SKYLAR GISHIE WINS THE LA FIESTA TRUCK ON HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY.

“This was my third time I've ever come this close. I wasn't really nervous.

I just focused on roping my steers with my partners and doing my job. It finally came together." - Skylar Gishie

It doesn't get much better than winning a new RAM truck on your 18th birthday and Skylar Gishie, of Holbrook, Ariz., can tell you that first hand.

“I didn't know I was going to win until they actually announced my name,” he recalled. “I can't even tell you, I was so speechless.”

A ter getting rained out on its originally scheduled date, 851 teams showed up to rope at the La Fiesta Truck Roping at Rancho Rio on February 28.

The high call team of Nick Black and Marcus Begay held on to their lead and took home a sweet $8,140. In total $92,330 in cash was paid out over two ropings.

ALL ABOUT HORSEPOWER

As the sun set to the west, Gishie was trying to collect himself with a swarm of family and friends circling him in the main arena.

Immediately, he reached over and clung to the neck of his buckskin head horse.

“I was thanking my horse for the win,” Gishie explained. “Eighty percent of that has to go to my horses. Without them I wouldn't be able to do what I do."

Coincidentally, he sold the buckskin gelding he calls Zorro to his grandpa (Roger Gishie Sr.) back in November and had borrowed him back for the day.

“My grandpa taught me to rope and he hauls me everywhere, so it was really cool to have him there. He has always gone out of his way to help me stay mounted and be better than I was yesterday.”

Gishie's no. 1 mount is a bay horse he calls Diesel.

“I rode my other horse earlier in the day and he started to get a little bit tired,” he explained. “I didn't jump on Zorro until my last two partners. I just thought I'd switch and it worked out.”

A senior at Holbrook High School, Gishie is looking to qualify for his first National High School Finals rodeo before he heads off to college where he plans to continue to rodeo.

“I think college rodeo is a great way to take my roping to the next level. I'd like to go to school somewhere in the Valley, but I haven't decided yet.”

Gishie and his high school team roping partner, Cody Lansing, are currently sitting 15th in the standings which will give them a good start heading into the spring rodeos.

“I finished 7th in the team roping my sophomore year, but haven't qualified for Nationals. I'm really hoping we can get it done this year.”

Although Lansing is only a freshman, the two have roped together for years.

“They live in Cortez, Colo., but they have a place in Queen Creek. His dad has helped me a lot. I'll go spend the weekend with them and practice.”

The La Fiesta roping wasn't the first time Gishie has come close to winning a truck.

“This was my third time I've ever come this close. I wasn't really nervous. I just focused on roping my steers with my partners and doing my job. It finally came together.”

With call backs at the 48th and 16th positions Gishie had plenty of time between runs.

“I just stayed in the back and walked my horse and tried to stay calm.

I really tried not to think about what was going on in the arena. I just stayed focused on what I needed to do.”

His best advice if you find yourself in the short round of a truck roping, “Don't get the truck in your head. Just focus on roping your steers. Just let your roping do the talking.”