fbpx
Instagram Icon TikTok Icon Youtube Icon

12 Rodeo Professional Bull Riders to Follow Before the Calgary Stampede

Kayla Mandel
Written By
Kayla Mandel
Published On
Jun 16, 2023
A collage of five professional bull riders

Get ready to put on your fanciest cowboy hat and boots, ladies and gentlemen. 🤠👢

Because you’re in for a heart-stopping ride at the Calgary Stampede! Taking place from July 7 to 16 this 2023, it’s the world’s largest outdoor rodeo featuring the toughest competitors.

Since 1923, this annual rodeo, exhibition, and festival has been held every July in Calgary, Alberta. Its ultimate goal is to preserve and celebrate Western heritage, culture, and community spirit.

Celebrating this event just wouldn’t be complete without highlighting these 12 professional bull riders whom audiences just can’t stop cheering for! Here’s who you should be following!

1. Shane Proctor | @theshaneproctor

Hailing from Washington, Shane Proctor has always been “working to be the best.” Being a 6x National Finals Rodeo qualifier, a 9x Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Finalist, and the 2011 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Champion, one of the most celebrated professional bull riders! 

 Shane Proctor posing for a photo with his daughter
Image source: Instagram

2. Ezekiel “Blue” Mitchell | @thebluemitchell

Ezekiel “Blue” Mitchell knew early on that he wanted to be a professional bull rider. After watching videos on YouTube, he went on to build his own bucking barrels and a mechanical bull in his backyard! Fast forward a few years later, and he’s one of the country’s finest riders who finished in the Top 20 at the 2022 PBR World Finals.

Ezekiel “Blue” Mitchell
Image source: Instagram

3. Jared Parsonage | @jaredparsonage

Prior to becoming a professional bull rider, Jared Parsonage was also a dedicated hockey player. It wasn’t long before he hopped on to the competitive rodeo life. As of 2022, he holds 13th place in the world standings. In 2023, he became the champion at the Broncs & Honky Tonks Spring Rodeo. 

Jared Parsonage
Image source: Instagram

4. Ramon De Lima | @ramondelima10

Ramon De Lima is no stranger to making winning headlines! Fans of the sports know him well for being a rider who’s brave enough to take on animal athletes who typically defeat PBR’s top riders. At the PBR Gem State Bucking Battle, this fearless bull rider captured his first Unleash The Beast (UTB) event win of the 2023 season. 

 Ramon De Lima
Image source: Instagram 

5. Lucas Divino | @lucasdivinonc

There’s no denying that Lucas Divino has a divine talent for bull riding. Born in a small town in Brazil, this athlete has been living the bull riding lifestyle ever since he was just 14 years old. Today, he ranks 6th in the global rankings and reigns as one of the most recognizable professional bull riders.

 Lucas Divino
Image source: Instagram 

6. Austin Richardson | @austinrichardson22

For Austin Richardson, talent in riding runs in the family. His great-grandfather rode with the Hella Temple Black Horse Patrol, and his sister is a barrel racer. When he was 12 years old, he began riding steers with his friends—and the rest is history. 

In 2022, he climbed 11 spots in the global rankings, going from the 21st spot to the 10th!

Austin Richardson
Image source: Instagram

7. Griffin Smeltzer | @griffin_smeltzer

As a rider for the Austin Gamblers, Griffin Smeltzer is truly making Canada proud over in the stateside.

In early 2023, he won the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Event and currently owns the 62nd spot in the world standings.

Griffin Smeltzer
Image source: Instagram

8. Dakota Louis | @dakota_louis

Say hello to the 2022 winner of the PBR in Billings!

Dakota Louis is such an icon in the sport that he was even featured in Prime Video’s 2023 docu-series The Ride

Dakota Louis
Image source: Instagram 

9. Reid Oftedahl | @reidb90

Reid Oftedahl, who’s from Minnesota, has named the Calgary Stampede as his favourite rodeo because it’s “fun and the legacy and tradition of the event is so cool.”

As one of the most popular professional bull riders, Reid Oftedahl ranks at number 16 in the world standings. Back in 2022, he suffered major head and neck injuries at the NFR—but being the unstoppable cowboy that he is, he’s since been quickly on his way to recovery. 

Reid Oftedahl
Image source: Instagram

10. Clayton Sellars | @clayton.sellars

Growing up as a cowboy kid, Clayton Sellars always knew what he wanted to be. Upon turning 18, he immediately went pro.

Fast forward to 2022, and he succeeded in making a name for himself by ranking 24th in the world standings.

Clayton Sellars
Image source: Instagram

11. Creek Young | @creek_young

Even as a teen, it was clear that Creek Young would be raking in achievements. He won the year-end and rookie of the year titles with the American Cowboys Rodeo Association (ACRA) in 2018.

By 2021, he was the champion at the Strawberry Days Rodeo in Pleasant Grove, Utah. At only 22 years old, Creek Young’s already 11th in the world rankings.

Creek Young
Image source: Instagram 

12. Trey Kimzey | @treykimzey

Fans of the sport might recognize Trey Kimzey as the younger brother of seven-time PBR world champion Sage Kimzey.

Forging his own path as one of the professional bull riders to be reckoned with, he scored 91 points at the Xtreme Bulls & Broncs and 90.5 points at the St.Paul Rodeo, both in 2022.

Trey Kimzey
Image source: Instagram 

Saddle up: Take a Ride on Influencer Marketing

In the rodeo scene, these professional bull riders have all eyes on them—and if you’re looking to get your brand seen by the same adoring crowds, then it’s time to take a ride on influencer marketing.

Through this winning strategy, you get to collaborate with famous professional bull riders who’ll uplift your brand in social spaces.

Ready for the exciting ride that is influencer marketing? The Influence Agency is a team of digital marketing experts who can make it happen for you. Connect with us now to saddle up and get started!

Share this

Kayla Mandel

Kayla Mandel is a Client Success Manager at TIA, specializing in Influencer Marketing campaigns. She’s passionate about music, travel and interior design.
More by this author

Read more from Influencer Marketing


SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Stay up to date with the latest marketing, social media tips, guides and news.



EXPLORE BY TOPICS

Location Map - The Influence Agency
Background Image

Connect With Us!

    Background Image
    The Influence Agency: Influencer Marketing Toronto