Kimzey Provides Added Firepower to Talented American Global Cup Squad

By: Justin Felisko

PUEBLO, Colo. – There was little doubt in reigning PRCA champion Sage Kimzey’s mind that he would be willing to miss a rodeo or two in 2020 if Team USA Eagles coach Justin McBride came calling.

Kimzey was an alternate on the Team USA squad at the 2019 WinStar World Casino and Resort Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy, and ultimately replaced two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood on the final day of competition after Lockwood broke his collarbone during the opening night.

The now six-time PRCA champion did his job for the Americans last year inside AT&T Stadium, riding Pure Gangster for 87.75 points in his one appearance. Once he got that taste of riding for the Eagles in Arlington, Texas, last year, Kimzey knew he wanted to a chance to help the Eagles earn redemption following their runner-up finish to defending Global Cup champion Team Brazil.

“I am really happy to be a part of Team USA,” Kimzey said. “We are such a singular sport most of the time. To have your teammates with you, to have Team USA on your chest, it definitely adds a little bit more to bull riding then what we usually have, as far as the motivation part of it goes. I am definitely excited for it. America has a really good shot at bringing the title home.”

 
Kimzey added, “I don’t know if there is any way that people who didn’t have America on their chest competing can know the heartache that I think we all felt last year. It is a position that has a lot more pressure than what your average rodeo does because you are representing something way more than yourself. With that, I love that pressure and I love that setting. I think it will be good.”

The 25-year-old was one of four riders added to the Team USA Eagles squad on Wednesday by McBride and assistant coach J.W. Hart.

Kimzey, 2012 PRCA champion Cody Teel, 2019 PBR Rookie of the Year Dalton Kasel and Matt Triplett will put on the red, white and blue jerseys alongside 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis and two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood. Chase Outlaw is unable to compete for Team USA following offseason shoulder surgery.

The Eagles have a stacked roster, but Kimzey knows it starts and ends with every single rider doing his part.

“At the end of the day, the job doesn’t change for any of us,” Kimzey said. “Bottom line, we have to get to the maximum number of bulls we can count scores on. If we can do that, we can walk away with a chance. If we don’t, then somebody else will. There will be multiple teams getting to that mark. With the Americans kind of being the home run hitters, if we can hit our mark, I think everything else will kind of take care of itself, really.”

The Eagles will not carry an alternate rider, and instead will field a roster of six riders. McBride will replace Kasel, who is recovering from offseason groin surgery, if he is not ready in time for the Feb. 15-16 competition.

McBride texted back and forth with Kimzey during the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and told him he would reach out to him after the NFR.

Kimzey was once again dominant at the Thomas & Mack Center in December. He went 8-for-10 to win the NFR event average title for the third time in his career, which ties an NFR record, while also clinching a sixth consecutive PRCA bull riding championship in the process.

Kimzey rode three-time YETI PBR World Champion Bull SweetPro’s Bruiser for 94 points at the NFR as well. Kimzey’s six consecutive PRCA bull riding championships is tied with Jim Shoulders for the most consecutive PRCA bull riding titles.

It is no secret Kimzey is one of the most well-decorated riders in PRCA history, and he is going to be a welcome addition to the Eagles squad that has come one ride from winning at each of the last two Global Cups.

 
“He is fired up and ready to go,” McBride said. “We are in dang good shape with Sage. It is having another really good bull rider is what it boils down to. It is having a really good bull rider that is pretty strong in either direction, which is a huge thing when you have guys that can ride in either direction. That is big, and can ride the buckers. He even steps his game up a notch for that thing.”

McBride is confident there is no better bull riding nation in the world than the United States of America, and he wants his riders to have confidence in their abilities when the competition gets underway on Feb. 15-16 in Arlington, Texas.

Kimzey is a career 65.89% rider at all levels of competition, according to ProBullStats, and he has the kind of confidence McBride wants in any bull rider.

“You make no mistake about it, he is cocky, and I like it,” McBride said. “He’s got a swagger to him. Here is the bottom line. Whatever you think of the decisions he has made over his career, he has a real belief in himself. You have to have that to be a great bull rider. You have to believe in yourself. Sage has always had that.

“He never has faltered in the belief in himself. That is a huge deal. It really is.”

Kimzey is no stranger to success on some of the largest stages of rodeo, including the Calgary Stampede and The American. He also won the 2017 Velocity Tour Finals event title to earn himself a trip to the 2017 PBR World Finals, where he went 3-for-6.

McBride does not care that Kimzey has other career goals outside of the PBR. If Kimzey wants to go break Donnie Gay’s record of eight PRCA bull riding titles, then so be it.

The Global Cup is not about the PBR vs. rodeo or any other debate.

McBride’s job is to field the best six bull riders out there to help the United States win its second Global Cup title in five trips, and Kimzey, who continues to not rule out a possible PBR run in the future, can help return the U.S. to the top of the mountain.

“It is about showing who the best country is, and Sage should be a part of that because he is one of the best bull riders in the United States, and he should be a part of that representing his country,” McBride said. “He understands that, too. We aren’t saying, ‘Hey, you come to the Global Cup, and then you have to come to all the PBRs, and don’t go try and win your eight or nine PRCA championships.’

“I don’t care what he does, but when it comes to representing our country, I want him a part of it because I think he is one of the best bull riders.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

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