ProRodeo Sports News - September 20, 2024

COWBOY GRILLE WITH TANNER BARTH

Ethan Mazurenko, 21, has made his mark during his Resistol Rookie season in PRORODEO. The Canadian bareback rider is 35th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings as of Sept. 18, with $48,741. His biggest payday during the 2024 season came by winning the MSU-Northern PRCA Xtreme Bares & Broncs Challenge in Havre, Mont. He pocketed $5,386 after his 87.5-point effort. Mazurenko is fifth in the race for the Resistol Rookie of the Year honor.

ETHAN MAZURENKO

How’d you get your start in rodeo? Ethan : I actually just wanted to try it because I’ve been around it my whole life. I went to a school that Jake Vold put on and it kind of took off from there for me after I went to college. When did you know you could make a career out of rodeo? Ethan: When I went to college it all started clicking together a little better for me. I bought my permit the first year I went to college and started dipping my toes into it. The year after I won the Calgary Stampede in the novice bareback riding and then the week after I got on an NFR horse and made probably the best ride I’ve ever made. My confidence only grew from there. Why did you decide bareback riding would be your event? Ethan: The bareback riding is a tough event and not everybody can do it. You have to fight it out every time you get on and I really like that about it. Did you do any other rodeo events growing up? Ethan: I rode a couple saddle bronc horses in high school but that was about it. I was never good enough to do the timed-event stuff. Why did you decide to get your PRCA card this season?

Ethan: I felt like I was pretty ready this year. I had a pretty good winter, and everything was clicking together after rodeoing in Canada. So, I decided that this would be a good year to give it a go. What have you learned during your Resistol Rookie season? Ethan: It really comes down to learning how to rodeo. You have to learn to go to the right places at the right time. I got pretty lucky this year after Cheyenne (Wyo.) getting to rodeo with Orin Larsen and Kody Lamb. That really helped me out a lot. Who’s someone you look up to in the rodeo business right now? Ethan: I definitely look up to Jake Vold. He was the guy I followed along the whole way up to this point in my career. Clint Laye has helped me out a lot as well. What’s one rodeo you want to win before your career is over? Ethan: It’s the Calgary Stampede for sure. It would be pretty cool to have a win in the novice and one again in the regular rodeo. What’s your favorite movie? Ethan: That’s an easy one, let’s go with Top Gun . What’s your go-to restaurant before or after a rodeo? Ethan: It would have to be Texas Roadhouse. What’s the first vehicle you drove? Ethan: I think it was a 2004 Ford one-ton V10 truck. Do you have a favorite candy? Ethan: Those Mamba Sour Fruit Chews are really good. I feel like I get those a lot of times when we stop on the road. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not rodeoing? Ethan: I am a big-time hunter. I really like to go elk hunting with my bow. I like hunting just about everything and getting outdoors when I can. What’s your favorite holiday? Ethan: It would have to be Christmas for me for sure. Everybody has time off at that time of the year and we all get to get together. What type of music do you like listening to? Ethan: Rock n Roll is my favorite by far. I like Three Days Grace quite a bit.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/20/2024

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