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Teel Hopes to Honor Frost with Victory at Cheyenne Frontier Days

By: Justin Felisko
July 30, 2017

Cody Teel finished in second place in Big Sky Saturday night. Photo: Christopher Thompson / BullStockMedia.com

BIG SKY, Mont. – 2012 PRCA champion Cody Teel has a long day ahead of him on Sunday.

Teel will only get about 4 hours of sleep if he is lucky before his alarm goes off at 3 a.m.

The 25-year-old will then hop in his rental car and drive an hour to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Bozeman, Montana. From there, Teel will fly to Denver and hop a ride for another hour and a half to Cheyenne, Wyoming, for the conclusion of Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Teel heads into the final day of competition leading the bull riding event at the rodeo and is hoping to earn a special victory on the 28th anniversary of Lane Frost’s death.

Frost passed away after being stepped on at Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 30, 1989.

“There is a lot of history in that arena,” Teel said. “All of the guys that have rode there before me. There is a lot of meaning to it. With that event taking place, it is as special of a rodeo as is. Then you add (the anniversary) to it and it makes for a very heartfelt day.

“It would mean a lot to win it period, but to kind of give honor to him and his legacy he left behind would be pretty special.”

Teel heads into Cheyenne riding quite the hot streak.

The current PBR Rookie of the Year leader finished second at the Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour event in Big Sky, Montana, by going 2-for-3.

Teel had ridden eight consecutive bulls at PBR-sanctioned events before Wicked Stick bucked him off in 5.76 seconds during the championship round on Saturday night.

The Kountze, Texas, native began his weekend Friday with an 85.5-point ride on Bumble Bee and followed that up with another 85.5 points on ParachuteSaturday.

“(Parachute) is a really solid bull,” Teel said. “I drew two really solid bulls. That always helps out. He was into my hand and felt really good. He had a lot of timing.”

Teel is 13th in the PBR world standings and earned 50 world points to extend his lead in the Rookie of the Year race to 191.67 points.

“Rookie of the Year race. World title race. It is all the same,” Teel said. “It is all about staying on your bulls. That is all you can control. That is what I plan on focusing on doing.”

Teel has drawn Cooper Tire’s Brown Sugar (41-15, BFTS) on Sunday in Wyoming.

“I have never won (Cheyenne) and I never have come close really,” Teel said. “That buckle is one you know and see. To be able to strap that one on my belt would mean a lot. Hopefully I can go in there and get another one rode.”

Reigning Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger believes Teel will get revenge and ride his bull and win Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Brown Sugar bucked off Teel at Last Cowboy Standing in 5.19 seconds.

“Cody Teel rode better than anyone here this weekend,” Berger said. “That deal in the championship round. Wicked Stick has been really bucking. He is championship-round caliber wherever you go. Cody rode him for over 5 seconds, but the bull never gave up and got to him right at the end.

“I am really excited about what Cody Teel’s future in the PBR is, and I am really excited for what his future is Sunday. I think he is going to win Cheyenne Frontier Days with Brown Sugar.”

Berger is also catching an early-morning flight and making the trek to Wyoming.

“It is a huge day,” Berger said. “For him to win it, it would be sure special for him and a lot of people there. He has the upper hand so let’s cheer him on.”

Also in contention for the victory is 2011 PRCA champion and PBR veteran Shane Proctor, who is also 2-for-2.

Whether he wins or loses, Teel believes it is important for everyone to still take time on Sunday to remember Frost for the person and bull rider he was.

Teel grew up idolizing Frost and the other riders of the 1980s. It isn’t uncommon for Teel to watch old videos of Frost from the National Finals Rodeo.

“Everyone grew up watching (the movie) “8 Seconds,” but it is cool to watch the actual videos of him and stuff,” Teel said. “It is pretty cool. Just the guy he was in and out of the arena. He was a true professional all the way around.

“A lot of guys should look up to that and try to follow that path.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

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