By Heidi and Wayne Forbes, IAC 441269
Torrington, WY – The first-ever Torrington Tailslide AcroRodeo, held May 17, 2025 at Torrington Airport, drew an unprecedented crowd and showcased thrilling aerobatic talent from around the globe. With 34 competitors across all five categories, including participants from as far as Saudi Arabia, the weekend kicked off with a lively gathering at the Open Barrel Brewing Company on Thursday. It was a fun night of karaoke, delicious food, and camaraderie.
Registration and the official practice were on Friday, followed by a pizza party sponsored by Open Barrel Brewing Company. On Saturday, May 17, all competitors took to the skies for the KNOWN and FREE sequences, performing before an estimated 400 spectators. Miraculously, Mother Nature cooperated, with rainstorms skirting the airport to allow a full day of competition.
Despite the many successes, challenges arose. The Extreme Decathlon, flown by the Metro State University (MSU) team, affectionately dubbed “Triple Nickel,” faced battery issues that nearly sidelined the contest’s most-used aircraft. Additionally, eleven registered competitors, including six from the University of North Dakota, were unable to attend due to storms. Unfortunately, an unfavorable forecast forced the cancellation of Sunday’s events, prioritizing competitor safety as storms loomed.
In a generous gesture, more than 50 prepared lunches were donated to Torrington DSI (a local group that helps community members with special needs) by the spectacular Bible study group that provided homemade lunches for all contestants and volunteers over the weekend. First State Bank sponsored a Wild West BBQ, delighting over 75 contestants, volunteers, and VIP guests on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, the event celebrated outstanding performances across all categories at the awards ceremony, with handcrafted wooden trophies, copper belt buckles, personalized water bottles and other special handmade gifts.
Scores:
PRIMARY
1st: Kaeden Cekosh (MSU Aerobatic Team)
2nd: Liam Shetterly (MSU Aerobatic Team)
3rd: Emma Lachman (MSU Aerobatic Team)
SPORTSMAN
1st: Spencer Elliott
2nd: Vincent Evans
3rd: Joe Chennault
INTERMEDIATE
1st: Wayne Forbes
2nd: Alex Tally
3rd: Chris Kleinhenz
ADVANCED
1st: Nick Slabakov
2nd: Brennon York
3rd: Mark Steward
All article photos by Tien Luu, provided by Heidi Forbes.
Special honors included the Dean McClain Western Spirit Award, presented to Lea Butler-David for her kindness, helpfulness, and rodeo-inspired attire, and Jedda Lusk, named the 2025 Torrington Tailslide Rodeo Queen.
Planning is already underway for the 2026 Torrington Tailslide AcroRodeo. Commemorative posters, T-shirts, coffee mugs, and other memorabilia from this year’s inaugural contest are available for purchase. Merchandise and sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Heidi Forbes at (970) 889-6556 or TorringtonTailslide@gmail.com
You can watch Tien Luu's youtube video of the event HERE.
