Get to know featured athlete Travis Munro, steer wrestler from Queensland. Australia
1. Do you come from a rodeo family?
No I don’t come from a rodeo family. We had horses but I was busy with rugby, track and field, boxing, and swimming.
2. Did you grow up competing in rodeo events? When did you switch to bulldogging and why?
I started getting on bulls and some bareback horses until I was about 20/21 then I got into bulldogging after I lost a bet. I got more of a thrill out of steer wrestling and liked the horsemanship side of it so I decided that's what I really wanted to pursue.
3. What is the hardest part of bulldogging?
Hardest part for me was not letting frustration take control of my emotions.
4. What does your training and practice schedule look like?
I liked to be in the gym everyday if possible and working on steersavers and practicing every afternoon if possible. Try get 1% better everyday!
5. What made you decide to come to the US? Are there more opportunities for rodeo athletes here than in Australia?
A few reasons- The WNFR, winning the world, there's more money to be won and tough competitors. Seeing the US, just all of it.
6. What is the rodeo culture like in Australia? Is it facing a lot of the same social and political opposition like in the US?
Rodeo does get a lot of backlash back home, depending on the part of the country. But for the most part it’s doing pretty well.
7. How difficult is it being away from your family, friends, and country? Do you feel like you have acclimated to American life or are there still things you miss from back home?
Some days are tougher than others being away from family and friends, especially around Christmas time or birthdays and stuff like that, but this is where I belong chasing my goals so that makes it easier at the end of the day. I feel like I’m getting used to it but I sure do miss the beaches though.
8. What are you goals for the 2024 season?
To be the First Australian timed event cowboy to make the NFR, just be more consistent. And right now my goal is to be 100 percent healthy by the summer!
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