The SDG&E - IBEW Gas and Electric Rodeo was back in full force this year after a three-year hiatus, featuring lineworkers and gas workers from different utilities putting their skills to the test. Dozens of teams, representing SDG&E, Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and other neighboring utilities competed in events focused on safety, skill and speed. Family, friends and SDG&E employees were also in attendance, enjoying the competition, climbing the rock wall and taking rides in the bucket truck.

Joe Torres’ last rodeo 

Joe Torres, now retired SDG&E Safety Advisor, was instrumental to starting the tradition of holding Gas and Electric Rodeos at SDG&E and organized the first event back in 1992. After nearly 54 years with the company, he just recently retired – completing a long and successful career serving as a lineworker, foreman and manager, among other positions. This year marked Joe’s last rodeo as an SDG&E employee and we’re very grateful for all the work he’s put into the rodeos for the past two decades. ;

“After attending a few other rodeos about 20 years ago, I realized that our spouses and children don’t get to see what we do each day at SDG&E,” said Joe. “We’re experts at what we do and we’re proud of it – so we decided to start holding our own rodeos to give our families and the public a chance to see it firsthand.”

Hear more from Joe and others, including Director of Electric Regional Operations Darren Weim, in the video below.

Rodeo competition results 

Electric lineworkers competed in pole climbing, splicing, rope toss, and Hurtman Rescue, while natural gas workers competed in meter building, service running, pipe cutting, hand digging, and final relay. Teams were competing for the possibility of moving on to the International Rodeo this fall in Kansas against other utility crews from across the country.   

• Apprentices Overall: We’re proud to announce that the winners of the Apprentice Overall competition were all from SDG&E! The top competitors include: Kyle LaRochelle, Preston Brown, Austin Anderson, Katalin Lucas, Robert Jenson, Manny Magdaleno and Branden Hunt. 
• Journeyman Teams Overall: SDG&E’s Journeyman Team of Spencer Sutherlin, David Martinez and Darius Smith ranked third. Teams from APS ranked 1st and 2nd.   
• Gas Competitions: We're proud to announce that a team from SDG&E's Eastern district was the overall winner for the day for the gas competitions. Congratulations to Keith Mulligan, Trevor O'Hara and Phillip Porco on their 1st place win! In 4th place, we had another team from SDG&E representing our North Coast district, which included Francisco Padilla, Luis Mendez and David Melendrez. Par West sent multiple teams to compete and we thank them for participating.