AIRDRIE, Alta. – There is a new No. 1 man in the PBR Canada national standings.
After suffering a groin injury in Lacombe, Alberta two weeks ago, knocking him out of action for the foreseeable future, two-time PBR Canada Champion Cody Coverchuk is now second to Nick Tetz.
Having now won a PBR Canada record 10 events this season, Tetz was able to overtake the No. 1 rank courtesy of wins in Tofield and Elnora, Alberta this past weekend.
Tetz, who was more than 300 points behind the leader just eight weeks ago, said he didn’t really expect to be able to overtake Coverchuk until much later in the season. Between his Arizona Ridge Rider commitments in the PBR Teams league and his impending nuptials next week, he thought he needed to make the most of the summer to simply stay in contention.
“I didn’t really think Coverchuk would be catchable until the Finals,” Tetz said. “After Czar, I could see it was within reach; I had gained a bit of ground on him there. A couple good weekends and things could fall into place. At the beginning of July, I wanted to just be at a spot where I was at his heels. To get to him and ahead of him by August is unreal.”
“I won’t be at any PBR Canada events until Grande Prairie (Sept. 27-28), though, because of the Teams commitments I have. I had to make this last month and a half really count to be in this title race.”
Coverchuk confirmed his groin injury and ongoing steps to get back into riding shape this week. While the exact extent of his injuries will be found out this coming week, he says he will be back riding at the Armstrong Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede PBR in September.
Tetz says nobody wants to see another rider injured, but even less when it's to overtake the Championship leader.
“Bull riding is dangerous enough that you don’t want to root against anyone. No one wants anyone to buck off. You want everyone to ride and you want to beat them on the scoreboard. Beat them in the bull picking game, too,” Tetz said.
“You don’t want to see anyone get hurt, especially with what happened to him. I have been there with groin issues. It won't be too bad coming back in the next month, though.”
For Tetz, who has experienced the sport at the very top with his protected roster spot with the Arizona Ridge Riders, qualifications to the PBR World Finals and the Calgary Stampede, he says the little events that populate the schedule are important, but even more so when you know who is involved in putting those events on.
“The Cup events are very cool. You're in a great building, same bulls, same bullfighters, the arenas look the same. But there is something different about getting out to those small towns,” Tet explained “The whole town has the date marked for that bull riding. They are just as exciting as the big cities that we go to with the Cup events, and if anything, there are more that know a lot about bull riding.”
“It was a special weekend this past weekend. Landon Schmidt, a good friend to many bull riders, he helps put Tofield on. Then Coronation with Darin and Lori Eno. The Enos are like a second family to so many bull riders in Canada. It’s great to go support those events and those people who have done so much to support you.”
This weekend is a single-header PBR weekend with the annual Glen Keeley Memorial Bull Riding in Stavely, Alberta. Run by members of the Keeley family and a committee, the event is a must hit for Canadian bull riders.
Tetz won the event in 2021, in epic fashion. Winning both first and second place and taking the event's unique best spur ride award, Tetz says it's one of the best events in the nation.
But unfortunately, the Calgary native will be unable to attend in 2024.
“I am upset that I won't be able to go to it this year with Ridge Rider events I have to be at,” Tetz shared. “That committee, and that family have done such a great job of keeping Glen’s legacy alive. I feel honored and proud to be able to wear the Glen Keeley buckle that I won in 2021. That is the buckle that stays on my belt, and always will. I don't think there are too many buckles that will mean as much as that one does.”
“It’s special in the way it happened, showing up and double entering then winning both first and second. I remember showing up with (Ashton Sahli) and talking about that time you double enter and can win first and second. I remember telling Justin [Keeley] in the arena after how much of a pipe dream that was. Not expecting it, but going out and getting my bulls rode, having good draws. And to do it at that event was just icing on the cake.”
Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media
