Alves Brings Momentum into the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo
By: Justin Felisko
July 19, 2018
SIlvano Alves went 2-for-2 to win the California Rodeo PBR, his first Touring Pro Division event win in five years. Photo: Andy Watson/BullStockMedia.com.
PUEBLO, Colo. – It has been a summer of firsts in many ways for three-time World Champion Silvano Alves as he continues to compete in various rodeos for the first time in his career.
Alves’ decision to stay in the United States for the summer premier series break for the first time in his nine-year career has also allowed him to compete at select PBR events.
On Wednesday night, Alves earned his first Touring Pro Division victory in five years by going 2-for-2 at the California Rodeo PBR in Salinas, California.
It was only Alves’ second career TPD victory, and 23rd of his career at all levels, including PBR Brazil.
Alves notched the victory by riding Formula 1 Juice for 89 points in the championship round. He began the evening with 85 points aboard Angry Elf.
“Oh yeah,” Alves said with a laugh. “It had been a long time. I am very happy because this is my first time visiting Salinas. It is a big event with good money and good points. For me, it helps me a lot in the world standings. I feel great and am very happy to ride my two bulls. I rode one bull away from my hand and one into my hand around to the left.”
The Pilar do Sul, Brazil, native earned 60 world points for the victory, and he is now ranked 28th in the world standings.
Alves is 43-for-50 (86 percent) at the TPD level in his career.
Rounding out the Top 5 in Salinas was Chase Outlaw (2-for-2, 171 points, 30 world points), Stetson Lewis, (2-for-2, 170 points, 20 world points), Cody Teel (2-for-2, 168 points, 15 world points) and Brock Radford (2-for-2, 167 points, 10 points).
Radford has earned 350 world points in two months to move from 41st in the world to 29th.
The win is the latest accolade for Alves, who continues to thrive on the summer rodeo and bull riding trail.
Alves has won $27,309.86 on the rodeo circuit, and another $11,164.05 on the PBR trail. Alves’ total earnings this season in the PBR is $44,322.38.
“I enjoy all of the rodeos because I am there with my family for the first time,” Alves said. “My kids and my wife are enjoying it. Every day is different because nine years in the PBR, I haven’t drove like this.”
Alves rented an RV for the summer, and he and his wife, Evelin, have been taking turns driving all over the country.
The family is staying in Salinas today so that Silvano can compete in the prestigious California Rodeo Salinas before they embark on a journey to Nampa, Idaho, for the Snake River Stampede.
The Stampede is held inside the Ford Idaho Center, which is where Alves’ career took an abrupt shift when he broke his hip in April 2015.
Alves is having his best season since 2015 when he was ranked fourth in the world standings before having to get surgery.
He is 20-for-44 (45.45 percent) on the 25th PBR: Unleash The Beast. It is his highest riding percentage since finishing 2015 at a 46.77-percent clip.
Alves said his decision to stay in the U.S. this summer and rodeo has helped him improve as a bull rider.
“My body is 100 percent. I feel that everything is good. It is better this time now than before two years ago.”
Alves is 40th in the PRCA standings and is roughly $30,000 behind the Top 15.
He has never qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
“I try hard to make it, but it is pretty hard because I started late,” Alves said. “If I win some good rodeos right now, I think I have a good chance. I will try hard before September.”
Following the Snake River Stampede, Alves will head to Salt Lake City for the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo.
Alves earned a spot in the draw through the WCRA’s Virtual Qualifier.
The WCRA’s VRQ qualifying system ranks rodeos/events using objective data to break the entire sport down into four divisions. Total payout is the greatest weighing factor that places each rodeo/event into each division.
Division 4 (Total payout $0-14,999 Nomination Fee – $50)
Division 3 (Total payout $15,000-$49,000 Nomination Fee – $100)
Division 2 (Total payout $50,000-$249,000 Nomination Fee – $150)
Division 1 (Total payout $250,000 or higher Nomination Fee –$200)
Once an athlete has nominated a rodeo/event, points are awarded if/when the athlete places at the rodeo/event and earns money. Points are weighted differently for each division, and are scaled for go rounds and final rounds/aggregates.
“It was a surprise for me,” Alves said. “I am very happy because this is an important rodeo. It is a big one in a good arena. For me, I am very happy for the qualification for this rodeo. The guys invited me to nominate myself for the rodeos. I put my nomination in. They are treating the CBR, PBR and rodeos similar.”
The Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo features four Semi-Final performances (July 19-21, July 23) and then one Gold Medal Round (July 24).
The top two finishers from each Semi-Final performance advance to the Gold Medal Round. The final two spots will go to the two highest finishers from any of the four semifinal bull ridings that had failed to qualify.
Thirty-two talented bull riders – eight each night – will compete in the Semi-Final performances
Fans can watch the Days of ’47, which is a WCRA Rodeo, on RidePass beginning at 10 p.m. ET. CBS Sports Network will also air highlights from the Days of ’47 on July 20 (10 a.m. ET), July 21 (4 p.m. ET), July 22 (9:30 a.m. ET), July 24 (11:30 a.m. ET) and July 25 (7 p.m. ET).
CBS national television will air “B&W Trailer Hitches Days of ’47” on July 29 at 4 p.m. ET.
The winner of the bull riding gold medal will also earn 120 world points and $50,000. Each victor of the rodeo disciplines automatically qualifies for the next three WCRA $1 million rodeos.
“Right now, I am 100 percent confident that I can ride my bulls,” Alves concluded. “I feel great and thank God for helping me a lot and supporting me all the time. My family. My sponsors in the PBR.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
© 2018 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.