2024 HDD Rodeo Recap – Ward Trenching Wins 2024 HDD Rodeo Competition
After a 20-year hiatus, the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) industry crowned a new champion at the 2024 HDD Rodeo in Independence, Missouri, Sept. 25-27. Ten of the best and most-competitive directional drillers from around the country vied for their share of a prize haul, worth more than $260,000 in cash and equipment, donated by the leading HDD companies.
The 2024 HDD Rodeo is presented by Benjamin Media Inc., the publisher of Trenchless Technology magazine, and hosted by Mark One Electric, which provided the seminar, exhibition and drilling competition venues.
“The rebirth of the HDD Rodeo was a huge success. We could not have done it without the industry support we received from the drillers, the sponsors and the exhibitors,” says Rob Krzys, president and CEO of Benjamin Media Inc.
HDD Rodeo Winners
The drilling competitions took place Sept. 26 and 27 with Ward Trenching, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, claiming the top spot and taking home more than $75,000 in cash and prizes. Led by the dynamic father-son duo of Joe and Brody Ward, the team used an Astec 3238 drill paired with an Underground Magnetics Mag 9 locator. They delivered an impressive performance, completing the 230-ft bore with precision in just 35:43.
They bested fierce competition, including the second-place team from Tru-Tek Drilling, of Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, who finished at 53:26, and the third-place team representing the IOUE-PLCA National Pipeline Training Fund, closing out at 53:33.
Rounding out the Top 6 were Radell Underground Inc., of Pittsburg, Kansas, with a time of 54:59; LJ Inc., of Swartz Creek, Michigan, with a time of 57:49; and Absolute Underground LLC, of Bismark, North Dakota, with a time of 66:46.
The competition took place at a site at 21101 E. Route 78 in Independence, Missouri, about 20 minutes from downtown Kansas City. Crews took their best shot at completing the 230-ft bore and were judged on line and grade and the time it took to complete the shot. Pullback was not required.
The HDD Rodeo, while a fun and exciting competition for the industry’s drillers, provided the perfect opportunity for public works and utility owners to see how HDD can benefit their utility needs. And before the drilling began, a daylong HDD-focused seminar session took place Sept. 25 at the Mark One Electric headquarters in Kansas City, which saw a slate of HDD experts share their knowledge of HDD on a variety of topics from bidding practices to locating to drilling fluids.
Additional highlights from the HDD Rodeo included networking with 31 of leading manufacturers, suppliers and service providers in HDD industry, who lined the competition site; taking the customized Traxxas Slash RC cars for a spin around the TuffRod Raceway; and celebrating World Trenchless Day Sept. 26 at a party sponsored by Core & Main.
Full coverage of the HDD Rodeo will appear in the November/December issue of Trenchless Technology magazine.
