, concussion & spinal assessment. We do full fitness testing as well as a movement analysis and then build event specific individualized strength & conditioning programs for each athlete. Cowgirls & cowboys will have one on one training sessions with strength coaches, get on the buckrite or horse bucking machine, spurboards, and use the roping dummies to have some coaching/instruction. We also have caregivers on-hand from the Sport Med Team to do treatments in case anyone is sore or has current injuries that need to be dealt with.
J: We really teach athletes how to take care of their bodies and prepare their minds for the upcoming season. The program they leave with is tailored to them, their event, and will put them in the best position to be a competitor this upcoming season.
Q: What are some highlights from past Camps?
J: We’ve had an incredible line up of speakers at our previous Spring Camp sessions, and this year’s athletes will hear from similar experts. We bring in mental performance coaches, orthopaedic surgeons, strength & conditioning experts, life & business coaches, nutritionists, and even social media & marketing specialists with the goal of helping participants build a strong team around themselves. These experts bring a wealth of knowledge to the athletes throughout the weekend.
B: The friendly competition that develops as the weekend progresses is fun to watch. Everyone wants to have the best testing numbers. These guys and girls are competitors and that even shows in Spring Training Camp.
J: I like the group warmups- it’s cool to see how quickly the cowboys and cowgirls learn some new exercises and then to see them put it into practice throughout the season. There are just so many immediate takeaways for the athlete.
Q: Who can come to Spring Training Camp?
B: Camps are open to any rodeo contestant at all levels including professional, amateur, high school & junior high school. This camp is really for anyone that wants to bring their career to the next level. We are here to support everyone including the up-and-coming athletes that one day want to become a world champion.
Q: When are the 2024 Rodeo Spring Training Camps happening?
J: We’ll be offering 3 separate weekends at the Acumen Performance Centre Edmonton, AB to accommodate all athletes’ schedules:
- January 5-7, 2024
- February 16-18, 2024
- March 8-10, 2024
Q: How much does Camp cost, and how does an athlete register or ask questions?
B: Thanks to our incredible sponsorships, we are able to bring the cost of camp down to $250 per athlete for the entire weekend. Registration opens on November 30, 2023 and if someone is interested in registering, has questions or wants more information, they can email me directly at rodeoinjuries@gmail.com call me at 403-700-2818 or check out the Athlete Development tab on our website www.prorodeosportmed.com