Trevor Reiste Looks to Repeat at George Paul Memorial Xtreme Bull Riding
Trevor Reiste is hoping he can do it again.
The Linden, Iowa, cowboy won the two-head average at the George Paul Memorial Xtreme Bull Riding in 2019. The most-recent champ of the event is hoping he can repeat when the 43rd edition of the Division 1 event in Del Rio, Texas, happens May 21-22.
“I have good memories going back there and the game plan is to win it again,” said Reiste, 28. “It’s unbelievable and mind-blowing to win an event like that. The George Paul has been a prestigious event for years, and for it to be my first career Xtreme Bulls win was awesome.”
Reiste won the event with 180.5 points on two head in the Division 1 Xtreme Bulls event two years ago. The world’s original and longest-running bull riding stand-alone event was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reiste joined a list of champions at the George Paul Memorial that’s littered with ProRodeo Hall of Famers like Denny Flynn, Charlie Sampson, Lane Frost and Tuff Hedeman.
Reiste, who qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2017, will compete May 22 in Del Rio. He will get onboard Rafter G Rodeo’s Pretty Boy Floyd in the long round.
“They have an outstanding crowd there every year, and that gets you even more amped up,” Reiste said. “They love their bull riding, and every dollar counts for us. If you can win a big event like this it puts you on the path to get to another NFR.”
The event will be broadcast on The Cowboy Channel and streamed on the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus App at 9 p.m. (ET) each day.
The format each day will be a 40-man long round and a 10-man short round. The scores from each day will be combined to crown an overall champion.
“Their county judge has opened them to 100% capacity, and we are expecting a big crowd,” said Casey Harp, production manager for Rafter G Rodeo, the primary stock contractor for the event. “It’s the biggest event in (Del Rio) every year and obviously it’s a historic event being the original stand-alone bull riding.”
Six-time world champion Sage Kimzey is making a return trip to Del Rio and looking for his first event crown there.
“I’ve finished in the top five several times, but I’ve never won the title,” said Kimzey, who is leading the 2020 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $72,780. “When you start talking about the history of bull riding, it (the George Paul Memorial) is where it started. It was the first stand-alone event, and it’s what we owe modern-day bull riding to. It was kind of the precursor for everything we get to enjoy today. It would mean a lot if I could win it because anybody who is anybody has been to the George Paul over the years. To add my name to that champions list would be really good.”
Kimzey drew 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Wicked Sensation in the long round May 22.
Reigning PRCA Bull Riding World Champion Stetson Wright rides Friday in the long round on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Highway Junkie.
Courtesy of PRCA