ProRodeo Sports News - March 23, 2018

A familiar face at a number of PRCA Industry Outreach events, Nick LaDuke stops to take a photo with a camp participant at Hidden Springs Youth Ranch in Texas, March 13. PRCA ProRodeo file photo

For LaDuke, rodeo offers chance to give back BY NICK CICERE A day in the life of saddle bronc rider Nick LaDuke wouldn’t appear to have much downtime. Riding bucking horses, mentoring those in need and slowly but surely raising a new roof are but a few things currently on LaDuke’s daily agenda. on several year-end titles, as well as coming up just short at the RAMCalifornia Circuit Finals Rodeo in Lancaster on a handful of occasions, LaDuke has finally found a remedy following years of riding broncs at a disadvantage. “I’ve got a leg that’s an inch and a quarter shorter than Beyond the Chutes

the other leg,” LaDuke said. “I broke my foot in 2015 and I blew my talus bone out, and a lot of the Justin Sportsmedicine doctors, like Tandy Freeman, didn’t think I was ever going to come back. It atrophied my hips and my leg on that right side because I couldn’t put it on the ground for four months. “Now, I have a one-inch lift in my boot to compensate for everything, so I’ve been giving myself a better opportunity at having a straighter pelvis and it’s been paying off financially.” Aman of many interests, LaDuke implements unorthodox, but effective, training methods to ensure his body can withstand the beating of a full rodeo season. Having trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu since 2012 – going as far as earning his blue belt – LaDuke’s outside thinking led to an unexpected friendship with former UFC fighter Brendan “The Badger” O’Reilly. “We kind of met through Instagram,” LaDuke said. “He was following me for my jiu-jitsu posts and rodeo, and I

Those pursuits follow a common theme. LaDuke loves

ABOUT NICK AGE: 33 HOMETOWN: Livermore, Calif. CIRCUIT: California EVENT: Saddle bronc riding RECENT SUCCESS: 2017 RAM California Circuit year-end title

rodeo, and his actions speak to it.

The 2017 RAMCalifornia Circuit year-end saddle bronc riding champion, LaDuke’s previous rodeo season was his most fruitful to date. The 33-year-old won a career-high $36,293 a season ago, finishing 29th in the PRCAWorld Standings. LaDuke has never been surer of his craft. “I’m as confident as it gets now,” LaDuke said. “For me, some of the body stuff that I’ve had going, it’s always a work in progress. With the team of people I have around me now and what I know about the sport, I foresee it being as consistent as it was last year, if not better.” The born-and-raised Californian will be making his first trip to Kissimmee, Fla., to compete at the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo, April 5-8. After narrowly missing out

ProRodeo Sports News 3/23/18

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