"What doesn't kill you,
makes you stronger." Or so the saying goes. Take one look at Jay
Young's biceps, 
and the proof of
this truth is there. Young and his parents own and run Colorado Gators
and Reptile Park, including offering Alligator Wrestling
Classes. Graduates of the day-long class are then qualified to
enter Gatorfest, Colorado Gator's annual alligator rodeo. Ten tons of
gators await these brave and foolish wranglers each year. Whoever
catches the biggest alligator in the shortest amount of time wins fame
and fortune.
The tenth annual Gatorfest was held on August 6th & 7th, 2005 at Colorado Gators in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. Derrick Buss from Colorado Springs took first place. His infant daughter and wife looked on as he braved the murky waters. His speed won him the honors. Buss and his family made the event extra fun and special.
Orion Middledorf from California came in second place. He doesn't have an ounce of fear in him, even when it comes to single-handed catching an aggressive beast more than 3 times his size.
Seen
left to right, back row to front row are the contestants and clowns of
Gatorfest X: Matt Lee; Derrick Buss, first place winner; Orion
Middledorf, second place winner; David Fox; Charles Fox; Lance Bressman;
rodeo clowns Jay Young and Noah Mather; Martin Middledorf, eldest and wisest contestant; and Daniel Morgan, youngest and most
foolish.
"Alligator wrestling is a lot like life itself. If you know what you want, don't hesitate and don't let go, for he who hesitates gets bit. Once you jump, stay committed," Jay Young philosophizes. In fact, letting go can be a fatal mistake. This makes alligator wrestling a sport not for the fearful or timid.
Like any other rodeo, an alligator rodeo grandstands the skills used by handlers in the course of their work Alligators require medical care, transporting, or just a regular once-over to check for lacerations or other injuries. These ancient and majestic beasts are simply not trainable. There is no such thing as a tame alligator, and they don't appreciate being handled. This makes the danger of climbing in a pond with 60 gators over 11 feet long very real. It is because of this that only graduates of the class are allowed to enter this unique and exciting competition.
For a mere $50, any adult with guts and a sense of adventure can learn
the tricks of the
trade. Class participants begin with the 2 to 3 year old alligators,
learning how they move, how flexible they are, where it's safe to hold
on and where you put your limbs in harm's way. Accomplishing the
capture and holding of these small but quick and powerful babies leads
the student on to the 3 to 4 year olds, then the 6 to 8 year olds. Then
it's on to the big gator pen for the climax of the day, catching and
pulling to shore an 11 foot gator over 600 pounds in weight. If this
sounds like the kind of adreniline rush you need, call to 
schedule your class,
719-378-2612. Then look forward to August 2006 and Gatorfest XI
where you can out-wrangle other wrestlers and win honors, prizes, fame
and hopefully not misfortune.
There's contests, prizes and fun galore for all the family when you attend Gatorfest. Sink your teeth into a gator fajita, race canoes, run the barrels while holding a baby gator, fun, fun, fun. Proceeds from the annual event help care for the rescued reptiles at Colorado Gators which is located 17 miles north of Alamosa, Colorado on Hwy 17. Open daily in the summer from 9 am to 7 pm and 9 am to 5 pm year round.
and the proof of
this truth is there. Young and his parents own and run Colorado Gators
and Reptile Park, including offering Alligator Wrestling
Classes. Graduates of the day-long class are then qualified to
enter Gatorfest, Colorado Gator's annual alligator rodeo. Ten tons of
gators await these brave and foolish wranglers each year. Whoever
catches the biggest alligator in the shortest amount of time wins fame
and fortune. The tenth annual Gatorfest was held on August 6th & 7th, 2005 at Colorado Gators in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. Derrick Buss from Colorado Springs took first place. His infant daughter and wife looked on as he braved the murky waters. His speed won him the honors. Buss and his family made the event extra fun and special.
Orion Middledorf from California came in second place. He doesn't have an ounce of fear in him, even when it comes to single-handed catching an aggressive beast more than 3 times his size.
Seen
left to right, back row to front row are the contestants and clowns of
Gatorfest X: Matt Lee; Derrick Buss, first place winner; Orion
Middledorf, second place winner; David Fox; Charles Fox; Lance Bressman;
rodeo clowns Jay Young and Noah Mather; Martin Middledorf, eldest and wisest contestant; and Daniel Morgan, youngest and most
foolish. "Alligator wrestling is a lot like life itself. If you know what you want, don't hesitate and don't let go, for he who hesitates gets bit. Once you jump, stay committed," Jay Young philosophizes. In fact, letting go can be a fatal mistake. This makes alligator wrestling a sport not for the fearful or timid.
Like any other rodeo, an alligator rodeo grandstands the skills used by handlers in the course of their work Alligators require medical care, transporting, or just a regular once-over to check for lacerations or other injuries. These ancient and majestic beasts are simply not trainable. There is no such thing as a tame alligator, and they don't appreciate being handled. This makes the danger of climbing in a pond with 60 gators over 11 feet long very real. It is because of this that only graduates of the class are allowed to enter this unique and exciting competition.
For a mere $50, any adult with guts and a sense of adventure can learn
the tricks of the
trade. Class participants begin with the 2 to 3 year old alligators,
learning how they move, how flexible they are, where it's safe to hold
on and where you put your limbs in harm's way. Accomplishing the
capture and holding of these small but quick and powerful babies leads
the student on to the 3 to 4 year olds, then the 6 to 8 year olds. Then
it's on to the big gator pen for the climax of the day, catching and
pulling to shore an 11 foot gator over 600 pounds in weight. If this
sounds like the kind of adreniline rush you need, call to schedule your class,
719-378-2612. Then look forward to August 2006 and Gatorfest XI
where you can out-wrangle other wrestlers and win honors, prizes, fame
and hopefully not misfortune. There's contests, prizes and fun galore for all the family when you attend Gatorfest. Sink your teeth into a gator fajita, race canoes, run the barrels while holding a baby gator, fun, fun, fun. Proceeds from the annual event help care for the rescued reptiles at Colorado Gators which is located 17 miles north of Alamosa, Colorado on Hwy 17. Open daily in the summer from 9 am to 7 pm and 9 am to 5 pm year round.