LAS VEGAS – Sage Kimzey still remembers being 13 years old and watching one of his childhood idols – Justin McBride – win his second PBR World Championship by riding Camo for 92.25 points at the 2007 PBR World Finals.
It was the only time Kimzey ever stepped foot inside an arena for a PBR World Finals.
Fast forward to 10 years later and Kimzey will now be making his debut at the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena.
“That is pretty crazy to think about,” Kimzey said in disbelief. “10 years. Whenever McBride lived in Elk City (Oklahoma), that is only about 30 minutes from the house. I kind of grew up idolizing him and watching him ride. He was a solid, great bull rider. I don’t think there is anything that will ever compare to his ’05 world title when he was hanging off the side of Camo. It defied all logic, physics and everything. He got it done with good ole’ cowboy try.”
Kimzey capped off a 4-for-4 performance this weekend at South Point Arena by riding Vegas Lights for 88 points to win the 2017 Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour Finals and $26,300.
The three-time PRCA champion bull rider earned an automatic bid to the World Finals as the top finishing non-Top 35 bull rider competing at the Velocity Finals.
Kimzey rode ‘Merica (86.5 points), Sitting Bull (86.5 points), Ulterra’s Teal Steel (86 points) and Vegas Lights (88 points) to earn 340 total points toward the world standings.
He can now attempt to write his own chapter in PBR history.
“I don’t know if I would call it qualifying by coming and winning one event, but it is going to be an even bigger opportunity than it was to come out here,” Kimzey said. “Obviously, the PRCA has been my dream and everything, but PBR has played a big part in me growing up as a bull rider. I remember watching all the telecasts when I was a kid. It definitely has been in the back of my mind.
“To get to go out to the (World Finals) this year, 2017 has been a crazy blessed year.”
Kimzey, who is ranked 37th in the PBR world standings, has been on absolute tear this year across the rodeo trail.
The 23-year-old used 15 victories in the PRCA to end the regular season as the No. 1 bull rider with $237,152.27 in earnings. He is well on his path to winning a fourth consecutive PRCA championship.
Kimzey was also victorious at two major PBR-sanctioned bull ridings competing against some of the PBR’s top bull riders at RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN and the Calgary Stampede.
RELATED: Kimzey wins THE AMERICAN; doesn’t rule out PBR future
Kimzey also became one of only five riders to ever reach 8 seconds on 2017 PBR World Champion Bull contender Pearl Harbor when he rode Chad Berger’s bovine superstar for 92 points during a $20,000 exhibition bull riding matchup in Mandan, North Dakota.
RELATED: Kimzey conquers Pearl Harbor for 92 points
Those three victories, combined with his PRCA earnings, has netted the Strong City, Oklahoma, bull rider $752,085.
Kimzey said the magnitude of what was at stake this weekend at the Velocity Finals was similar to THE AMERICAN and the Stampede.
“For sure, this is a big weekend for me, especially with what I know is lurking in the realms,” Kimzey said.
PBR Director of Livestock Cody Lambert has been following Kimzey’s career and is ready to see what Kimzey can do on the PBR’s grandest stage.
“I have seen him a lot,” Lambert said. “He rode just like he did. He hasn’t been on one PBR Finals bull yet this week, but I expect him to handle them too. If there is anyone that questioned whether we got all of the best bull riders in the world at the Finals, now the question is answered.”
Lambert added it is fair to expect Kimzey to contend for a PBR World Finals victory.
“He will be right in there on the last day with a chance to win it,” Lambert said. “He is that good. I have been thinking that for a long time. I wondered about it a year ago, but I have seen him ride at THE AMERICAN, Calgary and a few rodeos and I come out to the NFR every year. I have seen Sage ride 40 or 50 bulls and this weekend is definitely where he belongs.”
Kimzey knows there will be much chatter and anticipation about how he will perform at the Finals.
As he sat down to take off his riding boots during his post-event interview, Kimzey joked, “Now here come the Facebook comments.”
Kimzey has done a good job ignoring the outside noise and chatter about his decision to focus primarily at PRCA events and not make a full-time attempt at the PBR. Kimzey also has blocked out the comments that he didn’t deserve an invite to the Velocity Finals.
Whether people agree or disagree with how he qualified, Kimzey is set to ride in Round 1 on Wednesday night.
And, as expected, Kimzey is going to walk into T-Mobile Arena looking to win like any other of the 40 riders scheduled to compete.
“I see no reason why I shouldn’t stay on every single bull I get on,” Kimzey concluded. “At least throw my name in the hat for at a World Finals average championship. I don’t see why there is any reason that shouldn’t happen. I am a consistent bull rider. There is not a single type of bull that gives me problems or that I can’t ride.
“It is all going to come down if I can take care of business. An inch and a split-second is the difference between a championship and a buckoff. It all comes down to how good am I this week. So that is definitely what I am planning to do. Take it one by one just like this week. Stay on all my bulls and hopefully get another buckle.”
