ProRodeo Sports News - Sept. 6, 2024

XTREME BULLS BREMERTON, WASH.

Convincing

Taylor Toves cashes in with Xtreme Bulls win BY BRADY RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T o become a bull rider, Taylor Toves had some major convincing to do. He wanted to become a professional cowboy. His mom was not crazy about the idea of her sons even trying rodeo. The danger is real, and boys will be boys, meaning accidents happen. But Toves did some convincing. Once the family moved to Texas, they befriended a kid who rode steers. The opportunity was too valuable to pass up. Mom reluctantly agreed, setting in motion Toves career in arenas across the country. “Riding bulls, well it’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure. If you are doing it, you gotta love it, otherwise it won’t be any fun,” Toves said. Now, it’s hard for Toves to picture his life without being on the road and the weekly competition of man vs. beast. Cowboys don’t make a living making excuses. They pull on their boots and find solutions. So, when Toves faced off with Mother Nature and ornery bulls recently, he turned in one of his best efforts. In conditions more suited more for the fall than the summer, Troves took another step towards achieving a special winter. The 31-year old is aiming for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge berth, and moved closer to the top 20 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with a win at the Kitsap Stampede Xtreme Bulls in Bremerton, Wash. Toves posted an 86.5-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo Inc.’s Bert, snatching the top prize in what has been a memorable 2024. “It was a good ride. I had seen that bull a couple of times, and I thought he would fit me. And for dang sure that happened. He went to the right. And I was able to ride it easy,” Toves said. “I actually got to step off and not even get covered in mud.” The victory helped shove Toves to 23rd in the standings with $83,995 earned. Only 15 riders reach Las Vegas, the sport’s Super Bowl, but he has given himself a shot. It’s why he cannot give away any opportunity moving forward. Toves appreciated the strong crowd given the rainy conditions. Nothing, though, was capable of dampening his performance. He’s been on a bit of a roll over the last several months, winning three events. “This has been my best season rodeoing so far for sure. I am trying to make this last push and see if I can squeak into the Finals. But I have to keep doing good work,” Toves said. “It would be huge, a big deal. I rodeoed in 2012 and 2013, then I went to the PBR Finals a couple of times. But the goal is the NFR. I have never been. That’s where I want to be.” Toves has been putting in work for a long time. It seems like yesterday he upset the field and won the RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo when he was 19. At the time, it was the biggest win of his life, validating his pursuit of his rodeo dreams. At age 31, he is older, wiser, but remains just as driven to reach his goals. “I love rodeoing. We are hanging out with all of our buddies living a pretty good life. You can’t put too much pressure on yourself, even though we do sometimes. It’s just hard to describe. There’s just nothing like it.”

Kent Soule photo

Complete results/Page 61

Taylor Toves’ memorable 2024 season continued at the Kitsap Stampede Xtreme Bulls. He captured the win with an 86.5-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo Inc’s. Bert.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/6/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 9/6/2024

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