A two-man team from the Uintah Basin walked away the big winners at the World Series of Team Roping competition last week in Las Vegas. Heavy Sursa of Bluebell and Slade Witbeck of Vernal won the YETI #10.5 WSTR Finale with an average time of 34.60 on four runs, winning them $342,000 dollars. Heavy and Slade competed against 617 teams and walked away with the best average time. Heavy has been competing for decades and Slade grew up watching him compete at local jackpots. When the pair came together to compete it proved a great fit. This year alone the pair has roped in over 45 competitions. “I grew up in a cutting family and took an interest in roping when I was 14 to 15,” shares Slade. “Since then I have competed and worked with horses on the Witbeck Ranch in Dry Fork…This is more than a hobby for me,” continues Slade. “It’s a family lifestyle. Pretty much all of my extra time and money goes into team roping.” Heavy and Slade clearly love the cowboy way of life and are planning to continue competing in team roping events next year, including the World Series again. Congratulations Heavy Sursa and Slade Witbeck on your much deserved success and thank you for representing the Uintah Basin so well.
