DENVER – 2012 PRCA champion Cody Teel does not have to look at the 2022 PBR schedule to need any further reminder of just how important a quick start will be this season.
A rider never wants to get behind the eight-ball early in the year. But with the 2022 PBR World Finals set for May 13-22 in Fort Worth, Texas, there is an even greater need to quickly start knocking down qualified rides if someone hopes to put themselves in a better position to win this season’s gold buckle.
“It is a little different,” Teel said during this week’s Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s Denver Chute Out at the National Western Stock Show. “You sit down and look at the schedule, and I wouldn’t say urgency, but it is a smaller window to take care of business. At the same time, I kind of like it. I like the idea of a shorter season. It is different, for sure, but right now, I am liking the idea of it.”
Teel was in a position to potentially leave the Denver Coliseum with an early-season victory following qualified rides aboard Crystal Fox (88.5 points) and J&M’s Yukon (87.5 points) had him as the top man entering Wednesday night’s championship round. However, Forbidden Fruit dislodged Teel from his bull rope at 6.79 seconds, ultimately giving him a sixth-place finish.
The 29-year-old will quickly divert his attention back to the Unleash The Beast when he heads to Chicago for this weekend’s Tractor Supply Co. Invitational at Allstate Arena.
Teel has drawn Slingin Lead for Round 1 (9:30 p.m. ET on RidePass on Pluto TV).
RELATED: Round 1 daysheet
The College Station, Texas, bull rider has ridden three of his last four bulls at all levels of competition following an 0-for-3 start to the 2022 campaign. Teel also placed third at the 69th Annual Mid Winter Fair & Rodeo in Lafayette, Louisiana, the first week of January with an 81.5-point ride.
The 2022 season will no longer have a summer break. Therefore, the sprint to Finals is hurriedly upon us.
“New year and everyone seems to be fresh,” Teel said. “Sometimes, in the second half, you can get caught in that lull of not having the fire and intensity. I can struggle to find that consistency, and everybody has that fire and enthusiasm right now. It is more so everyone is ready to roll right now.
“I have been going to some to get on more bulls. I went to one the other day. The more I can get on bulls, the better.”
However, another date on the calendar also stands out to Teel: March 5.
That is the day the Team USA Eagles will be defending their Global Cup title at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Teel has been selected to all four U.S. squads so far in his career and has been one of the most unheralded members, but he is 4-for-7 with two gold medals at the three Global Cups he participated at (he missed Sydney because of a broken ankle).
Teel knows the Team USA coaching staff is closely following the competition this month and wants to make sure he puts his best on tape before it is too late.
“It dang sure is in the back of my mind,” Teel said. “First, I am trying to get momentum going for the season itself. It is a short time span to do something good and get on the radar of whoever the coach is. It darn sure helps getting some momentum and doing good and getting consistent.”
TOP 30 RIDERS OUT OF COMPETITION FROM LAST YEAR
In 2022, riders who finished inside the Top 25 of the 2021 world standings will be guaranteed five Unleash The Beast events before being subject to the cutline. Riders who finished 26-30 will be given four. Alternates for the Unleash The Beast will be based on the 2022 world standings following the fourth UTB tour stop.
RIDERS FROM LAST YEAR’S TOP 30 WHO ARE UNABLE TO COMPETE IN CHICAGO
No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme (core muscle injury)
No. 3 Cooper Davis (not cleared to compete/illness)
No. 12 Junior Patrik Souza (broken left leg)
No. 16 Marco Eguchi (not cleared to compete/illness)
No. 20 Rafael Henrique dos Santos (not cleared to compete/illness)
No. 22 Cody Jesus (not cleared to compete/illness)
No. 24 Paulo Lima (not cleared to compete/illness)
No. 27 Eduardo Aparecido (not cleared to compete/illness)
No. 28 Alex Cerqueira (in Brazil)
No. 29 Colten Fritzlan (left shoulder surgery)
RIDERS USING INJURY EXEMPTIONS
No. 1 Kyler Oliver (two remaining following Chicago)
No. 14 Chase Outlaw (one remaining following Chicago)
No. 30 Stetson Lawrence (last exemption)
No. 80 Taylor Toves (one remaining following Chicago)
No. 46 Jess Lockwood (two remaining following Chicago)
No. 61 Tye Chandler (last exemption)
ALTERNATES
No. 9 Austin Richardson
No. 12 Manoelito de Souza
No. 18 Cole Melancon
No. 31 Adriano Salgado
OLIVER BEGINS FIRST STINT AS WORLD NO. 1
Kyler Oliver will enter Chicago as the No. 1 bull rider in the world for the first time in his career following a career-best 3-for-3 victory at last weekend’s PBR Major Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden.
The 22-year-old holds an 81-point lead on No. 2 Joao Ricardo Vieira.
Oliver has drawn Stunt Man Ray (21-21, UTB/METC) for Round 1.
The Roy, Utah, bull rider will also be competing in his first 15/15 Bucking Battle and is slated to face Diddy Wa Diddy (8-7, UTB).
ROUND 1 REMATCHES
Dalton Kasel vs. WSM’s Sun Country (88.75 points in Tulsa, Oklahoma, three years ago)
Derek Kolbaba vs. Buckeye Bill (90 points in Uniondale, New York, five years ago)
Silvano Alves vs. PBR on TikTok (6.39 seconds last season in Okeechobee, Florida)
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media