2020 Media Guide - World Champions

Saddle Bronc Riding

Thurston claims second world title in record fashion

The first time Zeke Thurston won the saddle bronc riding world championship he was 22 years old. The Canadian cowboy did it again in 2019 at the ripe age of 25, winning his second title with a record-breaking $347,056 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. Thurston entered theWrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in second place. He promptly won the first round, added a win in the seventh round, capped it off with a Round 9 win and took home $170,064 to blow out the competition. Unlike his first world-title trip when Thurston had to win the average in the 10th round to win the gold buckle, Thurston was in firm control in the latter stages of the Finals. He finished fourth in the aggregate with 699.5 points on eight head. That garnered him another $31,731. He finished ahead of second-place Brody Cress by $60,684.

“Man, the first one, I didn’t know it was coming because I was coming from behind,”said Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta. “This year, just being out front and having everybody chasing you, I’d rather have it the other way. It’s pretty stressful, it starts playing tricks with your mind and you think you’re losing it. But it all worked out.” In the last four seasons, Thurston has won two world titles, he finished third in 2018 and finished seventh in 2017. In that time, he’s earned more than $1 million. “I’ve been super lucky,” he said. “I love bronc riding, the sport of rodeo and everything about it. I’ll probably always be involved with it until the day I die. It’s amazing.” When the Finals kicked off Dec. 5, Thurston trailed leader RyderWright by $47,497. He cut that leadmore than in half by winning the first round. It wasWright’s 2017 record of most money earned in a

2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS

season including the Finals that Thurston shattered, besting it by $89,118. In addition to his three round victories, Thurston placed in four other rounds, including splitting third in the final with an 88.5-point ride. His round wins came aboard Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sue City Sue (Round 1, 88 points), Northcott Macza’s Get Smart (Round 7, 92.5) and Vold Rodeo Co.’s Sun Glow (Round 9, 91) This title was oneThur- ston craved. “It’s awesome,”he said. “I wanted this second one worse than I wanted the first one. I came close last year, but it was a roller- coaster out here. Lots of ups and down, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” – Scott Kaniewski

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Dan Hubbell

Thurston surpassed his competition at the 2019 Wrangler NFR after entering in second place and winning three rounds.

2020 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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