ProRodeo Sports News - March 9, 2018

XTREME BULLS

around. “They said he was a young bull who bucked hard, and he dang sure did,” Kimzey said. Kimzey’s 86-point ride on Cajun Heat turned out to be worth a total of $9,690 when he won the average. “The X Bulls are important,” Kimzey said. “Every year I win a bunch of money in the regular season and at the X Bulls, and the two go hand in hand. It’s not mandatory to win them, but it’s a big help to go into the X Bulls and have success.” Kimzey is fresh off his fourth-consecutive world title, and although his mind is on the 2018Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, his real focus is on breaking Donnie Gay’s record for most bull riding world titles. Gay was the bull riding champion eight times (1974-77, 1979-81 and 1984). “That’s still the end game,” Kimzey said. Taylor believes Kimzey will achieve that goal. “I’ve not met anyone with the mind game down as good as Sage,” Taylor said. “A lot of guys set limitations in life, much less in rodeo, and he says to, ‘keep the limitation because I’ve got my own.’ If he stays healthy with his mind the way it is, I don’t see why he can’t get nine world titles.” Before striking gold at Fort Mohave, Kimzey was fourth in the 2018 Xtreme Bulls Standings with $16,611 and was leading the 2018 PRCAWorld Standings with $68,809. “I’d qualified for the All American Finals, and I haven’t done that in years past because it’s hard to go to that many small rodeos, and that’s where most of my money came from,” Kimzey said. “Then I went to the RAMTexas Circuit Finals, and it set up the rest of the season for success.” Kimzey won both the All American Finals and the RAM Texas Circuit Finals. Now, he has another major win for the 2018 season to keep the ball rolling as the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo approaches next month. “I want to keep doing what I’m doing – going to a bunch of rodeos and winning a bunch of money,” Kimzey said. “Every penny counts for sure once you get to Vegas.” Winning Fort Mohave increased Kimzey’s total in the 2018 PRCAWorld Standings to $78,409, more than $21,000 ahead of the No. 2 bull rider. “We are getting to where the spring run is kicking off and I like to take spring slow, so this will allow me to take some time to relax and enjoy it instead of beating the trail day in and day out,” Kimzey said. Relaxing and taking it slow have an entirely different meaning for Kimzey, as he hits two or three rodeos a week this time of year. “It nixes out the early morning flights and the all-night drives,” Kimzey said. “I’ll still be rodeoing, but it’s not as grueling of a schedule.” This cool-down time is crucial in preparing for the summer run. “By the time summer rolls around, everyone else is already tired,” Kimzey said. “Once Reno (Nev.) happens and summer gets going, I’ll be refreshed and really ready to ride bulls while everyone else is tired in the summer when most of our money is made.” Taylor expanded on that strategy. “Picking and choosing is a good thing so you can save your body for the summer when it’s game on,” Taylor said. “This is a marathon, not a sprint, and if you’re out for 12 weeks in the summer and can’t get it done, then you can only point to yourself. He is selective of the rodeos he goes to in the spring because when summer comes along, it’s 12 weeks of nonstop going, going,

Even during the peak of the 2017 summer rodeo season, Sage Kimzey found time for fun. He and Tyler Taylor reeled in this 12-foot sturgeon south of Kennewick, Wash., on the Columbia River. Photo courtesy Tyler Taylor

going, and going some more.” Taylor was with Kimzey for 12 weeks last summer and was present during the Xtreme Bulls in Fort Mohave. “We had a lot of fun and played a lot of golf, and we caught a 12-foot sturgeon south of Kennewick (Wash.) in the Columbia River,” Taylor said. Each bull rider spent about 15 minutes trying to reel in the behemoth. “It’s all freehand and you’re gassed – he handed the pole to me and I almost fell in the river,” Taylor said. “We were pretty dang lucky to get that. “People always ask me how it is traveling with Sage and they think he’s a fairy-tale character, but he’s just a guy with a warm heart and a good dude who helps out when he can. Gold buckles come and go, but people will remember how you make them feel, and Sage has done a good job of giving back and making people feel good.” Whether it’s a trophy buckle or a trophy fish, Kimzey’s collection just keeps growing.

ProRodeo Sports News 3/9/18

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