It’s been called the longest and the most dangerous eight seconds in sport.
Williams Lake pro bull rider Kyle Lozier multiplied that danger by eight recently in Wanham, Alta, hopping on eight bulls over two days to win $25,000 and catapult into first place in the Professional Bull Riders Association Canada series (PBR Canada) and Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) standings.
“I was a pretty sore guy there on Sunday,” Lozier joked. “I was getting on four bulls a day, so it was pretty tough.
“Up until that weekend there I hadn’t been doing great in them. But that cheque was big enough to move me up to the top of the standings. This is by far probably the biggest cheque you’ll make at a rodeo in Canada.”
The 25-year-old lakecity resident, who spends his summer rodeo season living in Strathmore, Alta., bested 24 other men June 15-16, entering twice in the event to claim the top overall spot at the rodeo.
For his effort, Lozier was awarded the one-time opportunity to ride a cash bull, Slash, directly following the event. His successful ride granted him an enormous $20,000 paycheque, in addition to claiming another $5,000 for the overall title.
In addition to his PBR standing, Lozier is also atop the CPRA standings heading into the Williams Lake Stampede this weekend. This year marks Lozier’s fourth season competing in the PBR and CPRA.
“For CPRA it’s been a really good year,” he said. “I’ve been pretty consistent all spring and have been staying on a lot of my bulls. Before I knew it I was up there at the top.”
Lozier, who began his bull riding career in high school, said he hopes to continue riding well and plans to maintain focus for the rest of the year. He added he has his sights set on the U.S. Built Ford Tough series, with the Wanham win going a long way to move him up the qualifying ladder rungs.
“That’s the main goal,” he said. “Right now that moved me right up there, but I’ve still got to keep winning. That series [Built Ford Tough] takes a summer break. It more or less starts around January and goes right up until about May and to qualify it goes by money, so you work your way up the tiers.”
Lozier said he and his brother, Reid Lozier, 23, are both looking forward to competing this weekend in front of family and friends at the Williams Lake Stampede.
“It’s definitely a fun one for us,” Lozier said. “We don’t get home much at all during the summer, so this is really our only chance and it works out nice.
“We usually get to spend at least one night there before we have to leave so it’s good to see everyone.”