GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Arizona Ridge Riders have one of the most veteran-heavy squads in the PBR Team Series, but its most lethal weapon may just be an 18-year-old teenager who is still adjusting to life in the United States.

Vitor Losnake has quickly developed under the tutelage of Arizona coaches Paulo Crimber and Colby Yates, and the Brazil native has become a go-to guy for the No. 3 Ridge Riders (13-11-1) heading into the team’s homestand at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Arizona has veterans such as Luciano de Castro, Alisson de Souza and Eduardo Aparecido to lean on, but the addition of Losnake via the PBR Team Series Supplemental Draft in June has always been one of the most crucial parts of General Manager Casey Lane and the coaching staff’s plan to build a championship-winning roster.

The Ridge Riders understood it would take Losnake, who lives with Souza in Decatur, Texas, time to adapt to American-style bucking bulls, and that is still certainly in progress. However, Losnake has proven in recent weeks he is ready to be a heavy hitter for his veteran teammates actually sooner rather than later.

Losnake has ridden six of his last eight bulls in PBR Teams competition after debuting with three consecutive buckoffs. Losnake leads Arizona with three 90-point rides. In fact, all six of his rides have been 89 points or higher, and he is coming off his best showing of the season with his 3-for-3 performance at Rattler Days last weekend.

It is rare for an 18-year-old to make an impact immediately in the PBR, but that is especially true of Brazilian-based riders. Many choose to stay in Brazil for a few years and compete as a professional before heading to the United States in their early 20s.

“I’ve always dreamed of wanting to come over here, and it’s so much better because I can get used to the bulls and used to everything,” Losnake said. “The food and everything (is an adjustment) and I just do not want to waste too much time.”

In fact, Losnake is the second-youngest Brazilian rider to compete on the premier series, and just the second all-time. Crimber, his coach, made his debut on the premier series at 18 years old as well.

“His mindset has been very impressive, and how big of a heart he has,” Crimber said. “He has been trying as hard as he can and not letting go.”

Losnake said he made the decision to move to the U.S., which began in upstate New York at Painted Pony Championship Rodeo events in July, so quickly at the encouragement of his father, Armando.

Armando has always been Losnake’s biggest mentor in coach. Armando, 41, still competes as a saddle bronc rider and he started having his son getting on small steers when he was 10 years old. Armando helped develop Lonsake into an all-around cowboy, and Losnake also has competed professionally as a saddle bronc rider.

His father knows the best opportunity for his son is in the United States.

“Everything I do is very much because of him,” Losnake said with the help of Crimber translating earlier this season. He’s always giving me good motivation since I got on the first calf and everything I do is for him.”

Vitor said his biggest struggle since moving to the U.S. this summer has been in fact homesickness. Vitor is extremely close with his 9-year-old sister, Lara, and the stuffed bull on the back of his riding vest is a lucky charm from his sister.

“I miss all of my family,” Vitor admits.

Whenever Vitor does get homesick, he reminds himself of what his father always tells him.

“Never give up,” Armando tells his son. “Keep working hard until you get to your dream, and one day it will come if you keep working hard and doing everything right. It’s going to happen.”

The ultimate dream for Losnake is a PBR World Championship, which he expects to chase on the Unleash The Beast in 2023.

First, Losnake may just help lead Arizona to the inaugural 2022 PBR Team Series Championship.

The Ridge Riders (13-11-1) have a crucial game on Friday night (10:45 p.m. ET RidePass on Pluto TV) against league-leading Oklahoma (15-10). Arizona needs to defeat Oklahoma (15-10) to stay alive in the race for the No. 1 seed.

The Top 2 teams at the end of the regular season earn first-round byes for the 2022 PBR Team Series Championship on Nov. 4-6 in Las Vegas.

“Yeah, I am ready to do the Teams championship and then trying to do the World Championship,” Losnake concluded. “I am ready to ride my bulls and see what happens.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media