Weston Timberman appeared calm before and after his bareback ride, showing no signs of stress. He was relaxed, chatting and laughing with his fellow cowboys. Competing in his home state seemed to give him a sense of confidence.
“There’s definitely an ounce of confidence that comes with it, when you compete in your own state,” Timberman said. “It’s kind of like home-field advantage. It just feels good to be in your backyard.”
Timberman, ranked 13th in the world in bareback by the PRCA, impressed with the second-best score of the night, an 84-flat, at the Missoula Stampede at the Missoula Fairgrounds.
He rode the bronc Tarzan, a horse he was familiar with, but believed it was his best performance on him yet.
His ride generated a big reaction from the crowd as Tarzan took him to the center of the arena, showcasing the action.
Timberman, who has won multiple events in 2024, including the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in Great Falls, credits his success to consistency. His ultimate goal is to reach the national finals, and performances like the one at the Missoula Fairgrounds bring him closer to that goal.
“It’s such a mental game,” Timberman said. “Just keeping my head focused, my head straight, and keep going.”
Other standout performances included Trevor Reiste topping the bull riding scores, Dawson Dahm with the best score in saddle bronc riding, and Jaxson Tucker and Clay Futrell with the fastest team roping run.
The Missoula Stampede continues on Friday night and concludes on Saturday. Both events start at 7 p.m.
Carson Cashion is a sports writer for 406 MT Sports, primarily covering the Bitterroot Valley. Follow him on X @CarsonCashion or contact him at carson.cashion@406mtsports.com.