ProRodeo Sports News - November 16, 2018

FINALS CANADIAN 2018 CHAMPS Bareback Riding – Richmond Champion Steer Wrestling – Scott Guenthner Team Roping Header – Levi Simpson Team Roping Heeler – Jeremy Buhler Saddle Bronc Riding – Clay Elliott Tie-down Roping – Shane Hanchey Barrel Racing – Callahan Crossley Bull Riding – Wacey Finkbeiner

“That really sets a guy’s confidence up,” Parsonage said. “He was there to win it, no doubt about it. He took advantage of opportunities with good bulls where you couldn’t stub your toe, and he didn’t stub his toe. He rode awesome.” With Red Deer, Alberta, being about a half hour from home, the Ponoka, Alberta, bull rider had plenty of family in the crowd throughout the six-day rodeo. “It was pretty special,” Finkbeiner said. “Red Deer is just a half hour frommy hometown. I had lots of family and friends there throughout the week. It was a pretty big celebration.”

“I think I’m going to enter quite a few more down there,” Finkbeiner said. “Especially come January and February, we’ll hit it pretty hard down there. As long as I’m healthy and things are going well, I’ll go hard down there and try to make a run at the NFR.” Finkbeiner has never been to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He’s As far as he’s concerned, he has little interest in setting foot inside theThomas & Mack Center unless it’s on a bull. “It’s obviously the best rodeo in the world and it would be great to watch,” he said, “but it would be that much better to be competing at it.” While Finkbeiner does have a trade outside the rodeo arena, that’s not what he does for work. “I’m a welder by trade, but I try to make never been to Nevada. ROADWORK

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Finkbeiner’s season earnings in the CPRA totaled $73,729. That success was due. “Wacey has as much passion and

dedication and puts in the work and effort toward it,” said Parsonage, who finished with $50,136. “It means a lot to him. On the obvious side he’s super talented, but I also thinkWacey works harder than anyone.” With the traveling partners taking home a good haul from the CFR, they’re planning on heading south for the winter, to the U.S. to see how they can do at some PRCA rodeos. Over his first two seasons in the PRCA, Finkbeiner earned $21,796 in 2017 and $23,384 in 2018. This season, he won the Tofield (Alberta) Bull Bash, April 14, with an 89-point ride on Girletz Rodeo’s Oklahoma Blues. His big haul saw him take home more than $5,000 at his hometown rodeo, the Ponoka Stampede, where he took second in the first round and finished sixth in the average. He also finished second at the Sundre (Alberta) Pro Rodeo in June. He competed in Denver and Fort Worth, Texas, and in the Xtreme Bulls.

my living riding bulls,” he said. “It’s a heck of a lot more fun being with your buddies, traveling the world and being able to make a living doing the sport you love.” He grew up among a family of bull riders. His dad, Jim, and his cousin, Jason, have both competed at the CFR. Naturally, he started getting on bulls too. Finkbeiner is excited the PRCA has added Canada as a circuit for the 2019 season. “I think it’s a good stepping stone,” he said. “So many of our rodeos are dual-approved anyways, I think becoming our own circuit is a step in the right direction.” As the idea continues to sink in that he is the 2018 CPRA bull riding champion, Finkbeiner is looking forward to receiving his buckle with his name on it. “As soon as I get,” he said, “I’ll probably never take it off.”

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ProRodeo Sports News 11/16/2018

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