AIDRIE, Alta. – Coronation, Alberta’s Tanner Eno is on the cusp of qualifying for the 2024 PBR Canada National Finals.
Coming from the back of the PBR Canada national standings, Eno, who is now ranked No. 17, has turned around his season in the span of two events, showing how tight the back of the standings are for a berth to this year's National Finals.
The Top 17 riders will qualify for the 2024 Command Tubular PBR Canada National Finals, presented by Edmonton’s Best Hotels, inside Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Nov. 8-9.
For Eno, the successes of a sixth-place finish at the Cup Series event in Medicine Hat, Alberta three weeks ago, and a runner up finish to 20204 PBR Teams MVP John Crimber in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan this past weekend are testament to the work he has put into his mental health this past season.
Stuck mostly on the sidelines in 2023 with a bicep injury, and struggling with injuries and mental health in 2024, the 26-year-old rider says focusing on making sure his head was right was exactly what he needed.
“This year has been tough one. Last couple years have been dealing with injuries, and injuries lead to mental struggles and a battle with yourself,” Eno explained. “I had to erase the board and start over and pay attention to the small things. I had to get help. I have been working with Brett Gardiner to take care of that side of things because I wasn’t doing it.”
“This year was a bit of a write off. I would go to events, but I just wasn’t believing in myself, I was struggling. I stepped away for six weeks. It was a tough thing to do because all I want to do is ride bulls. I was in a rut mentally, and I needed to get help.”
After finishing second at his home Touring Pro Division event in Coronation, Alberta this September, Eno said he took a knock to the helmet during one of his outs and struggled getting back on bulls.
Searching everywhere for help, he landed on Gardiner, renowned PBR Canada announcer and mental health professional, to take a peek at his situation. It was a move that Eno said changed his life.
He said the keys to his new outlook started with, “learning that my A, B or C game is good enough to be one of the best. If I didn’t feel 100% I couldn’t believe in myself. Learning how to believe in yourself and be confident in your ability, as a person in general.”
“It takes the small things at home, the working out, the stretching, the mental work, the barrel work, all those little things,” Eno added. “It was mastering that side of things and letting go of the riding side of things. If I just make sure I do the preparations, it doesn’t matter what I draw, what he does, I have all the tools. That was a big thing for me.”
Surrounded by great friends and family, Eno says that the journey isn’t complete. The maintenance on body and mind is ongoing. He knew it was time to come back when realizing how much he craved bull riding.
“The thing that made me say ‘Let's go’ was how much I was craving it. It was never a doubt of if I wanted to do this, it was more just about figuring out what was going on. I found as many crutches as I could, this is sore, that’s sore, all that stuff. Then you realize you mentally aren’t in the right place. I took care of my mental health.”
“It wasn’t even just bull riding, it was the bigger picture,” Eno continued. “When I got my bicep fixed last year, I learned that your mind can be your worst enemy really quickly when you aren’t out doing what you love doing for eight months. It takes a toll on the guy.”
“I wasn’t open about it, but I won't hide it now. I want more people to know it’s ok to struggle. The best of the best struggle.”
After the success of the past few weeks, Eno says the emotion is relief. And now firmly holding onto the No. 17 rank, he says this weekend’s regular-season finale in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, is just business as usual and the chips will fall where they may.
“Huge relief. That's the thing about it, mentally you question if you made the right move. To be honest, I love winning, who doesn't. But I never once said I need to go out there and make the PBR Canada National Finals. I just went back to where I started, that's loving riding bulls, and seeing how good I can be. I went to just ride my bulls and have fun doing it. It works,” Eno said.
“When I stay out of my own way, I can ride bulls really good. I am thankful for all of it, all the struggles. The amount of times you break down and feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, I went through that for a reason, and I just have to have faith in that.”
Another rider on the cusp of qualifying, who also went a perfect 3-for-3 this past weekend in Saskatoon is home-towner Stefan Tonita, who sits atop the bubble in the No. 18 spot.
Eno says the young guys coming up are going to be putting the rest of the field on watch.
“He is as good as they get,” Eno said of Tonita. “He is a great guy, a great bull rider. No one deserves it more than him. He travels, gets on lots, rides lots. Something I have learned from the young guys, you have to be ok with failing to get where you want to get. They are putting it all out there to test themselves.”
“I enjoy him a lot, and I think he is going to be one of the best to do it. Enjoy it and don’t put too much pressure on yourself, because this is what you do, not who you are.”
As for Eno’s goals for the 2024 PBR Canada National Finals, he wants to win. But more so, he wants to leave with a smile on his face.
“This is what I dreamt of as a 6-year-old kid, and I have to go have fun with it, surround myself with winners and enjoy the ride cause it's a lot of fun when you are winning,” he said.
“I want to leave with a smile on my face because I will be living in the moment, enjoying running my hand in the rope in a venue like Rogers Place.”
Photo courtesy of Covy Moore/CovyMoore.com
