ProRodeo Sports News - Feb. 4, 2022

NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW & RODEO

Kolby Wanchuk made his first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge in December, now he’s building off that momentum as the 2022 ProRodeo winter season heats up. He made a giant leap towards returning to the NFR with his win at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Jan. 23. In the finals the Sherwood Park, Alberta, saddle bronc rider matched up with the 2020 PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s Vitalix Womanizer. Wanchuk didn’t back down and put together an 89-point ride to claim his first title in the Mile High city. “That Womanizer is such a cool character, takes a lot of rein, and tries his best every time,” saidWanchuk, 25. “He really drops out of the sky, it was all I could do to keep up with him and get my feet set. But I tell you what it sure was a lot of fun.” Wanchuk earned $8,222 throughout his four rides in Denver. He hopes this is a finish that will point his winter rodeo run in the right direction. Wanchuk finished 12th in the 2021 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $118,195 and placed in four rounds at the NFR. “Denver has always been my start to the winter, and I’ve had good luck here throughout my career,” Wanchuk said. “To win it kind of sets a guy up and now he can go have fun this winter and go see how much I can win and get things rolling for the year.” He said it’s now about remaining consistent and sticking with what got him in this position. “Stick to the basics, take it one horse at a time, one jump at a time,” Wanchuk said. “All I can do is go out there and do the best I can at the end of the day.” Wanchuk strikes Mile High gold Ric Andersen photo Kolby Wanchuk took advantage of a matchup with the Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s Vitalix Womanizer to pick up the win in Denver. He covered the eight seconds for 89 points.

ProRodeo Sports News 2/4/2022

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