Bodie Mattson took the 2024 NFR Open title home to South Dakota July 13, for $13,000 and his first national circuit title.
Mattson, 22, posted the fastest run of the Colorado Springs rodeo with a 7.6-second run in the sudden death Championship Round to clinch the title against some of the top guys in the world.
“Just looking back there after I roped that night, I was like, ‘Gosh, you’re not safe,’ because these guys rope so good and they picked the best calves,” Mattson said. “For myself, I feel like the big moments against the big guys is when I get the best out of myself. So that’s a good combination I think.”
Taking home his first national circuit title was special in itself, but the implications that come of the title also matter greatly to Mattson. Winners of the NFR Open automatically qualify for the NFR Playoff Series Finale in Puyallup, Washington, in September where a purse of $73,000 is on the line.
“Going into this week, dang sure everybody’s thinking about what the money would do for you in the world standings and thinking about the qualification to Puyallup, it is huge,” Mattson said. “To be the one who was on top is a blessing, and the money is going to go a long ways getting down the road and for the world standings. It gives me a chance to maybe have an outside chance to make the NFR this year and get into the winter rodeos to set me up for the next year.”
How to win the NFR Open
Mattson drew up in Pool B, which roped Thursday night and Friday afternoon. Mattson’s first calf wasn’t his favorite on the herd as they almost made the calf the first extra after tying down their pen. After not feeling like he got a good go at his calf, Mattson just made sure he got him tied and finished fourth in the first round of his pool with a 12.8-second run for $750.
In Round 2, Mattson drew the calf 2013 World Champion Shane Hanchey won second in the first round on.
“He was very good,” Mattson said of his calf. “The average was pretty weak in our set, so I was able to just kind of tie him down and win the round because everybody was kind of backing off a little bit.”
Mattson tied his calf in 9.7 seconds for the round win and $3,000. At third in the average in his pool, he advanced to the sudden death Championship Round Saturday, July 13. While his calf on Saturday didn’t have the best track record, she fit him nicely in the Championship Round.
“I had a calf that they didn’t really do much on the first two rounds,” Mattson explained. “She was in my set—we tied ours on Friday—and I really liked her when we tied her. She ended up being phenomenal.”
Mattson had the fastest run of the entire rodeo with a 7.6 to clinch the NFR Open title for $13,000. Between his round placings and overall win, Mattson left Colorado with $16,750.
Mattson rode 14-year-old “Bomber,” a black gelding he and his family raised.
“He’s solid as can be,” Mattson said. “He’s really good when you draw a good one like that. He just kind of stays out of my way. I wouldn’t say he’s the fastest or deepest stopping horse in the world, but he never screws me. He’s just honest as can be.”
Greater implications
With a qualification to Puyallup secured, Mattson also has the Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls on his mind. With a purse of $122,222 in 2023—this year will see a $144,444 purse—Sioux Falls finalized the roster for the NFR. Knowing he is one step closer to making the trip to Sioux Falls is a breath of fresh air for Mattson.
“My neighbor, Rorey Lemmel, is actually the one who puts Sioux Falls on,” Mattson explained. “So, he’s dang sure been in my ear about getting to all the tour rodeos. And, now, it’s kind of lucky I don’t have to worry about getting to all the tour rodeos.”
Hanging out inside the top 25 in the world standings, Mattson recognizes what successful trips to Puyallup and Sioux Falls could do for his career. The Governor’s Cup being in his home state is an added bonus.
“It can change your year because Puyallup, there’s big money there, and there’s huge money in Sioux Falls, and it’s only getting better,” Mattson said. “I think we looked the other day and you can win dang near $70,000. Even where I’m at right now, that could jump a guy all the way up in there from 30s or 20s (positions in the world standings) at the last week of the year. So, it’s huge and to do it, hopefully, at Sioux Falls in my home state would be super cool.”
Mattson has clinched his spot in the Quarterfinals at Cheyenne Frontier Days and heads next to Salt Lake City (Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo), Spanish Fork (Fiesta Days Rodeo), Ogden (Ogden Pioneer Days) and Deadwood (Deadwood Days Of ’76 Rodeo).
