Freeman Reflects, Builds on Lessons Learned from Ridge Riders Heading into Ouncie Mitchell Memorial Invitational
By: James Youness
PUEBLO, Colo. – Some things are bigger than bull riding.
Family, for instance: brotherhood, truly connecting with those you spend time with. Whether at home, at work or on the road, learning to lean on the people who share mindsets, differences and goals is important.
To understand the concept is one layer, but to appreciate the people, places and things that make life so special in the moment itself: completely different, and often challenging.
Especially when considering the year-round schedules some of the elite bull riders and bovine athletes of the world endure while representing their families, teams and ultimately the PBR.
Maybe, as a veteran, enough trips around the circuit will have you familiarized with those people, places and things worth dedicating time and appreciation toward, but for young riders trying to find their way, it’s not always an easy task.
Thankfully for Ross Freeman and dozens of youthful cowboys, this summer’s Team Series has provided countless opportunities for riders to learn from each other and, for the first time, a coach or two.
“It’s been an awesome opportunity to learn,” Freeman said. “Working with guys like Paulo Crimber and Colby Yates, they’ve been able to bring two different styles of bull riding to the circle. Paulo being Brazilian, Colby having two different backgrounds – bringing it together and kind of meshing it – it’s been really neat to learn.
“I’ve learned a lot about how to trust your foundation, trust your basics and don’t stray away from it. Believe in yourself. What works one time that doesn’t work the next time will still work if you keep doing it. Trust the process, and trust your foundation.”
Some of that confidence comes from logging qualified rides, which Freeman struggled with a bit on the Teams side specifically, going 1-for-6 during the regular season. But there are plenty of lessons to be gained in the practice pen, traveling with the squad and gravitating around some of the Arizona Ridge Riders stars in general.
With a veteran-heavy lineup featuring the likes of Alisson de Souza, Luciano de Castro, Keyshawn Whitehorse, Eduardo Aparecido and company, Freeman had several experienced riders in his corner.
“They’re some of the greatest in the sport, and it’s also being on their team, having that encouragement that they’re going to help you every step of the way,” Freeman said. “Any little minor detail, ‘Hey, adjust this, adjust that.’ It’s been awesome to have those guys have your back.”
Despite Freeman’s slow start to his 5-on-5 career with Arizona, the 23-year-old received calls from competing teams during the regular season with interest in signing him to their respective protected rosters, but he decided to stay with the Ridge Riders for the long run.
Asked about his decision, Freeman noted his bond with his teammates, or rather, his brothers.
“It was the family atmosphere that we have as Ridge Riders,” Freeman said. “We don’t just consider ourselves teammates. We’re brothers. Everybody on the team has everybody else’s back, and you can really feel the energy behind the bucking chutes.
“No matter what the outcome is, you still know everybody is there, everybody put out their best, everybody understands that and feels that way, and they have support like no other. It’s hard to leave an atmosphere like that.”
It’s not just the time spent with his teammates, learning about and enjoying the sport he loves, that drives the Kountze, Texas, native to continue grinding with Arizona.
“Our Every Second Counts campaign is something that’s huge to me. It means a lot to me personally,” Freeman said. “Being able to go to a community, find a charity or an organization, and be able to give back to that community and leave it better than we left it, that’s what this sport is about. It’s about giving back, and that’s something that I love about being on the Arizona Ridge Riders.”
Pledging to donate $50 for every second of bull riding action the Ridge Riders would log during its initial campaign, Arizona combined to ride for six minutes and 9 seconds (369 seconds) last season. Racking up a grand total of $18,450 in funds donated to organizations and nonprofits in need, Freeman and friends took advantage of the opportunity to support philanthropic efforts while getting their job done as a unit.
While the Ridge Riders have enjoyed creating that bond, eventually riding it to a second-place finish at the 2022 PBR Team Series Championship, they’ll be reminded of how important spending that time purposefully can be when competing at the Ouncie Mitchell Invitational Saturday, Nov. 19.
Following the passing of bull rider and all-around gentlemen Ouncie Mitchell earlier this year, the cowboy community is coming together to help fundraise for Mitchell’s 4-year-old daughter.
“The tragic passing of Ouncie Mitchell has devastated his family, friends and everyone in our sport who knew and loved this big-hearted cowboy with a kind and gentle demeanor,” said Sean Gleason, CEO and Commissioner of the PBR. “We are thankful for our partnership with Cowtown Coliseum and Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo to hold these events in his memory, and grateful to the participating bull rider and bull fighter athletes who are helping support Ouncie’s daughter A’nyla.”
With three members from Arizona competing Saturday (Freeman, Vitor Losnake and Mauricio Moreira), Freeman will be surrounded by parts of his Ridge Riders family, complementing the overall Western community coming together to show its support Saturday.
“It was a tragedy to lose Ouncie the way we did,” Freeman said. “He’s a great bull rider. I knew him. He was from down around where I grew up at, and he’s just a great guy. It’s hard to lose someone like that.
“The bull riding community is so tight knit, so everybody feels that loss. It’s important for us to come together as a community to support and lift his family up because that’s what we do. That’s what it’s about.”
Anchored by the debut of the 2023 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour season Saturday evening at the Ouncie Mitchell Memorial Invitational, Cowtown Coliseum will also host the Bill Picket Invitational Rodeo Saturday afternoon at noon CT, followed by the electrically charged Bulls Gone Wild event at 3:30 p.m. CT. The Memorial Invitational is set to begin at 7 p.m. CT.
Limited tickets to the three events Saturday, Nov. 19 at Cowtown Coliseum are still available:
Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (12 p.m.)
PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (7:30 p.m.)
Bull riding fans and supporters who aren’t able to attend Saturday’s slate of events have the opportunity to bid on e-auction items and donate online as well.
Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media
© 2022 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.