Dustin Flundra in the money at the 2014 National Finals Rodeo

Dustin Flundra rides Special Time in round two of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for 81 points and $11,340.14.

PRCA photo by Mike Copeman

Chris Davis with the contributions of Ted Stovin (Everything Cowboy) and Brian Gauck (PRCA Properties)

Updated December 10, 2014

The 2014 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is celebrating 30 years in Las Vegas this year, running from December 4-13.  It's safe to say this event has everything you could ask for, including, in true Vegas style, a hitching post for folks who want to get married Rodeo style.

For local rodeo fans it also has Twin Butte's own Saddle Bronc champion Dustin Flundra, one of three Albertans/Canadians participating in the NFR this year.  The first 5 rounds of NFR action concluded yesterday December 8, with 5 more rounds to go.

In round 2 of the Saddle Bronc event Flundra rode Special Time from J Bar J Rodeo to a third place score of 81.00, earning a cool $11,340.14. Rounds 1, 3, and 4 were a bust for Flundra, but in yesterday's round 5 he rode Kool Toddy from Big Bend Rodeo to fifth place with a score of 82.50, earning another $4,903.85, for total winnings of $16243.99 to the end of round 5.

Update December 10:  Dustin Flundra rode Final Feather to tie for 6th place in round 6, pocketing another $1,532.  That was enough to maintain 7th place  in the real time rankings for Saddle Bronc, with round 7 to take place December 10.   He finished out of the money in round 7.


A video of Flundra's round 2 third place ride has been posted on his Facebook fan page.

Dustin Flundra 2014 Highlights (from www.prorodeo.com)

• Won the Kananaskis ProRodeo (Coleman, Alberta)
• Won the Dawson Creek (British Columbia) Stampede
• Won the Pincher Creek (Alberta) ProRodeo
• Won the Broncs and Honky Tonks Rodeo (Medicine Hat, Alberta)
• Won the Benalto (Alberta) Stampede
• Co-champion at the Redding (Calif.) Rodeo
• Co-champion at the Sisters (Ore.) Rodeo

He also took first place at the Calgary Stampede this year.

Curtis Cassidy after his first place round 5 Steer Wrestling run
  PRCA photo by Mike Copeman

Curtis Cassidy of Donalda and Jake Vold of Ponoka are the other two Alberta cowboys  participating in the NFR this year.  Bareback rider Vold is currently in third place in the real time rankings, after taking 5th place in round 1, tying for second in round 2, tying for 5th in round 3, tying for sixth in round 4, and placing sixth in round 5 for total earnings of $24927,87 to that point, in the money in all of the first five rounds.

Update December 9: Vold finished out of the money after riding Bartender in round 6.  Cassidy placed fourth in round 3 and first in round 5 of the Steer Wrestling event, earning a total of $26971.15 so far.  He finished out of the money in round 6.

Update December 10: In round 6 Vold finished out of the money.  Curtis Cassidy tied for first with Dakota Eldridge, adding $17,010.21 to his winnings.

Ted Stovin is live tweeting the major events of the 2014 NFR and has also been posting excellent synopses of the standings on his Everything Cowboy website, with videos and photos displayed at both locations.  It's the next best thing to being there, so check it out.  Stovin is a former Bull Rider who was sidelined by a shoulder injury, who then decided to start Everything Cowboy, bringing together in one place rodeo news from all over western Canada and beyond.  He also works at Smithbilt Hats in Calgary.

Stay tuned for more as the second half of the 2014 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo unfolds.

Related links/sources:
Everything Cowboy
NFRexperience.com
www.prorodeo.com
@TedStovin on Twitter
Ted Stovin: Cowboy Entrepreneur (Calgary Journal)
Dustin Flundra Facebook page

Related stories:
Dustin Flundra wins Bronc Riding event at Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo

Dustin Flundra wins Calgary Stampede Saddle Bronc title

Dustin Flundra - Calgary Stampede winner, rancher, and family man

Dustin Flundra rides the tide to Las Vegas