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On The Trail With Flint Rasmussen
By Rocky Mountain Roper
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Almost every college graduate talks of how they
worked themselves through college, but most would
have starved if they had the job Flint Rasmussen had that put him through school at Western Montana in Dillon, clowning. What began as a challenge from his family has now become a full-time career for the Montana
native. Rasmussen grew up in and around rodeo, trailing along with his dad who was an announcer. "I was more into football, track, basketball, drama and music", he admits, although he did bulldog and team rope some. At a rodeo
with his family, he commented that he wasn't very impressed with the clown and stated, "I could do better." His dad and brother challenged him to do it and at age 19 he began clowning and it helped put him through college.
Now he is one of the most popular attractions at larger PRCA rodeos and Professional Bull Riders events.
An honor student, Rasmussen completed a double major in History and Math. He taught high school math, history and coached football in Havre, Montana. By age 24, Rasmussen became restless. "I couldn't see myself settling in and
doing this (teaching) forever."
Many people view Rasmussen's job as getting to goof off. "What people don't realize is it takes some brains and discipline." As much as Rasmussen is involved with the show he is not the whole show and it takes discipline to
work with the announcer yet allow him to do his job, too. He also needs to be close enough to his barrel to be of help to the bull fighter or bull rider if needed and that means he can"t stray too far away while entertaining.
Perhaps the most unique thing about Rasmussen's beginning is the fact that he began as a barrel man. He didn't follow the typical path of fighting bulls then moving to the barrel as age or injury caught up to him. "I never fought bulls. I just wanted to be an entertainer." Of course if a bullfighter he was working with got into trouble Flint wouldn't hesitate to help him as he proved at Denver's National Western Stock Show and Rodeo.
Unfortunately, the pickup man on his horse had the same idea and the collision left Flint with a separated shoulder and bruised ribs. With ten-plus performances left at the National Western, Flint barely slowed down as he nursed his injuries.
There always seems to be someone in the crowd that Flint connects with. Like when he met his "twin brother" in Denver. "Hey, we're related," came a shout from a spectator on the south side of the Denver Coliseum. For those who didn't hear the proclamation Rasmussen relays it through his microphone to the large crowd gathered at the PBR and to announcer Boyd Pohlhamus. Before either one of them can verbalize a witty reply, the self-proclaimed
relative flings something down into the arena. Rasmussen retrieves the man's driver's license (if you can believe he threw it) and discovers his long lost twin brother, Brian. Well, they did at least share the identical last name
and Brian was tickled pink to be the brother of four time Clown of the Year if only for an evening. Flint drew smiles and laughs from the entire crowd
as he conversed on and off with his "twin brother" the rest of the performance.
Spontaneous and humorous bantering is one of Rasmussen's many gifts he uses during a PRCA rodeo or Professional Bull Riders event to amuse the crowd. To say he amuses people doesn't due him justice. He quite possibly could make a palace guard grin. Eye witnesses report having seen smiles on the faces of even the most stoic, serious rodeo fan and retired competitor.
His other talents include impressive athletic ability, knowledge of rodeo, and a sincere and caring attitude toward his fellow man. This native of Montana brings these talents and the experiences of his varied background
into the arena to thoroughly entertain what can be a very diverse crowd.
Regardless of age, he manages to get people to laugh, shake their heads
in amazement, and just plain enjoy themselves. "I like being in front of people," confesses Rasmussen. "I always wanted to be a rock star or play pro football," recalls Flint. "I love stand up comedians." It's men like
Howie Mandell, Jerry Seinfeld, and George Carlin that he looks up to. Rasmussen thrives on performing for large crowds and being in the spotlight. "Not everyone is like that," shares Rasmussen.
Even though he enjoys the
stage of the rodeo arena, he considers himself no better than the next guy. For example, during the 2nd round of the PBR action in Denver in January, a young man trotted down the stairs, slipped through the rails and made his way
across the arena toward Rasmussen. No one, including Flint,knew who he was and the look on Rasmussen's face and his body language showed what his mind must have been thinking-flee or fight-as the man approached him. "At first I thought he must be with the sound crew, then I realized he wasn't and I didn't know what he was going to do," recalls Rasmussen. Come to find out,
"He just wanted to tell me he appreciated me and liked me. He didn't mean any harm." Now Rasmussen knows what music stars must feel like when someone jumps up on stage. He says, "It's fun to have someone tell me they admire
me but it's also hard, because to me it's just me."
