A High River chuckwagon driver is hoping some rest at home will help him when he turns the barrels this weekend.
Jordie Fike will have the chance to sleep in his own bed when the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) stops in High River for the Guy Weadick Chuckwagon Races June 16-17 and June 22-24.
“There are some huge advantages for me with the races in High River,” Fike said. “I train on the track and I know the track. I can keep the horses at home and they will be more relaxed and I hope they will have more energy.”
He has lived just west of High River for two years.
Fike is entering his third season on the WPCA, but he is disappointed with his start in 2012 after races in Grande Prairie and Medicine Hat. He was sitting in 28th spot in the world standings going into the High River stop.
He said he feels he’s got plenty of horsepower, but the problem is with the guy pulling the reins.
“It’s been a slow start, I have hit a barrel at every show,” the 25-year-old Fike said. “I have been really happy with how the horses have run. It’s never really the horse’s fault, it’s driver error.”
Fike was selected the WPCA rookie driver of the year in 2010 when he finished 20th in the world standings — good enough to qualify for the Calgary Stampede in 2011.
However, he had a touch of the sophomore jinx in 2011, when he finished 26th and as a result, he didn’t qualify for the 2012 Stampede.
“I have improved quite a bit since my first year,” Fike said. “I have more depth in the barn and I thought I drove better last year than I did my first year. It is just really competitive and there are ups-and-downs in racing.”
He knows a bit about competition. He played parts of four seasons with the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 2003 to 2007.
“I always compare being a hockey player to being a chuckwagon horse and being the chuckwagon driver as being the coach,” Fike said. “As a driver, you have to manage your horses, your schedule, but you still get the same competitive drive as a hockey player.”
At six-foot-six, 250 pounds Fike not only has the strength to handle himself on the WHL blueline, but also the strength needed to pull the reins on a team of thoroughbreds running around a 5/8ths of a mile track.
“It does take some strength, your arms can get awfully tired racing around the track,” he said. “The horses are just as competitive as the drivers.”
Just like a good thoroughbred, Fike has the bloodlines to be successful on the track. His grandfather is former driver Ron David. His brother, Chad, is a two-time Calgary Stampede aggregate outrider champion.
At 25 years of age, Jordie Fike is the second-youngest driver on the 36-wagon WPCA circuit, just weeks older than Cody Ridsdale.
“I think I paid some of my dues that first year and I think I am getting better,” Fike said. “I am getting more experience. There are guys out there who have been driving since before I was born.”
With the High River show being held over two weekends, Fike hasn’t been inundated with requests for public appearances during the four-day break — even though he now is a High Riverite.
“No, I haven’t been asked to do anything,” said Fike, who is engaged to High River native Tamara Noble. “I don’t think a lot of people know I am here.”
High River will have a good chance to see Fike as he guides his Eagle Builders LP wagon around the track during the Guy Weadick Chuckwagon Championships, which conclude this weekend at the High River Ag Grounds.
After the first two days of racing Fike is in 20th position and likely out of the running to qualify for Sunday’s Dash for Cash.
It looks like a long shot for any local to be in Sunday’s final as High River’s Jason Glass is currently in 13th spot with a two-day aggregate of 2:34.58 more than three seconds behind the leader Evan Salmond (2:31.95). Okotoks’ Mark Sutherland is in 16th position with a combined time of 2:35.20.
The top four drivers after Saturday will qualify for the Dash for Cash on Sunday. Salmond leads the way followed by Kirk Sutherland, Kelly Sutherland and Codey McCurrach who has an aggregate time of 2:33.77.
The Guy Weadick races go into the backstretch this weekend with three shows. The chucks will race at approximately 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday shortly after the rodeo, which starts at 6 p.m.
Sunday’s performance — which features a Dash for Cash championship — starts at approximately 4 p.m.
For complete race results from last weekend’s races go to www.wpca.com. For ticket information call the High River Agricultural Society at 403-652-3336 or 402-652-3443.
