Dec

07-08

St. Louis, MO

Daniel Keeping

VS

Big X

Mauricio Gulla Moreira

VS

Chupacabra

Paulo Henrique da Silva

VS

Short Fire

Alex Cerqueira

VS

Rombauer

Dec 13 - 14, 2024

Wichita, KS

Dec 20 - 21, 2024

Manchester, NH

Dec 27 - 28, 2024

Albany, NY

Jan 3 - 5, 2025

New York, NY

Jan 10 - 11, 2025

Rosemont, IL

Jan 17 - 18, 2025

Houston, TX

Jan 24 - 25, 2025

Pittsburgh, PA

Jan 31 - Feb 2, 2025

Sacramento, CA

Feb 7 - 8, 2025

Salt Lake City, UT

Feb 14 - 15, 2025

Indianapolis, IN

Feb 22 - 23, 2025

Jacksonville, FL

Mar 1 - 2, 2025

Milwaukee, WI

Mar 8 - 9, 2025

North Little Rock, AR

Mar 15 - 16, 2025

Louisville, KY

Mar 21 - 23, 2025

Palm Desert, CA

Mar 28 - 30, 2025

Albuquerque, NM

Apr 4 - 6, 2025

Sioux Falls, SD

Apr 12 - 13, 2025

Billings, MT

Apr 18 - 19, 2025

Nampa, ID

Apr 26 - 27, 2025

Tacoma, WA

May 8 - 11, 2025

Fort Worth, TX

May 14 - 15, 2025

Fort Worth, TX

May 17 - 18, 2025

Arlington, TX

Nov 14 - 15, 2025

Tucson, AZ

Dec 6 - 7, 2025

St. Louis, MO

Jan 3 - 4, 2025

Portland, OR

Jan 4, 2025

Birmingham, AL

Jan 10 - 11, 2025

Spokane, WA

Jan 10 - 11, 2025

North Charleston, SC

Jan 13 - 15, 2025

Denver, CO

Jan 17 - 18, 2025

Charleston, WV

Jan 18, 2025

Bakersfield, CA

Jan 24 - 25, 2025

Tulsa, OK

Jan 24 - 25, 2025

Grand Rapids, MI

Jan 31 - Feb 1, 2025

Laredo, TX

Jan 31 - Feb 1, 2025

Greenville, SC

Feb 7 - 8, 2025

Youngstown, OH

Feb 7 - 8, 2025

Reading, PA

Feb 14 - 15, 2025

Everett, WA

Feb 15, 2025

Memphis, TN

Feb 21 - 22, 2025

Reno, NV

Feb 22 - 23, 2025

Worcester, MA

Feb 28 - Mar 1, 2025

Norfolk, VA

Feb 28 - Mar 1, 2025

Bridgeport, CT

Mar 7 - 8, 2025

Lexington, KY

Mar 7 - 9, 2025

Bangor, ME

Mar 14 - 15, 2025

Tallahassee, FL

Mar 15, 2025

Knoxville, TN

Mar 21 - 22, 2025

Fairborn, OH

Mar 21 - 22, 2025

Wheeling, WV

Mar 28 - 29, 2025

Fresno, CA

Mar 29, 2025

Lincoln, NE

Apr 4 - 5, 2025

Eugene, OR

Apr 11 - 12, 2025

Grand Forks, ND

Apr 19, 2025

Oakland, CA

May 2 - 3, 2025

Corpus Christi, TX

John Crimber prepares to make Unleash The Beast debut Friday night in Tucson, Arizona

11.08.23 - Unleash The Beast

John Crimber prepares to make Unleash The Beast debut Friday night in Tucson, Arizona

Equipped with all the tools needed, can the talented 18-year-old impress in his first premier series event?

By James Youness

PUEBLO, Colo. – As the fall season continues to morph into the chills of winter peril, PBR’s Unleash The Beast is preparing to begin yet another seven-month trek with the goal of crowning one man the 2024 PBR World Champion.

Set to host 40 of the best bull riders in the world inside Tucson Arena in Tucson, Arizona, Nov. 10-11, fans from around the world will gather out west to usher in the 31st premier series slate in PBR history.

Each season, the organization’s top tour welcomes a few new riders via various qualification pathways.

Every few years, a star is born, with guys like Boudreaux Campbell and Bob Mitchell storming onto the scene en route to capturing PBR Rookie of the Year rights while making names for themselves.

Even rarer, Unleash The Beast has been known to introduce some of the industry’s next record-setters.

Guys that are changing the game in real-time. Men who have intentions of winning, and only winning.

