NRA set the foundation

LAS VEGAS – Wherever the ride took him, the destination remained the same.

To be in Las Vegas in December competing in the National Finals Rodeo.

“That was always the goal,” said Ty Erickson.

The 2019 steer wrestling world champion endured a season of highs and lows. He experienced the first major injury of his professional rodeo career which brought eight weeks of recovery, earned an emotional bucket-list victory, had his horse honored by his peers and welcomed another wonderful addition to the family.

“A roller-coaster,” acknowledged the large bulldogger from Helena.

On April 26 in Clovis, California, Erickson had a wreck during a steer wrestling run. His legs became tangled with the animal’s legs as they went down the arena. He suffered an ankle dislocation and shredded tendons.

Erickson underwent syndesmosis surgery in Bozeman and was off his foot for six weeks. He missed two months of the season while going through physical therapy.

“Physical therapy was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Erickson said.

Montana fans have seen this perseverance for more than two decades.

Before Erickson was a world-class steer wrestler, he preferred a rope in his hands. He won the Northern Rodeo Association junior breakaway roping as a young teenager in 2005.

“The NRA got me started,” he said. “You learn how to go and compete. It’s your first rodeos, where I got my experience.

“Then it’s big lights, it’s big time for you.”

Erickson qualified for the 2009 NRA Finals, finishing fourth in the year-end standings before earning his PRCA card jn 2011.

“It’s a great stepping-stone,” he added of the organization that also launched the careers of seven-time PRCA world champion Dan Mortensen and two-time Professional Bull Riders world champion Jess Lockwood along with countless others.

Erickson’s wife Cierra is a four-time Northern Women’s Rodeo Association champion, winning barrel racing and all-around titles in 2010, the breakaway roping crown in 2018 and another barrel racing championship in 2022.

Erickson jumped back into the NRA in 2020, winning at Big Timber with a time of 3.2 seconds. It is believed to be the fastest time in NRA history.

“I love the NRA and all it does,” he said.

Erickson knew he would return to The Thomas and Mack Center this year.

“I did,” he said. “I had a good enough winter and only needed around $40,000 to $50,000 more to qualify.”

Erickson earned $52,000 before the injury during the early part of the 2024 season that began in October of 2023.

A month ahead of his scheduled return, Erickson entered the Livingston Roundup during the Fourth of July run to test his ankle. He placed fourth.

“It was time to rodeo,” he said.

A week later, he won the Calgary Stampede.

This was more than just another steer wrestling run. It was a payoff for all the hard work to get to that moment. His goal was to compete at Calgary, and he did even better, he won it.

“It was very emotional,” said Erickson.

During Labor Day weekend, son Tee joined the family, joining three-year-old sister Cedona.

Erickson qualified for the NFR 10th in the world standings.

His horse, Crush, was voted the AQHA steer wrestling horse of the year.

“Having Crush chosen horse of the year, that’s a great honor,” Erickson said.

Erickson, J.D. Struxness and Rowdy Parrott rode the 13-year-old black gelding during the NFR. Struxness, won the world title aboard the horse, while Parrott finished fifth in the world standings and Erickson 14th.

The three steer wrestlers earned $398,203 across 10 rounds of the NFR. They cashed 16 checks and each won a go-round. Erickson won the eighth round, his first round win since 2022 when he won twice.

“He’s pretty level,” said Erickson of Crush. “He knows it’s time when we get to the arena. He loves his work.”

And so does the owner.

“I’m still not 100 percent,” Erickson said. “But this is what it’s all about, competing at the Finals. There is nothing better than being at the NFR.”