THE LEGACY OF Lane Frost

BY KRYSTA PAFFRATH

If you’re familiar with the rodeo industry then you’ve most likely heard the household name of Lane Frost. But if you haven’t then here’s your introduction. Lane Frost was a legendary bull rider, in fact, considered one of the best of all time. His life, although largely lived and remembered, was cut short when he was tragically killed in 1989 at the age of 25 after dismounting a bull at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. His story, however, continues to live on through the many films, books, stories, documentaries, and memories that continue to circulate. Before getting to those, let’s take a walk through the life of Lane Frost.

Lane Frost was born on October 12, 1963, in La Junta, Colorado. He was the son of Clyde and Elsie Frost and had one older sister, Robin, and a younger brother named Cody. His father, Clyde was a saddle bronc and bareback rider, who at the time of his birth was on the rodeo circuit so Elsie stayed with her parents for the delivery of Lane. The story goes that young Lane, even at the age of five was interested in the sport of bull riding, some might even say that he was born with bull riding in his blood.

Lane predominantly rode calves and steers until he was 15. From the advice of Don Gay, he waited until his bones were fully developed to dedicate himself to riding bulls. Then in 1978, Lane’s family moved from Utah to Oklahoma to escape the chilly winters. It was in Oklahoma that Lane’s early career in bull riding really took off. Throughout his high school career, he won championship after championship in associations like the Oklahoma Youth Rodeo Association and the National High School Finals Rodeo Association. Then in 1980, while competing at the National High School Rodeo Association Lane met two people that he would know for the rest of his life, Kellie Kyle (future wife) and Tuff Hedeman (best friend).

Lane competed in his first full year of the PRCA in 1983 at the age of 19 and came up 16th in the world standings, just behind the number 15 spot that would have been his golden ticket to his first NFR. That same year, he was awarded “Rookie of the Year” and also earned the PRCA Prairie Circuit Bull Riding Champion. Once Lane got his feet wet on the circuit, there was no stopping him. Starting in 1984, Lane qualified every year for the National Finals Rodeo until his death in 1989.

One of Lane’s largest claims to fame in addition to being named World Champion Bull Rider in 1987, was riding the unrideable “Red Rock” during one of the infamous Challenge of Champions events, which was a vision brought to reality by the stock contractor and owner of Red Rock, John Growney. The Challenge of Champions took place in 1988 and was a series of seven matchups at seven rodeos that paired up Lane Frost with PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year, Red Rock. At the third match-up that took place during the Redding Rodeo in 1988, Lane made history and rode that unrideable bucking bull for the full eight seconds. At the time, Red Rock had not been ridden in 307 attempts and Lane went to ride Red Rock another 3 times, making the final score of the Challenge of Champions 4-3. Here’s what John Growney commented on about the Challenge during an interview with Wrangler Network,

“When this thing with Lane and Red Rock took off, Lane could stand by Red Rock and pet him while he was doing an interview and Red Rock would look right at the camera. All of a sudden all these people in the media industry started realizing that these two World Champions competing against each other was an easy sell. And Lane made it an easy sell because he was the kind of guy that they gravitated to.”

-JohnGrowney,InterviewwithWranglerNetwork

1988 would be the last year that Lane competed at the National Finals Rodeo, having come in 6th in the standings. In 1989, Lane was making big moves in his career, even outside of bull riding. He and his wife Kellie were working as stunt doubles for a movie, and he even played a part in organizing the bull riding event, now known as “Bullnanza, a Tribute to Freckles Brown and Lane Frost”. It was July, and Lane decided to take some time off to ride in Cheyenne Frontier Days, a decision that would change the course of, not only his life but rodeo as a whole. Lane rode at least three of his bulls during those ten days of Cheyenne Frontier Days, but his last one was atop a bull named, “Takin’ Care of Business”. He rode that bull for the full eight seconds, then when he dismounted, he was hit by the bull, breaking several ribs and severing an artery. (Per the Lane Frost Website). Aaron Watson sums it perfectly in his song for Lane’s mother, Elsie, “July in Cheyenne”,

-AaronWatson

The legacy of Lane Frost lives on today. Not only through numerous books, films, and documentaries but also in songs, stories, and memories of those that had the pleasure of knowing him. Lane Frost is not only remembered as one of the greatest bull riders of all time but also as a great friend, brother, and husband. He was a man of great courage and strength and he continues to inspire people to this day with his story of courage and determination. Lane Frost accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior in 1988, the year before he died, and to this day, his mom is carrying on the message of his faith, strength, determination, and his story. In closing, in an interview with the NFR Extra Podcast, John Growney said this about the impact Lane Frost Left behind,

“Lane’s death immortalized him and a lot of us just went for the ride with him.”

-JohnGrowney