ProRodeo Sports News - October 5, 2018

GRILLE COWBOY

Rookie saddle bronc rider Kolby Wanchuk, 22, was third in the PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year standings with $26,687 as of Oct. 1. The Sherwood Park, Alberta, cowboy is the son of longtime rodeo clown Ricky “Ticky” Wanchuck and has been around the sport of rodeo since the time he could walk. He has his sights set on making the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

WITH TRACY RENCK PSN

What has been the coolest place you traveled to? Kolby: Going to the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. I didn’t do any good there, but that’s one of the coolest rodeos I have ever been to because of the history of the rodeo and competing on the grass. I also got to stay at Deb Copenhaver’s place last year, and he told us stories going back into the 1950s. Why did you choose saddle bronc riding? Kolby: My mom (Joan) was a barrel racer. I went with her a bit, and I was helping my dad clown since the time I could walk. I also spent a lot of time hanging out with the Thurston gang while they were trick riding. I always talked about saddle bronc riding and that’s what I decided I wanted to do. Who were some of the influences you had when you started saddle bronc riding? Kolby: I was mentored by Mel Hyland, and (the late) Winston Bruce helped me out quite a bit. (Hyland won the 1972 PRCA saddle bronc riding world championship outright and tied for the world championship in 1976. Bruce was the 1961 PRCA saddle bronc riding world

champion. Bruce passed away July 10, 2017, at the age of 79.) Every video I get I send to Mel, and we go over them. I’m so fortunate to have him help me. Winston used to send me messages. He was just an amazing person, especially with the way he thought about saddle bronc riding. He would always keep you focused on the right things. What’s the worst rodeo injury you have suffered?

Kolby: I broke my left leg, and then two months later, at the end of July in 2017, I got kicked in the head coming off a horse. I won the rodeo, but I got caught in a bad spot coming off. The whole left side of my head is pretty much metal. I have six plates and 27

screws and a bunch of gold mesh in there. I got a chunk knocked out of my skull the size of a baseball. They had to pull that piece out and plate it back to the rest of the skull. It’s on the left side of my skull, right above my ear. I was very fortunate, somehow my head and brain weren’t impacted, and I was able to go to rodeos two months later. Now, in my cowboy hat, I wear a 2nd Skull. It’s a layer of protection that hardens on impact. I figured I needed to do what I could to help myself. After my injury, I was excited to get back riding again. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Kolby: I have one younger brother, Kyle, who is 16. He’s a team roping heeler and tie- down roper.

Did you play hockey growing up? Kolby: My brother and I played hockey a little bit, and we like to ski a lot. As I started getting busier with saddle bronc riding, I left hockey and skiing alone and focused on saddle bronc riding. What is it like working at CTC Golf and Turf when you’re not rodeoing? Kolby: That’s a golf course construction company, and they help me get down the road a little bit to rodeo. They also let me work when I’m not rodeoing, which is good. I’ve been working for them since I was 16. But, I’m a much better saddle bronc rider than a golfer. What is your favorite restaurant? Kolby: Red Claws Crab Shack in Arlington, Texas. When I’m there I get a big feast of crab, shrimp, potatoes, corn and sausage. What TV show do you binge watch? Kolby: Lately, I’ve been watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine and I also like The Office . What is your favorite big-screen movie? Kolby: The Cowboys with John Wayne. I loved watching that movie as a little kid, and I still love watching it. Who is your favorite musical artist? Kolby: I like older country music, guys like Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash. Whose tougher: a hockey player or a cowboy?

Kolby: A cowboy. Hockey players are pretty darn tough, but you don’t see cowboys missing time for a broken toe or something like that. Hockey is different, but you see cowboys pushing through a lot more to keep going. What is your favorite sports team? Kolby: The Edmonton Oilers. I like Connor McDavid. My family are huge fans of the Oilers. My mom doesn’t miss too many games, she has season tickets.

WANCHUK

ProRodeo Sports News 10/5/2018

ProRodeo.com

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