“March Madness” for many sports lovers means basketball tournaments but for sports fans in Burlington, Iowa “March Madness” is BULL RIDING! In particular - Snow Bull. Since 1998 (with the exception of 2008 due to renovation work) the Extreme Bullriding Tour presented by RodeoAttitude.com has been making its annual stop at the Memorial Arena.  The award-winning event has become famous for drawing the top riders of the Bullriders of America and the National Federation of Professional Bullriders the sanctioning bodies of the bull riding.  In fact the list of riders included reigning as well as former champions in both associations and the tour. As in previous years the event also drew in riders that travel the PBR circuit and many who have become famous on the prestigious televised Built Ford Tough Series.

Once again Shad and Vicki Smith, owners of Double S Bull Company, brought the famous “Attack Pack” to challenge the riders. The “Attack Pack” has a well-earned reputation for their bucking ability and the balance of the quality of the bulls through out the pen, a quality that has earned Double S Bull Company 9 Contractor of the Year awards.  At each stop a bull is selected as the Bull of the Event.   328 Sea Bass took the honors at Burlington.  Sea Bass bucked in the Short Go each night giving Chance Roberts, Dusty Reigns and Jeep Steinhoek express rides to the arena floor. 

Announcing the event was Brandon McLagan. The expression “award-winning” just doesn’t do Brandon justice as this talented announcer enhances each performance with his smooth voice, knowledge of both the riders and the bulls along with his ability to play straight man to the rodeo clown. The rodeo clown Brandon worked with at Snow Bull was the multi-talented, Allen Dessel. Allen began his career as a bullfighter developing an agility and skill that makes him a crowd pleaser wherever he goes.

Speaking of bullfighters. Bullfighting was the word at Burlington. Providing protection was Jeremy Muntz and Andy Thompson. Both men have recently been selected by the bullriders themselves to be the protection at the upcoming National Federation of Professional Bullriders Federation Finals. An honor that shows the faith these riders have in these two men.

Thursday, March 12th

Typically Thursday nights opening performance is a big WOW and when the doors closed March 12th and the first round was history everyone was saying WOW! The whose who that competed was phenomenal and the bulls – well only one man rode his bull in the Short Go – need I say more.

Willy Ropp has competed at every level of bull riding in America and a few foreign countries to boot. In round one he showed the fans how it is done first with an 82.5-point ride in the Long Go again in the Short Go with an outstanding 88.5-point ride.

Results Round 1:

Long Go
1 – Marvin Yoder 85
2 – Evan Hecht 83
3 – Chance Roberts 82
3 - Craig Sasse 82
3 – Willy Ropp 82

Short Go.
Willy Ropp 88.5

Friday, March 13th

Friday the thirteenth was a "Good Luck Day" for Jimmy Twedt who won the second round with 171 points on two. Once again the power of the bulls shined in the Short Go as Jimmy and Matt Berkenholtz were the only men to ride in the Short Go.  Jimmy received 89 points on Double S Bull Company 451 Gambler to take the highest score for the night. A major highlight of the round was when the crowd literally went wild for Steven Lile’s 87-point ride on Double S Bull Company's Blue Duck to win the Long Go. Seth Reynolds was the heartbreak ride of the night when he pulled his rope at 7.6 seconds when he thought he had made the whistle.

Tony Mendes is well known for his many rides on the Built Ford Tough Series as for his pink chaps and his support of the Tough Enough To Wear Pink Campaign against breast cancer was one of the men competing on Friday night.  Tony covered his bull for 78 points.  Not enough to make the Short Go but plenty to thrill the fans!  Tony has used his talent to support his family while thrilling audiences as he makes a difference in the world helping bring awareness to the ongoing battle against breast cancer.  My hat goes off to him.

Results Round 2

Long Go:

1 - Steven Lile 87
2 - Dusty Reigns 84
3 - Jimmy Twedt 82
3 - Matt Birkenholtz 82
5 - Dustin Hall 81.5
6 - Lance Orman 81

Short-Go
Jimmy Twedt 89
Matt Birkenholtz 83.5

Saturday, March 14^th

On Saturday night the riders knew what it was going to take to win.  Both Willy Ropp and Jimmy Twedt were standing at the top of the leader board with 171 points.  Matt Birkenholtz had also rode two bulls for 165.5 so to be in the running for the top positions riding both bulls was a must.  When the final bull left the arena one man had met the challenge.  Andy Smith covered both of his bulls for a total of 167 points.  Willy Ropp and Jimmy Twedt’s 171 points left them at the top of the leader board and the co-champions of the 2009 Snow Bull

Results Round 3

Long Go:

1 - Marvin Yoder 85.5
2 - Eric Reiling 84
3 - Andy Smith 81.5
4 - Ty Redman 80
4 - Cody Redman 80
6 - Jeep Steinhoek 79.5

Short Go:
Andy Smith 85.5

  Final Standings:
1 - Willy Ropp - 171
1 - Jimmy Twedt - 171
3 - Andy Smith - 167
4 - Matt Birkenholtz 165.5
5 - Steven Lile – 87
6 – Marvin Yoder – 85.5

Junior Bull Riding 

Friday and Saturday  nights Double S Bull Company sponsored a Junior Bullriding Competition.  Although the bulls used for this competition are specially selected to match the skills of a junior bull rider only one young man was able to cover his bull.  John Young won the competition with a 74-point ride.

  Midwest Bullfighting Association Finals

  Snow Bull didn’t stop at the bull riding. Four men battled it out in freestyle bullfighting competition for the title of 2008 Champion Bullfighter in the Midwest Bullfighters Association Finals. Since last April these men have been competing around the Midwest for the ultimate title. It all came down to four rounds of intense, edge of your seat action as each man faced off against a different bull each night.  In the end it was Jeremy Muntz who wore the Bob Berg Designs championship buckle home.

Final Year-End Standings
Champion - Jeremy Muntz
Reserve Champion - Corey Greibel
3^rd - Brandon Lindsay
4^th - Jerry Pellham  

Chad Carlson Memorial Award

On September 17, 2000, while returning home from what had been a very successful finale to the 2000 Extreme Bullriding Tour in the wee hours of the morning Waylon Perry and Chad Carlson were struck by a drunk driver.  As Waylon pulled himself from the wreckage and looking for Chad who had been thrown from the vehicle the drunk driver left.  Chad passed away from his injuries.  Chad had been the vice-president and a strong supporter of Snow Bull and in 2001 the Snow Bull committee began honoring individuals with the Chad Carlson Memorial Award for their contribution to the sport Chad loved so much.  With the help of Rodeo Attitude co-founder and owner of White Buffalo Productions, Todd Crase, this award has been continued.  This year’s recipient was Abby McDonald, the current Miss Extreme Princess for the Extreme Bullriding Tour and daughter of Troy and Jennifer McDonald, Aurora, NE.  Over the last two years Abby has used her position as Miss Extreme to raise $10,000 for Breast Cancer Research and Awareness.  Abby has done this in many ways including holding 50/50 drawings at Extreme Bullriding Tour stops, public appearances, television and radio interviews, and even participating in “cancer walks”.  Her determination to make a difference despite has earned her this well deserved award.

The dirt has been removed from Memorial Arena in Burlington but the memories of another “March Madness” will live on in all those who attended until next March when it all starts over!