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Dirteater knows he needs to show up continuously

By: Justin Felisko
September 18, 2018

Ryan Dirteater rode Cochise for 90.75 points to win the Atlantic City Invitational. Photo: Andy Watson/BullStockMedia.com.

PUEBLO, Colo. – Ryan Dirteater was sitting inside the locker room of Boardwalk Hall calmly packing up his riding gear.

Every couple of minutes another rider would come over and congratulate him on his Atlantic City Invitational victory – the eighth win of his premier series career.

Dirteater’s bold decision to select Cochise – a bull that has only been ridden 10 times in 62 career outs at all levels – paid off majorly with Dirteater making 90.75 points on the Jane Clark and Gene Owen bull.

The 29-year-old expected to ride Cochise, and his demeanor after the event showed just that.

There was quiet confidence in his voice.

“I decided to show up,” Dirteater said. “Like this weekend, I showed up. Sometimes I do not mentally show up. This is bull riding. It is a tough sport. If I could figure that, I would be a World Champion. Just like these guys that are World Champions. They figured it out.”

Dirteater was a simple 2-for-2 in Atlantic City with 84.5 points on Livin the Life and 81 points on Sam before erupting aboard Cochise for his best ride of the season since riding two-time World Champion Bull SweetPro’s Bruiser for 93.25 points and the event victory in Oklahoma City way back in January.

“That was the way to do it this weekend,” Dirteater added. “I just did what it took to win.”

2009 Ring of Honor inductee J.W. Hart said on CBS Sports Network, “Outstanding bull ride. Big strong bull into his hand. He kept his feet down. Chin tucked. Arm over his head. Excellent bull ride.”

In fact, Dirteater had only one Top-5 finish on the premier series in the last eight months since being victorious in Oklahoma.

“It is majority mental,” Dirteater explained to his own frustration. “You just have to be mentally tough. You visualize. Have a good home life. You try to make sure everything is perfect going into an event. You can’t have nothing in the back of your mind. You just have to have a clear mind and know you are one of the best bull riders in the world. When you do ride those good bulls, you have to take advantage of it.”

Dirteater also lost some momentum in the first half in February; he was ranked No. 3 in the world when Beaver Creek Beau broke four of Dirteater’s ribs and bruised his lung. He would miss four events because of the injuries.

This year is the second time in his 11-year career that he has won two-plus events in the same season.

 
Dirteater used four event wins – including a perfect 6-for-6 performance at the 2016 PBR World Finals – to finish a career-best fourth in the 2016 world standings. If he had been a little more consistent – he failed to earn points in eight events, as well as seven 15/15 Bucking Battles – he possibly could have been the World Champion as well.

The Hulbert, Oklahoma, cowboy is one of only five riders to reach 8 seconds on all of their bulls at the PBR World Finals.

It will take performances like that for Dirteater to become a contender in the 2018 World Championship race by the time the 2018 PBR World Finals comes around on Nov. 7-11 in Las Vegas.

Dirteater heads into this weekend’s U.S. Border Patrol Invitational sitting 13thin the world standings and 2,262.5 points behind world leader Kaique Pacheco.

“Anyone of us has a chance to win the world,” Dirteater said. “It doesn’t matter if it is your time or not. When you get on a hot streak, you just keep working hard and keep grinding. The sky is the limit. Ain’t no telling what can happen. There are five more events until the PBR Finals. There are a lot of points. I have to keep on going.”

Dirteater has drawn Hydrastar Slinger Jr. (41-4, PBR UTB) for the 15/15 Bucking Battle on Saturday night.

Fans can watch the 15/15 Bucking Battle on CBS national television Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

Dirteater is tied for the fifth-most PBR World Finals qualifications (9) among Top 35 riders.

He is 16-for-46 (34.78 percent) this season in 16 premier series events.

There are five regular-season events remaining on the 25th PBR: Unleash The Beast before the World Finals.

“When you draw good bulls, you better ride them,” Dirteater said. “There are going to be bulls you draw that nobody gets along with. They are bulls that you draw that a lot of guys get along with. You have to have a little luck on your side and when you do draw them good bulls, stay on.

“I need to just keep working hard. Working hard and keep trying to be the best I can be at what I love doing.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

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