Union City, Calif. – November 10, 2009 – Ariat International, the leading manufacturer of performance equestrian footwear, apparel and belts, is pleased to announce its sponsorship of professional bull rider Wiley Petersen.
Most recently, Petersen won the 2009 St. Louis title while competing on the PBR’s elite tour, but his greatest accomplishment to date is a 2007 PBR World Finals title after covering six of the eight bulls he attempted. He walked away with $278,450 for his efforts and finished the season with more than $400,000 in winnings, which pushed him over the $1 million mark in career earnings.
“We are excited to have Wiley join as the newest member of our Pro Team,” said Susan Alcala, Ariat’s vice president of marketing. “He is a spectacular competitor, a fan favorite in the sport and a terrific role model for athletes and enthusiasts alike.”
The Idaho native, who will appear in Ariat’s newest Bring It campaign, began riding bulls at age 10 under the guidance of his grandfather, a bull rider. After competing successfully in high school in amateur rodeos in his teens, Petersen competed in college rodeo for two years on scholarship before he joined the PBR as a professional rider.
“I am thrilled to partner with Ariat,” said Petersen. “They are driven by performance, innovation and excellence, which are qualities I appreciate and strive for, so it’s an ideal fit.”
