PRORODEO Sports News - February 7, 2025

WESTERN HERITAGE Denver Dominance

The championship round of bareback riding at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo was loaded. The events daysheet featured a litany of National Finals Rodeo qualifiers, includ ing the defending PRCA World Cham pion, Dean Thompson. But 20-year-old Kooper Heimburg – who’s still competing on his PRCA permit – was up for the task. Heimburg paired with Cervi Champion ship Rodeo’s Pearl Harbor for an 87-point ride to claim the biggest win of his young PRORODEO career. “It’s actually pretty cool,” Heimburg said. “I was a little nervous coming into that because all of the guys here who’ve been to the NFR. But I just wanted to do the best I could on that horse, and it paid off.” Heimburg didn’t know much about his draw when he pulled Pearl Harbor. But after reviewing some tape, he felt good about the matchup. “I watched a few videos on the horse, and she was really good,” Heimburg said. “I knew there some (rides) that were good too. So, I just went and did my best.” The Marshall, Mo., native is quickly mak ing a name for himself while furthering his education at Missouri Valley College. Last season, Heimburg fared well on the rodeo trail with solid performances, in cluding placing at the Cowtown Rodeo in Woodstown Plesgrove, N.J. and winning the Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo in Des Moines, Iowa. At the start of the new season, he won the three-head average at the PRCA Per mit Finals from Oct. 4-6 in Waco, Texas. And he hopes the win in Denver kick starts a strong winter run as he navigates the challenges of classwork and rodeo travel. HEIMBURG WINS BAREBACK ON HIS PERMIT

Bareback rider Kooper Heimburg holds on for an 87-point ride on Cer vi Championship Rodeo’s Pearl Harbor Jan. 26 at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver. PRCA Photo by Ric Andersen

An aspiring cowgirl holds on during the mutton busting during the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo. PRCA Photo by Ric Andersen

Barrel racer Carlee Otero poses with National Western Stock Show and Rodeo CEO Paul Andrews after her win at the Denver Coliseum. PRCA Photo by Ric Andersen

ProRodeo Sports News 5