We’re talking about World Champions like Jose Vitor Leme, Kaique Pacheco and Silvano Alves (who combine for six world titles alone, respectively).

Dudes who make fans reconsider who their favorite riders are, and whether or not the best of all-time has yet to even enter the chutes.

With 18-year-old phenom John Crimber expected to make his UTB debut Friday night during a dance with Border Wall, he’s not only the odds-on favorite to be crowned the 2024 PBR Rookie of the Year but very well has a chance to be the next big thing.

While the Decatur, Texas, resident’s time participating in premier series action has yet to begin, the rider’s journey throughout other PBR-sanctioned events has been well-documented.

Launching himself into professional competition days after receiving his PBR Card and turning 18, Crimber wasted no time introducing himself to Challenger Series competitors.

Netting a third-place finish in his very first venture, he went on to share his first event title with Wyatt Rogers just six days later, as each rider ended the bout with matching 171.5 aggregate scores.

Sharing the honors may have sparked something for Crimber, as the cowboy went on an absolute tear beginning the following weekend. Securing his first outright event title in Eureka, Montana, on Aug. 26, just two weeks after turning 18, Crimber unleashed his true potential.

Eventually securing nine event victories in two months’ time as the summer raged on, his goal of qualifying for the 2023 PBR Challenger Series Championship had been accomplished.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to be here in this situation. Being able to compete for a title,” John Crimber shared inside South Point Casino Hotel & Spa.

“When I started PBR, I really was just trying to see if I could make it to the Challenger Series Championship. To be able to win nine events and come here and finish second, it’s been a blessing.”

Exiting the season-ending showcase with a 1-for-2 record, he eventually finished just 27.33 points short of eventual tour champion Alan de Souza.

Coming up just short, it would’ve been easy for the kid to shrug it off and continue his preparations for UTB. And, well, that’s exactly what he did.

Getting his toes wet within PBR Canada competition as October came to an end, he actually went on to produce a flawless 3-for-3 performance at the PBR Saskatoon Classic, later claiming the title in his first international competition north of the border.

Hell, the kid finally just got his photo officially uploaded and linked to his PBR.com profile. Yet, he’s ready to give it his all in Tucson this weekend after instilling some confidence in himself throughout the summer stretch.

“It feels really good. I’ve proved to myself that I’m capable of doing some big things in this sport and being at 18 years old winning nine events in unbelievable. It makes me feel really good about myself and I’m excited for what’s coming,” John Crimber offered.

“Having a dad and mom like mine … they really support me, through everything. I’m just very thankful to have people like them in my corner.”

Taking in the thrills of the 2023 PBR Camping World Team Series Championship alongside his father Paulo Crimber while in Las Vegas, who’s the Technical Coach for the Arizona Ridge Riders, he’s either competed in or witnessed just about every major circuit in North America in the past few months.

“John is a special kid. Not just a talented bull rider, but as a person. He’s respectful, has a tender heart and he loves everybody. He’s always watching out for everybody,” Paulo Crimber shared.

“He loves all of those guys, that’s where he wants to be: when he’s around those heroes. Eduardo (Aparecido), Jose (Vitor Leme), Luciano (De Castro) … they’re real tight and everybody else around, and that’s what kind of makes him so special too, because he calls all of them uncle.”

From signing autographs to making pregame appearances on various broadcast and digital media platforms to enjoying some locker room visits and exchanging a whole bunch of handshakes, Crimber didn’t shy away from the interactions in the City of Bright Lights.

After all, he knew this was coming.

“I told myself when I started, I wanted to qualify for the UTB season, and that’s what happening. That’s all I had to do,” John Crimber shared.

“Now it’s time to go kick their ass up there.”

Listed at 5-7, 140 lbs. and coming into this weekend’s showdown in Tucson, Arizona, healthy as can be, things are trending in the youngster’s favor.

Especially considering he’ll be competing against a pack of riders who just exited the second year of PBR Camping World Team Series action just three weekends ago.

“What he did this summer is what we can expect from him at the big show. This kid just loves riding, he doesn’t care about anything else. He just wants to get on bulls and ride and make it look simple,” Paulo Crimber concluded.

“He doesn’t want to make a big scene about it and that’s something that impresses me. When you know what he’s capable of accomplishing, that’s something even bigger (his humble approach) and I couldn’t be more proud to be his dad.”

A year full of firsts, Crimber will look to keep soaring on the highs of year one in Tucson as he prepares to compete against the best bull riders in the world on Friday night.

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media