"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. The Young family own and operate Colorado Gators 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.     
       "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 50 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 $100, 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 14th & 15th, 2010 and Gatorfest XV 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. Activities going on from 10am to 4pm each day. 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 4:30 pm year round.