Westman youth heading to bull riding junior finals

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This article was published 25/11/2022 (1044 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After capturing the Canadian Junior High championship in Swift Current, Sask., last summer, a Westman bull rider is heading to Nevada next week for a crack at the world title.

From Dec. 1-10, riders from across the world will converge in Las Vegas, where both the National Finals Rodeo for contestants aged 18 and older as well as the Junior World Finals are being held.

If you’re wondering how serious the competitions are, the special dirt on which the National Finals Rodeo are held is packed up and stored at the University of Las Vegas every year after the event for use in the next edition. It is sometimes referred to as the “Super Bowl of Rodeo.”

Waskada School Grade 8 student Jett Lockie will make the trek to the Mojave Desert to compete against the best competitors in his event and hopefully come home with some hardware.

“I don’t really know,” Lockie said about his favourite part of bull riding. “It’s the adrenaline. The hardest part is getting the moves down. Once you know that, you can ride a lot of stuff.”

According to him, the easiest bulls to ride are those that just try to buck off their rider rather than a combination of spinning and bucking.

More than 800 contestants will compete across all events this year for the more than $1 million in prizes up for grabs as well as special silver championship belt buckles, says the website for the junior event.

At the senior-level event, the total prize money being handed out is 10 times higher at $10.9 million.

On top of bull riding, competitors will also show off their skills at tie-down roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling, bareback riding and more.

Lockie said his berth at the world finals — his first time reaching this level — came after winning a last-chance qualifier in Arizona about a month ago.

He’s been across Canada and dipped into the United States to compete, and he said his favourite place to visit for events is the site of his recent national championship in Swift Current.

“The last few years I’ve gone there and I’ve always had fun,” Lockie said. “All the kids that [were] competing there were from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. I like meeting new people.”

Las Vegas may be known for its casinos, hotels, a dizzying array of entertainment and neon lights, but those aren’t what Lockie is looking forward to experiencing the most while he’s there.

He said he’s interested in checking out the competition at the National Finals Rodeo. Though he’s still a few years away from finishing high school, Lockie said he would love to eventually turn pro and tour with the Professional Bull Riders.

The Canadian version of the organization made its Brandon debut this summer for the Mazergroup Chute Out event. Lockie, however, dreams of qualifying for the American iteration.

While Lockie is entering the biggest stage of his young bull riding career, he won’t be doing it alone — his parents are tagging along. He said his dad helps him get seated on the bulls when he’s preparing for a run.

“I’m a little nervous, but I think I can do it,” Lockie said.

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