Rasmussen is a highly decorated barrel man. Besides achieving Clown of the Year honors four times he has also been the barrel man at the PBR 4 times
and been to the National Finals Rodeo 4 times. In 2001, he won the triple crown of clowning, so to speak, by being Clown of the Year, chosen NFR barrel man by the top 20 bull riders, and gaining the title of Original Coors Man in
the Can.
Even with these achievements to his name, 34-year-old Rasmussen remains down to earth, approachable and just plain friendly. High in the stands at the Denver Coliseum, a little boy danced in the aisle. A closer look revealed he was dressed like his favorite rodeo clown. The crowd cheered for him as the spotlight captured his 5-year-old gyrations. Everyone in the place caught a glimpse of the real person behind Rasmussen's red and white clown makeup. As the boy performed, Flint removed his own hat, made his way to the bucking chutes and sent the hat up through the seats to a young but grateful fan. The next night, he was also gracious enough to take the time to design a clown face on another young man even when he
understandably could have just waved and gone on by. His patience and sincerity was remarkable. "The stress of building a house or other things is really nothing when you know you are making a difference or can make a
difference for someone-like giving my hat to that little boy."
During some behind the chutes conversation, someone said that the spectators who saw the PBR in Denver may not remember anything about the best bull ride, but they'll remember Flint.
Rasmussen realizes the influence he can have on spectators and their overall feeling of rodeo. "I try to be an ambassador (for the sport). I'm very conscious of getting people into it and let's do something fun and spontaneous." He is also aware that rodeos like the National Western Stock Show Rodeo look at him as somewhat of an investment and he takes the responsibility that comes with that seriously.
Rasmussen believes Garth Brooks has revolutionized entertainment by valuing all his concert goers. Rasmussen heard Garth tell how he sits in the top seats before a concert and wonders how he can make it fun for those who will be sitting up there? Flint has the same mindset, "How can I include everyone? People pay to be there. I want them to get their money"s worth."
The fact that Rasmussen was an all-state kicker and free safety and long jumper in high school comes as no surprise if you have ever seen him in action in the arena. His athleticism shows as he runs and gracefully, albeit
comically, leaps his barrel or takes a vertical leap onto the top of it. He can also dance like nobody's watching. A favorite among PBR fans is to watch he and Paulo Crimber mirror one another and "pull"themselves across the
arena floor. Over the last year, "The Boneless Chicken and Battered Salmon" became Rasmussen trademarks. He also became the king of the arena Riverdance. More recently, fans can catch him feigning as the Crocodile Hunter off of the Animal Planet channel, all of which take special physical abilities. Rasmussen has no special training regimen to stay in shape for his job. He may jog some stairs but he says, "Just doing it (clowning) keeps
me in shape."
Rasmussen's 2002 schedule had him in Denver for the PBR and 23 performances in January, followed by Rapid City, South Dakota, then onto the
Olympiad Rodeo in Hello, Utah. From Utah he will head to the PBR in Anaheim, California then to Tucson, Arizona's rodeo. March will offer Rasmussen a lighter schedule only to see it pick up heading into the summer. Katie,
Flint's wife of seven years, along with their two daughters, Shelby, who just turned 3 and Paige, 10 months, accompany him to nearly every engagement throughout the year. The longest he is apart from them is the two and a half weeks he spends in Denver. The biggest drawback to him in his profession is the time away from home. "There's just nothing like being in your own house, sitting in the living room smelling dinner cooking," shares Flint.
The tradeoff is, "We get to go to some neat places. We'll go to Disneyland during the Anaheim PBR." He plans to keep the same pace for about three more years until his oldest daughter begins school. After that time he'll be a little more choosy about where he goes and when.
Although Rasmussen's dreams of stardom on the football field or a concert stage never materialized he has fulfilled his ultimate dream of entertaining. He has taken the rodeo clown business to a higher level making it truly an entertainer's position. Most impressively he has accomplished this without, as the old timers might say, "Getting too big for his britches." (Of course
in his case he'd have to grow to be one big man.) Rasmussen is one of the best ambassadors rodeo has going for it right now and it just so happens he is the most humorous as well.
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Last Updated: 5/3/2002
Published: 2/27/2002
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