For rodeo cowboys, it's a life on the road

Kootenai River Rodeo bull-riding champ Dane Candiotto was able to savor his victory Friday night only briefly before he was off to his next  bucking bull.

Even before the band that followed Friday evening’s rodeo had taken its first intermission, Candiotto, 19, of Independence, La., was heading out of town.

“We got to drive six hours to pick up a friend and then drive 13 more hours to our next rodeo,” Candiotto said.

“Hopefully, sir, I get to ride for eight seconds and then I get to spend 20 hours in a car,” he said referring to the time he rode “Weeds” on Friday to outduel other bull-riders for the championship.

While not originally from the West, Candiotto exemplifies all the properness and stature of the American cowboy.

At 6 feet and just 140 pounds, Candiotto is a wiry figure as tough as the bulls he rides.

“No sir, I never think about getting scared. I just block it out of my mind and keep hanging on.”

And, unlike a lot of young men at 19, he’s already living his dream.

“I’ve always wanted to be a cowboy,” Candiotto said. “It’s all I’ve ever thought about.” 

For him, the win Friday was his first of the season in, what he estimated to be about 10 attempts.

“I’ve been struggling a bit,” he said. “You got to stay on for eight seconds, and, sir, I’ve seen a lot of two to seven-second rides. You don’t get anything for staying on even for seven seconds.”

Then he offered the strategy for his winning performance, what elements he concentrated on Friday to win.

“Sir, all you can do is tuck your chin and ‘Cowboy Up,’” he said gathering his things and packing for his trip to Cheyenne, Wyo.

“The time we get to ride is so brief. The rest of our time we live in a vehicle,” Candiotto said stuffing items into a duffle.