ProRodeo Sports News - May 14, 2021

RAMWorld Standings as of May 11 and 19 of the top 25 have entered the event. “I entered it for a time to go up there and see new places and faces,” said Colten Fritzlan, No. 2 in the standings. “I think it’s going to be a neat event.” Ruger Piva has competed in Alaska before, though not since 2014. He’s excited to have a good chunk of change to ride for, but it’s the gold he also has his eyes on. “I really want the gold, I don’t care about the money,” Piva laughed. Piva lived and worked in Alaska the summer after his senior year of high school. He worked for a concrete business whose owner was also a stock contractor. Piva competed in Palmer before the rodeos there were PRCA sanctioned. “I’m pumped,” he said. Friztlan has been on a roll the past year.

lot of those guys are curious, I don’t think many of them have been to Alaska before.” Frank Koloski is putting on the Palmer Xtreme Bulls. Being associated with the PRCA is something Koloski has always wanted. “It’s been my lifelong dream since I started producing rodeos up here, which I started doing in 2010,” Koloski said. Contract personnel at the Palmer event will be PRCAmembers. Koloski has used PRCA members in the past, but it’s been an undertaking over the years. “The first time I ever showed my face in Vegas to partake in something like booking an announcer or a specialty act, I remember walking into the convention and going through where everyone sets up and does their bookings. I’d stand in lines that were 10, 20 (people) deep.” Understandably, Koloski, who knows Piva and has been in contact with him, is excited to show off what they can do in Palmer.

NORTH TO ALASKA Top 10 bull riders scheduled to compete in Palmer, Alaska*: No. 1 – Sage Kimzey No. 2 – Colten Fritzlan No. 4 – Josh Frost

No. 5 – Laramie Mosley No. 6 – Trey Benton III No. 7 – Dustin Boquet No. 8 – Roscoe Jarboe No. 9 – Clayton Sellars No. 10 – Creek Young

* 19 of the top 25 bull riders in the world standings are slated to compete in Palmer.

Not only did he qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2020, but he also won the average at the NFR in Arlington, Texas, with 605 points on seven head and was the PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year with $241,447. Then, he returned to Arlington and wonThe American Rodeo March 7. What he hasn’t won is five ounces of gold, which is worth about $9,000. “I tell you what, hearing that will make you ride better,” he said. “That’s good to hear that that’s actually a thing. It sounds like a license to steal and I’m a part of that.” Piva is looking to reach the Wrangler NFR for the first time. As of May 11, he was in a strong position, sitting 12th in the world standings with $30,509. He believes a talented field of bull riders heading to Palmer only makes the event more special. “It just shows how much everyone wants to go, obviously for the money, but I also don’t think a whole lot is going on that weekend,” he said. “I think a

“It’s real, and I’m just setting goals now to make sure I take care of everybody and that I have the best presentation so if anyone is taking photos or videos, they can see what we have up here,” he said. Fritzlan and his fellow riders are ready to go see what Koloski and company have up there. “It’s not every day you can go up to Alaska and ride bulls,” he said. “It’ s kind of a new deal. I think we’re pretty fired up for it. I think it’s going to be different, but a good different.” Piva can attest to that. “I just talked (to other bull riders) about how cool it was and how pretty it was,” he said. “I’m not sure how warm it will be, but I told them about seeing my daily moose and lots of bears.”

Photo courtesy Dawn MacBeth Primera

Livestock in Palmer, Alaska, await their turn in the arena before a past event.

ProRodeo Sports News 5/14/2021

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