Sage Kizmey Wins Reno Xtreme Bulls for First Time
By Tracy Renck
RENO, Nev. – After winning five consecutive PRCA bull riding world championships, Sage Kimzey isn’t taking his foot off the gas pedal.
On June 20, Kimzey looked as good as ever.
The Strong City, Okla., cowboy captured the Division 1 Xtreme Bulls crown in Reno, Nev., with a two-head average title of 177.5 points.
“This is the first time I’ve ever won the Xtreme Bulls title in Reno, so now I can check this off my bucket list,” said Kimzey, 24.
Kimzey arrived in Reno second in the Xtreme Bulls season standings – $723 behind Trey Benton III. He will take over the Xtreme Bulls standings lead after earning $12,281. Kimzey has won a PRCA-record three X Bulls championships – 2015, 2017-18. Since the Xtreme Bulls Tour started in 2003, Kanin Asay (2007 and 2012) was the only other rider to win more than one Xtreme Bulls year-end title.
This was Kimzey’s eighth career Division 1 Xtreme Bulls title, tying him with Matt Austin for the all-time lead.
The Reno victory also added to Kimzey’s lead in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. He entered the Reno event with $102,057.
“When you do well in the X Bulls, it goes hand in hand to you doing well in the world standings,” Kimzey said.
Kimzey set the tone for himself in the first round Thursday with an 87.5-point ride on Diamond G Rodeo’s Make-N-Magic. That score tied for second in the round with Dallee Mason. J.W. Harris won round one with a 90-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo’s Flying Lowe.
“I had never seen that bull before, but he was a good bull and I got a score that put me in a solid position for the short round,” Kimzey said.
As the second to last rider to go in the finals, Kimzey took the lead with a 90-point trip on All in Pro Rodeos’ High Razor.
“That bull and I had some history together,” Kimzey said. “I rode him in San Antonio a few years ago and had an 87-point ride. I have always liked that bull, and he was great for me again.”
Harris was the last cowboy out in the short round but couldn’t overtake Kimzey as he was bucked off Big Stone Rodeo’s Spotted Demon, the PRCA 2018 Bull of the Year. Rookie Stetson Wright finished second to Kimzey with 177 points on two head.
Other winners on the Xtreme Bulls Division 1 circuit this season are Mason (Fort Worth, Texas, 22-23), Benton (San Antonio, Feb. 23), Tristan Mize (Fort Mohave, Ariz., March 1-2) and Trevor Reiste (Del Rio, Texas, April 26-27).
“This was a great way for me to kick off my summer run,” Kimzey said. “It seemed to take forever for me to get healthy after last year’s NFR, and now I’m healthy and riding as good as ever. I’m excited to keep my momentum going this summer.”
The PRCA record for consecutive bull riding world titles is six, set by ProRodeo Hall of Famer Jim Shoulders from 1954-59. Kimzey has an opportunity to tie that record if he wins the 2019 bull riding world championship.
“I’m not going to let up,” Kimzey said. “Every year, I feel like I’m getting better, and my goal is to win another world championship.”
Courtesy of PRCA