Triplett wins rodeo held on a California beach

Columbia Falls bullrider Matt Triplett won his first Built Ford Tough series event, taking the championship for the Monster Energy Bulls at the Huntington Beach event in California.

Triplett’s ride of 87 points on Oklahoma Bell was one of four qualified rides of the day, earning him the win and $7,500 on Oct. 18.

The win moved him to within 2,026.67 points of world leader Joao Ricardo Vieira, solidifying Triplett as a contender for the world title entering this week’s PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas, Nev.

“It’s another confidence builder going into the World Finals,” Triplett said in a PBR interview after the event.

The event was a held right on the beach in California.

“It was great to relax on the beach and enjoy some waves,” Triplett told PBR.

Triplett has a little more than $139,000 in earnings this season and is ranked sixth in the world.

Triplett appeared on the Jim Rome Show last week. Triplett had a five-minute chat with Rome, who hosts both a nationally syndicated radio talk show and a television show.

In the interview, Triplett talked a little bit about his career and his background, and gave kudos to fellow professional bull rider Beau Hill, of West Glacier, for helping him get started.

“He took me under his wing,” Triplett said of Hill.

Triplett said he grew up playing basketball, football and baseball in Columbia Falls.

“But I loved bull riding so much more,” he said. “Strapping yourself to a 1,500-pound bull that could hurt you, probably, gives you that rush.”

Triplett, 23, is ranked sixth in the world in the Built Ford Tough standings heading into the World Finals this week in Las Vegas, Nev. He talked a little bit about his success.

“I’ve dreamed about this since I was a little kid,” he said.

The interview is available online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEQQFGbr21k.