Bronc rider prefers to live on the ground

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Aug 14, 2004 | by STEPHEN A. NORRIS THE GAZETTE

Saddle bronc rider Mo Forbes earned a spot in the Grand National Rodeo finals last year in San Francisco but never competed. Forbes stayed in Denver because a thunderstorm developed at the time of his flight to San Francisco. Besides, Forbes hates to fly.

"I don't like it much... it sucks," Forbes said. "If I had a parachute, I probably wouldn't mind. But your stuck in that sucker once it goes up."

Forbes has no fear of riding a saddle bronc, but he still doesn't like the idea of falling off and getting kicked in the ribs.

"That'd suck too," Forbes said. "I just don't like things that suck."

From 'aloha' to 'howdy'

While the rodeo is famous for honoring the western lifestyle, Myron Duarte comes from a state as far west as the United States reaches -- Hawaii.

Duarte is a two-time winner in the bull riding competition at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo.

Duarte lived in Peyton for six years before moving to Auburn, Wash. He has two sons -- Dominic, 6, and Zackey, 4. Myron thinks Dominic has the potential to be the next bull rider in the family. Dominic recently asked to ride his dad's 1,800-pound bull. Duarte let his son get on the animal and when he opened up the pen had a friend pull him off before the bull left. Dominic was not pleased.

"He got in the house and told everyone I cheated," Duarte said. "He didn't talk to me for a week."