Catch a Chilean Rodeo

Posted in Uncategorized by admin on April 2nd, 2011

Since 1962, the national sport for the country of Chil has been the rodeo. A Chilean rodeo differs in many ways from a rodeo in the United States.

A team of two Chileans on horses ride laps around an arena to stop a fleeing calf by pinning it between the horses and cushions. Each rodeo in Chil is performed in a medialuna, a half-moon shaped arena. Points are scored by how many times the team of riders can drive a calf properly around the medialuna.

The sport also carries cultural meanings as well. Each rider is required to wear traditional Huaso clothing and is only allowed to ride Chilean horses.

Every year in central Chil, a country-wide rodeo takes place called the Campeonato Nacional de Rodeo. Athletes train year-round in the Chilean countryside to prepare for this rodeo and will travel a few hundred miles to reach the national tournament.

The most popular Chilean rodeo rider is Ramn Cardemil, who has won the national tournament an astonishing seven times.

Recently, the popularity of the rodeo in Chil has surpassed that of soccer in the country.

When anyone visits the country of Chil, a must see event is the Chilean rodeo. That’s where everyone else will be.