Beyond the individual accolades, championships and the rivalries on the track, WPCA competitors and their families are so much more than the highlights people see on TV, social media or the stats we read online; they are human beings with their own thoughts, feelings, and ambitions.
Sometimes in sports, the intensity and competitiveness to win can create an environment where individuals and teams isolate themselves to focus on winning. That same scenario has the potential to happen in chuckwagon racing and with all the expenses taken on by the driver and sponsorship revenue never guaranteed, it can further intensify the need to win.
Between May 31st and July 23rd, WPCA drivers and outriders raced 26 times at events throughout Alberta with stops as far north as Grande Prairie and as far south as Medicine Hat. Another 10 nights of competition were included for those competing at the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby. The planning, managing of horses, personal lives, staying healthy and in many cases still working a job over that period of time requires a strong commitment and mental focus.
As former hockey players and current chuckwagon drivers, Jordie Fike and Kurt Bensmiller know all about the intensity and edge individuals can experience during a competition driven season. They also know the importance of taking some time to be human and have some fun during the process.
During the first weekend at the Battle of the Foothills in High River, Fike and Bensmiller agreed during a post race get together that it was time create some fun for interested WPCA members. The duo came up with the idea of getting people together for a few rounds of paintball in Bragg Creek. The paintball event for the boys was organized by Jordie and his wife Tamara organized a plan for the girls to go for lunch and shopping.
“I thought it was neat for the association to get together and blow off some steam” says Four-Time World Champion Kurt Bensmilller.
The paintball battle was set up to have drivers compete against the outriders. “We could see the outriders had an edge since they are in better shape than us so we made sure they had more visible coveralls” says Fike, “We are all pretty sore from crawling around and staying low. It was so intense the day went by fast. Everyone was competitive and wanted to win. In the end the drivers won but maybe the outriders let us old boys have some glory.”
Along with Jordie Fike and Kurt Bensmiller, Troy Dorchester, Dean Dreger, Chance Flad, Layne Flad, Dayton Sutherland and Mitch Sutherland were a few of the drivers who participated. Outriders Hayden Motowylo, Trey MacGillivray, Kaeden Molle, Tyler DeSutter, Weston Sutherland and Nolan Cameron were 6 of the members who suited up for the outriders.
The journey to Bragg Creek started at Aspen Crossing, a tourist destination located in Southern Alberta that sponsors WPCA driver Chance Flad. “Jason Thornhill, the owner of Aspen Crossing, has a tour bus so he arranged to transport us to Bragg Creek” said Flad, “It gave us all a great opportunity to socialize on the way there. The tour bus is decaled like a locomotive so it’s pretty cool and unique.”
Chance teamed up with the drivers and felt this was an opportunity to gang up on the outriders, however, the plan may have failed. “One side of my body is welted black and blue and tender today but it was fun” he said. “Kurt was shooting at me so maybe he thought I belonged on the outrider team.”
Brittany Biggar participated in the ladies event Wednesday afternoon and feels it was a good chance for the women to get together. “We went to the Dining Car at High River Station for lunch then walked to a couple of local boutiques for some private shopping” Brittany explained, “Tamara Fike did a great job getting it all organized for us.”
The competition now moves back to the track where drivers will get back to battling for fast times, expect this time, the outriders will play a key role in their results.
The 4th of 6 nights from the Battle of the Foothills in High River starts at 7:00pm on Friday. It’s the last chance for drivers to qualify for Semi-Final Saturday with 4 of those 8 drivers advancing to the Battle of the Foothills $28,000.00 Championship Dash on Sunday.
