PRORODEO Sports News - November 22, 2024

Now, an 11-time NFR qualifier, the Elko, Nev., native has endured the grind of PRORODEO for more than a decade, starting his career back in 2011. His approach during the off period focuses on diet and exercise, with the intent of getting back to a carnivore type diet while at home. His ramp up will occur a few weeks before NFR when a handful of fellow steer wrestlers will join him at a facility near his home in California to run through a few days of practice steers. It’s a stretch he describes as “iron sharpens iron,” which creates a heightened environment compared to practicing solo. “Honestly, anymore I take my eating and my fitness more seriously than even practice because I can only run so many steers now. I try to run them in my head more than anything and just stay as healthy as possible,” Eldridge said. “Sometimes, I’ve run so many steers before I come in that I’m kind of sore, so I’m just going to try and make every run I do count and that’s the main thing is to have quality practice.” That’s an approach bull rider Clayton Sellars has come to appreciate in a very short period of time. As he prepares for his fourth trip to NFR, the Wildwood, Fla., product has learned that more bull rides doesn’t necessarily make someone a better competitor going in. A few years back, Sellars admits he probably would have been “doing dumb things” to stay ready. Now, his attention to detail is focused on tailoring his tactics, so that when the first bull loads up he’s ready to go. Mixing in the right amount of practice bulls will certainly happen, but so will a tremendous amount of running through scenarios mentally. “For me, I’ve got to sit down, close my eyes and see that, I’ve got to feel what it feels like, I’ve got to go through those situations in my head that I know are going to come, like when I draw that scary one and they roll him in and I’m tempted to get scared or doubtful – I’ve got to go through that in my head beforehand and handle it so when I get there I know how to handle it,” Sellars said. “When it all comes down and it’s all on the line, you’re going to sink to your highest level of training. I’m going to make sure my highest level of training is good enough to do what I need to do.”

Clayton Sellars made his last trip to the National Finals Rodeo in 2021. This time around he will enter Las Vegas fifth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. PRCA ProRodeo file photo

Zeke Thurston physically prepares before a ride at the 2023 NFR. Thurston won the fourth PRCA World Championship of his career a year ago. PRCA ProRodeo file photo

ProRodeo Sports News 11/22/2024

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