Valdiviezo Rides for Country and Familia

LAS VEGAS – Jorge Valdiviezo uneasily climbed aboard the little calf, unsure of where to position himself and how exactly he was going to ride this animal on a ranch in Baja California, Mexico.

Valdiviezo was only 10 years old at the time, and it was one thing to watch his dad, Jorge Sr., ride bareback horses at local Mexican rodeos, but it was another for him to actually decide to try and ride one himself.

His brain was racing a mile a minute with questions. Where should he place his legs? What should he do with his hands? What would happen if he couldn’t hang on?

Jorge Sr. then pulled his son close and said, “I will catch you, and never let you go.”

A few minutes later, and Jorge Jr. was racing across the family friend’s ranch in the mountainous village of La Misión atop the calf as if it was second nature.

It was Valdiviezo’s first ride on any animal, and throughout the next 16 years many more rides would come. From calves to steers to bulls, Jorge Jr. learned how to ride them all.

And Valdiviezo’s father has been right beside him with loving support through it all.

Valdiviezo was finally able to ride in front of his father at a PBR event in the United States on Friday night after Jorge Sr. and his wife, Marta, drove six hours from Mexico to cheer on their son at Last Cowboy Standing.

Jorge Sr. had never watched his son compete on American soil.

Valdiviezo didn’t want to disappoint his family either as he rode Buffalo Jump for a career-high 88.5 points to finish Round 1 in second place for 75 world points.

He heads into Saturday night’s final day of competition in position to win his first career event and $100,000. Valdiviezo is ranked 27th in the world standings and has drawn Buckle Up (11-4, BFTS) in Round 2.

The conclusion of Last Cowboy Standing can be seen exclusively on CBS national television Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.

“My dad has done so much for our family,” Valdiviezo said. “They (Jorge Sr. and Marta) support me a lot when I was a kid and younger. This moment and this ride is for them. Absolutely.”

Jorge Sr. was listening to his son’s interview as tears began to slowly cause his dry eyes to glisten amidst the 96 degree Las Vegas evening heat.

“This is his dream, and my dream too,” Jorge Sr. said. “It was very, very exciting. I have waited a long time for this moment. I am excited for him and my family.”

Jorge Jr. decided to move to San Antonio, Texas, in 2014 to pursue his bull riding dream full-time. He already was a national champion bull rider in Mexico and knew he had nothing left to prove back home.

The 26-year-old wanted to give his family a better opportunity, and he knew the only way to do so was to move to the United States.

“My dad rode bareback horses,” Jorge Jr said with pride. “I watched him and tried to ride the same. 15 years later I am here and couldn’t be more excited. This is a very big moment for us. It is a dream. We try so hard and we are not rich. We need to try hard and work hard to come here. That is why we are together.”

Jorge Sr. admits he is scared and worried, like any parent would be, about his son living in a foreign country and competing in one of the world’s most dangerous sports.

His son is competing in Las Vegas with a right ankle sprain and a pulled left groin.

Jorge Sr. had only one stipulation before his son moved to San Antonio.

“I told him to go to school,” Jorge Sr. said with a laugh.

Jorge Jr. received a college degree in physical education and sports science from The Autonomous University of Baja California.

“He told me to go to school and go do good things for your family,” Jorge Jr. added. “He said, ‘If anything ever goes wrong there, you just call me and come home.’ We are a really good family,” Jorge Jr. said. “My dad supported me as a kid and now I can do something for him and my family.”

Jorge Sr. added, “When he started at 10 years old, he was a very good rider. With my support, we go to the rodeos in all of the cities. He went fast after it and then to the United States and has done very, very good.”

Valdiviezo is 5-for-13 (38.46 percent) in five Built Ford Tough Series events.

Jorge Jr.’s dad and mother got a divorce when Valdiviezo was 10 years old. Jorge Jr. and his brother went to live with their father, who later married his current wife, Marta, while the rest of their siblings moved in with their mother.

“My parents divorced when I was 10 and it affected me greatly,” Valdiviezo said in an earlier interview this season. “I think this made me who I am today because my father taught me how to dedicate myself and work hard for something. Due to their divorce, I dove deeper into bull riding as my outlet all of my teen years.

“My father is my rock. He has shown me that everything I have worked for is worth it.”

However, Jorge Jr. is very much aware he is representing the entire country of Mexico as much as he is riding for his family, including his wife, Natalie, and 2-year-old daughter, Mia. Natalie and Mia are home in San Antonio with Natalie’s mother, who is visiting San Antonio.

Valdiviezo’s fame and popularity is exploding in Mexico on a week-to-week basis. He gets endless phone calls and Facebook messages congratulating him on his PBR success.

It has been equal parts overwhelming and inspiring.

“When you leave your home and move to another country, you lose good moments with your family and your people in your hometown,” Jorge Jr. said. “I left Mexico to follow my dream. Some of the people remember that and they congratulate me. They say you try for your country. In my mind, that has helped me a lot.”

That inspiration isn’t one sided, Jorge Sr. explained.

“This is very, very important,” Jorge Sr. concluded. “This is an example for the Mexican bull riders in my town of Baja California.

“He is a hero back home.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko