Austin Foss Goes Three-Peat at Columbia River Circuit Finals
By: Alex Riley
The First Interstate Bank Center in Redmond, Ore., will always have special meaning for Austin Foss.
A native of Terrebonne, Ore., just six miles away, Foss received his high school diploma in the arena more than a decade ago. He’s competed at numerous other rodeo events in the facility, with his share of championships already earned.
On Saturday night, he added another memory to an already lengthy list.
To close out the RAM Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo, Foss won all three rounds of the bareback riding en route to his third straight circuit title. Counting the 2022 and 2021 Columbia River Circuit Finals, Foss has won seven straight rounds at the event.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I had the home field advantage. I graduated in that building and I’ve had a lot of good memories there and stuff, so I’m really right at home. It’s a good deal,” said Foss, who also won the Columbia River Circuit Finals in 2013 and 2019. “Shoot, I’ll be 32 in February, so there’s a lot of young guys coming up in our circuit and a lot of them that can ride, so it kind of pushes you to be better.”
Getting a third straight title was anything but easy as those younger competitors pushed Foss the entire time. Mason Stuller finished runner-up to Foss in both the first and second rounds, while the pair tied for first with Colton Clemens for a trio of 81-point efforts in the third go. Foss finished with 248 points on three head, slightly better than Stuller at 239.5.
The victory was a nice confidence booster for Foss after a 2023 season of limited participation. The four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier kept his ride count lower this year as he deals with linger herniated discs in his back along and other ailments.
It’s certainly a change from the traditional rodeo pace – but it’s one that appears to have worked.
“With all the time off, I feel really good. I don’t even feel like I got on bareback horses right now,” Foss said. “All the right muscles are really sore, is what I guess I would have to say for doing it. All the time off that I’ve had has paid off I would say.”
Some additional time off, at least from rodeoing, is the plan for Foss. He’s got cattle raising duties that will keep him busy this winter, allowing for some additional time to heal.
But next spring, Foss fully intends to be back on the road, working the circuit once again. His passion for the sport still remains and Foss has plans to keep going as long as possible.
“They’re asking me, ‘What are you going to do next year?’ I’m like, ‘I’m probably going to go quite a bit harder in the circuit just because, shoot, we’ve got a lot of good money available here,” Foss said. “I’ll probably fire up again in early spring and maybe catch some of those later winter rodeos, just have to see how I’m feeling. But I’ll be ready for next year for sure.”
Other winners at the $209,735 rodeo were all-around cowboy Caleb McMillan ($2,684, bull riding, tie-down roping and steer roping); steer wrestler Dalton Massey (11.9 seconds on three head); team ropers Jeff Flenniken/Jake Minor (24.2 seconds on three head); saddle bronc rider Joe Harper (240.5 points on three head); tie-down roper Joel Harris (26.8 seconds on three head); barrel racer Sharon Gow (44.35 seconds on three runs); steer rope Tom Sorey (50.4 seconds on three head); and bull rider Jordan Spears (152 points on two head).
Courtesy of PRCA.