SALINAS, Calif. – Nathan Schaper has no intentions of thinking about his quick rise from up-and-coming Built Ford Tough Series riders to world title contender anytime soon.
Maybe after he retires many years from now, mused the No. 5 bull rider in the world, while driving north from the Fresno International Airport to Salinas, California, for tonight’s BlueDEF Velocity Tour event.
Schaper – one of 12 Built Ford Tough Series riders expected to compete – added that he hasn’t spent much time thinking about how the past three seasons he had to spend the summer break away from the Built Ford Tough Series traveling up and down the road in search of every possible point to stay on the PBR’s marque circuit.
Instead, the fourth-year pro and 2015 world title contender has been able to take the majority of this summer off and focus on helping out on his family’s Grassy Butte, North Dakota, ranch during their prime haying season.
It doesn’t mean that Schaper has gotten cocky or overconfident about his abilities.
Actually, Schaper is far from satisfied.
“For the time being, you never sit back to stop and take a break and think, ‘Wow, this is pretty awesome,’” Schaper said. “You have to keep setting new goals and trying to accomplish them. You have to have bigger expectations. I am five right now, but I can’t sit back and think, ‘Wow, that is really awesome.’ I have to move on to bigger expectations. I have to think five is not a really good spot for me. I need to be No. 1.”
It is why Schaper has taken the past month off. He hasn’t ridden in a Touring Pro Division or BDVT event since riding at the Binford, North Dakota, TPD event on June 27. A few days earlier, Schaper went 4-for-4 to win the Williston, North Dakota, TPD event.
The third-year pro explained that he wanted to make sure he is healthy, mentally charged and ready to go once the BFTS resumes on Aug. 7 in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Therefore, he will now compete in Salinas, Thief River Falls, Minnesota, Livingston, Montana, and Big Sky, Montana, this month so that he will be in prime riding condition for Biloxi.
“In years past, I was kind of on the verge of needing to go to Touring Pros to stay on tour,” Schaper said. “This time, I wanted to let my body rest. I thought about it a little bit. I wanted to make the last eight cup events in the fall count. I wanted more time off to come back stronger here and put more emphasis on doing good at that and finishing the year strong. Time at home has been relaxing and that has done a lot more for me then going every weekend.”
However, Schaper is quick to credit his first few years as a professional when he was competing at TPD events or other local bull ridings in the Rocky Mountain region with teaching him how to handle adversity.
Schaper competed at his first TPD in 2008 in Kansas City and it took him four years before he competed in seven BFTS events in 2012.
“That is what it is all about,” he said. “It is all about the journey on the way up and overcoming all of the obstacles. When you look back, it is about the journey.
“When I first came on I was 18, 19, 20 and I didn’t do well at all. I was confident I would make it, but I thought it would be easy right away. It took a long few years before everything clicked together. It came down to never quitting and trying harder and overcoming all of the obstacles. You build a lot of character and you get humbled a lot on your way up. It builds your character.”
Similar to Douglas Duncan, it is one quality that Schaper will be keeping an eye on at the BlueDEF Bucking Madness: Bull Rider Reality boot camp next month at Cody Lambert’s ranch in Bowie, Texas.
“What separates the guys in the Top 35 are their characters,” Schaper said. “They are great people, but tough. You have to be tough. It comes down to a guy’s character. You can really notice that right away. You can see if they are going to make it right away off the bat just from their attitude and character and how they handle themselves. Other than that, it is try. You can go a long way on a lot of try and little talent.”
Last month, Schaper helped put on a roughstock school in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, with Cole Elshere and Casey Brewer. According to Schaper, the three helped coach 25 bull riders, 20 saddle bronc riders and 10 bareback riders.
Schaper admitted it is a little odd being considered a coach at such a young age.
“It is kind of weird at first,” Schaper said. “I guess at this point, I never thought at this point of doing bull riding schools. It was really good.”
Schaper will join Duncan, Silvano Alves and Matt Triplett as coaches for Bucking Madness with Lambert and Justin McBride, who called Schaper one of this season’s pleasant surprises in May.
“Man, Schaper has been a pleasant surprise,” McBride said. “I think he stepped up pretty good. He is doing well.”
Through the first 18 BFTS events, Schaper is riding close to 45 percent of his bulls and recorded 26 qualified rides – both career highs.
The Bucking Madness application process is open until July 30. At the end of the contest, 10 lucky contestants will be chosen to attend the four-day boot camp.
Another lesson that Schaper will try to stress to the 10 finalists is making sure they are surrounding themselves with people to push them to succeed.
Schaper said it is easy during your first few professional years to get frustrated and want to give up. Hence, you have to make sure there are people who will push you when you feel defeated or are in a slump.
For him, it was Stetson Lawrence and Zac Peterson during his first few years in the minor leagues.
“It is kind of selfish to say, but it is not, but I surrounded myself with good people and good friends that were going to help me get where I want to go,” Schaper said. “You just work together. You are going to help them get where they need to go too.”
Schaper said it has been great having Lawrence with him on the BFTS this year. Lawrence is currently in his own career-year and is currently 11th in the world standings.
“It is pretty cool,” he said. “I am enjoying it a lot. Riding with Stetson right now is just awesome and so much fun.”
Lawrence agreed with Schaper.
“(Schaper) has impressed me a lot,” Lawrence said. “Just the staying focused part mainly. That is what I think has set us behind from where we should be. He has handled it very well like he needs to and I am happy we are both at the Top 10. It is fun to push each other and just help each other down the road. When you have a guy I grew up with going to high school rodeo with and be up there with you, it is fun.”
Before looking too far ahead toward a potential World Championship run, Schaper said he would like to get a victory at the historic Salinas Sports Complex.
“Yeah, this is one of the bigger bull ridings, I like to come here,” Schaper said. “I’ve had no success here yet. It definitely would be one of the highlights of the year to win one like this.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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