The slides open for the start of the Steamboat Pro Rodeo Series this weekend

Thanks to an upgraded sound system at the Romick Rodeo Arena, the sounds of the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series and the voice of announcer John Shipley will boom throughout the rodeo grounds.

The first test drive with the new speakers will take place Friday night when the local rodeo series hosts its first of eleven rodeos this summer.

“I’m confident this will be the best (sound) we’ve ever had in all areas — the bucking chutes, the new Gold Buckle Seats and the arena,” Shipley said. “We’re putting three huge speakers across the arena on the concrete. I’m confident this will be the best sound we’ve ever had.”

The Steamboat Rodeo runs every Friday and Saturday through August 24th and includes a special rodeo, Cowboys’ Roundup Days, on July 3rd and 4th.

Before each rodeo, spectators have the opportunity to enjoy barbecue stands and live music from 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. before the slides open at 7:30 p.m. This weekend’s live music will be performed by Giles Ober and the Moon Cat Trio on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Throughout the rodeo there will be a special clown appearance by JW Winklepleck, who became bareback champion in Steamboat in 2000 and has since turned his attention to the entertainment side of rodeo.

New to the grounds this year are new stables that are available for nightly rental so that rodeo participants do not have to tie their horses to the trailer.

The rodeo will also offer two new events: Breakaway Roping and the Women’s Ranch Bronc Championships. The former will be held throughout the summer.

“It’s like the first half of calf catching, where they ride out from behind a barrier, get a head start and catch a calf,” Shipley explained. “They don’t have to dismount and throw the calf off or tie it up. They just stop their horse and the rope is tied to the saddle horn with a piece of string. It breaks off and then the flag is lowered.”

Cowboys’ Roundup Days, a tradition in Steamboat Springs since 1927, will host the North American Women’s Ranch Bronc Championship on July 3 and 4, serving as the final qualifying tournament for the 2024 World Championship.

At Rodeo No. 4 on July 5 and 6, a Women’s Ranch Bronc event will be held to kick off the 2025 season.

Other updates to the property, such as a new shade structure for cattle during timed events and a large screen with a depiction of the rodeo arena for photo opportunities, will be introduced periodically throughout the summer.

Shipley said the local rodeo crew has been working tirelessly since late August to produce the best possible product for 2024. He looks forward to continuing that improvement as part of the 11th rodeo program.

“It’s a pretty unique opportunity,” Shipley said. “A lot of people only get one chance, they do a rodeo three or four days a year and that’s it, but we have the opportunity to learn from things we wish we had done better.”