Question: First off, congratulations. I know you would have liked to come out of last weekend (World Cup competition) with a win, but that was a heck of strong showing on the part of Canada. In fact, you and Aaron [Roy] were the only two riders to cover all four of your bulls.
Answer: Yeah, it could’ve gone a lot better, but it was still a very good weekend for me, I guess.
Q: Did you feel that strong going into the weekend, or was it more of a situation that you drew the right bulls and you felt good?
A: It was more just drew the right bulls and it kind of came together at the end because I hurt after Edmonton, actually, and I took a week off. The week before I went didn’t go so well and I hurt my wrist, so I got a brace built and it just seemed to work out.
Q: I spoke with Scott (Schiffner) before the event, and he said when it comes to Team Canada you might be the underdog, but you definitely know how to compete as a team. Would you agree, and can you add anything to that?
A: That’s just right. That pretty much sums it up – everybody’s on the back of the chutes cheering for you. Yeah, it was just a whole team deal. I don’t know how else to explain it.
Q: You obviously want to win – I mean, that’s why you’re a professional athlete – but you guys really impressed a lot of people. I’ve talked with J.W. Hart and Adriano (Moraes) and they both had great things to say.
A: Yeah, you know, everybody went there and tried their [butts] off. It just worked out a little better for me and Aaron, I guess. The draws just matched up better.
Q: Because of how this year played out, do you guys go down to Brazil next year with a little bit of a chip on your shoulders, you know, “This year we proved last year’s second place finish wasn’t a fluke and next year we’re going to prove we can finish this thing.”
A: Yeah, I think next year that’s going to be the case. This year we just didn’t ride enough bulls. We came out strong and we just couldn’t quite finish it. Next year is going to be even better.
Q: Did you guys feel a little slighted this year? I haven’t spoken with Cody Snyder, but judging by some of his other comments it seems like he feels as though you guys might have been slighted.
A: Yeah, we were definitely an underdog and not considered to be a threat. We went in with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Q: Did you guys take offense to that, or was it a situation where you realized you were a relatively young team with nothing to lose and that the everything to gain? In the next couple of years are there some Canadian riders who might well compete for a world title?
A: That’s just it – Aaron Roy and Tyler Pankewitz, I mean, they’re young guys who are coming on strong and I can really see either one of them in the running for a world title.
Q: Right, but what about yourself?
A: Yeah, I guess me too.
Q: Don’t you feel as though you showed everyone what you’re capable of?
A: Yeah, the year started out good and then I got hurt, and now I’ve just been fighting injuries all year. It was kind of nice riding good.
Q: How does this past weekend help as you try and put yourself in a position to make the World Finals? I mean, this past weekend all five countries were there with their five best guys and, you were the one who stood out.
A: It kind of helps the confidence that you do belong there and that you can ride the bulls, and it makes you want to try even harder to get back on tour and go for the World Finals.
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