Alberta cowboy is world champ

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For cowboy Kevin Langevin, a championship rodeo in Palm Springs, Calif. was his ticket to worldwide fame. The 19-year-old Metis man from Rich Lake is now the Indian National Finals Rodeo world champion bareback rider, taking the title over the Oct. 18 weekend.

"I'm the world champ in the Indian ranks," he said with an ear-to-ear grin.

For Langevin, who has been competing in novice bareback events in northeastern Alberta's Lakeland Rodeo Association circuit over the last several years, the chance to compete against some of the best Indian cowboys in North America was a big deal.

"There were guys there from Florida to Ontario. I've been riding novice bareback and this was an open event. This was with the big boys," he said, adding that the community of Rich Lake, 250 kilometres north of Edmonton, was a speck on the map compared to the communities of the 23 other bareback riders he faced.

"I'd be there talking about how well I had rode at the Smoky Lake rodeo and these guys are talking about their ride in Fort Worth, Texas. There wasn't really any comparison.

"I got a ride with one guy in his truck and he had buckles everywhere, all over his console, on the floor. When we'd turn a corner, you'd hear them all crashing together."

But the young rider proved that it didn't matter where he hung his hat, or how many belt buckles he'd won. It's what's inside that counts.

"I knew that I could ride. I'd just give myself a good talking to and take it one horse at a time," he said. "They all jump and kick. I just had to go out there and do my job."

And his job that weekend was to stay top-side of four high-stepping broncs going by the names Copenhagen Gravity, Shady Girls School, Casey, and Yahtzee.

Through each of his four go-rounds the young rider stayed in the driver's seat, recording scores in the mid to high 70s.

The scores, and the 4-0 record, was enough to put him in top spot. He received a championship saddle worth about $3,000, a jacket, and of course, a big, expensive belt buckle.

"I gotta' admit, that 'World Champion' on it looks pretty good," he said, admiring the buckle, which is dotted with half a dozen rubies. "It's pretty nice."

Langevin plans on a return trip to the world stage next year.

"I'll have to qualify again, and I'm going back to defend my title."

Qualifying for this year's championships took place in the summer at Hobbema.

Langevin wasn't the only northern Alberta Metis rider to make it to the championships. Ryan McDonald, a teenager from the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, finished fifth out of 24 riders in the bull riding event.