Wing Humbled by 2018 Struggles, Ready to Rebound
By: Justin Felisko
January 14, 2019
Stormy Wing currently sits tied for second place at the Denver PBR Chute Out. Photo: Andre Silva/BullStockMedia.com.
DENVER – The tears in Stormy Wing’s eyes on Monday night were the prime example of just how much of a struggle the last year has been for the 29-year-old.
The eight-time PBR World Finals qualifier had just ridden A Man for 87 points at the Denver PBR Chute Out at the National Western Stock Show Velocity Tour event when his eyes began to gloss over.
The ride was vintage Wing with A Man going away from Wing’s riding hand and the Dalhart, Texas, cowboy fighting his way to the 8-second.
“He was a hop, skip and right there around to the right,” said Wing, describing his ride just as he used to do weekly on the premier series. “That is what I have been looking for. What I know I can do. It has been a long time coming. It feels good.”
Wing then paused to wipe his eyes as the tears began to roll down his face.
Traveling partner Mason Lowe had just patted him on the back and said, “I like that shit, bud. Great ride.”
The two bull riders both failed to qualify for the PBR World Finals in 2018 and have been working together to try and make their way back onto the Unleash The Beast after being cut from the premier series.
2018 was a horrendous season for Wing. He was 12-for-69 (17.39 percent) at all levels of competition and finished the year ranked a career-low 99th in the world standings.
Wing dropped 90 spots in the world from his career-best No. 9 finish in 2017 – the same season in which he rode three-time World Champion SweetPro’s Brusier for a sensational 95.75 points.
Wing went 0-for-18 on the Unleash The Beast before going 2-for-13 on the Velocity Tour.
He tried to express confidence in himself prior to his ride Monday night, but once he heard that 8-second whistle it was hard for him to not let his emotions out.
“It has just been hard,” Wing said. “Real hard. I have been fighting. Life has been good, but bull riding has been real hard. Eight years you go to the Finals and then you don’t. You finish ninth in the world and then you are 109th.”
Wing may be outside the Top 100 of the world standings following his 2-for-6 start to the season, but he can jump back into the Top 17 with a victory in Denver on Wednesday night.
One rider can earn a maximum of 270 points toward the world standings in Denver.
The Top 30 riders from the two-day long round in Denver qualify to ride on Wednesday.
Wing finished tied for second Monday night with Chase Robbins (87 points on Slow Hands).
Derek Kolbaba is leading in Denver following 88.5 points on Red Sails In the Sunset.
There were 13 qualified rides Monday night.
Some of the riders expected to compete on Tuesday include world No. 1 and 2017 World Champion Jess Lockwood, three-time World Champion Silvano Alves, Cody Nance, 2012 PRCA champion Cody Teel, Claudio Montanha Jr. and Joao Ricardo Vieira.
Lowe is set to compete on Tuesday night and he is hoping to following in Wing’s footsteps.
The two have tried to stay positive together as they try to work their way back up the rankings.
“We are in the same deal,” Lowe said. “It is in our heads. If we keep trying to stay positive together and start staying on it will click. Not that we don’t think about it, but there is no point in talking about the bad stuff together. You have to talk about the good stuff.”
Wing added, “I enjoy going with Mason. We both will figure it out. We will get the kinks out. We will be there.”
Wing has had some of his best moments at the National Western Coliseum in Denver.
He is 8-for-11 (72.73 percent) with two 90-point rides in six trips to Denver.
In 2014, Wing went 3-for-3, highlighted by a 91-point ride on The Rocker, to win the 2014 Touring Pro Division Finals.
Wing’s buddy Chase Outlaw – the 2014 TPD champion – stormed the dirt to celebrate with him that January night in Denver.
With the majority of his best friends in Las Vegas last fall, Wing said he turned on the 2018 PBR World Finals and was rooting Outlaw on from his couch as the Arkansas cowboy nearly won the event title.
Outlaw was bucked off by Snake Eyes (5.29 seconds) Monday night in Denver.
The No. 2 bull rider in the world expects Wing to one day make it back inside the Top 35.
“I know he will be back,” Outlaw said. “It happens all the time. It happens to all of us. You get in a slump and you think, ‘Oh shit. Is this it?’
“Somewhere you dig down deep and you find it. He’s got it. I miss him being on tour. He has good vibes. He is always positive and never negative. He has just been struggling, but we all have struggled.”
Wing still cannot pinpoint exactly what went wrong for him last year.
He says most of it has been mental mistakes, which only has added to his frustration about the situation.
Wing is determined to turn things around this week.
“It was my head,” Wing said. “A little bit of injuries, but I like to think of myself as tougher than John Wayne’s boots, so I don’t think it was any of that. It was just fighting my head. It is something you have to overcome and it is humbling.
“The higher power has a plan and he is just testing me for some reason. I just have to ride it out.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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