When you read the list of his accomplishments, it’s hard to believe that young Nicola Valley bull rider Ty Pozzobon is only 19! That he’s still just a teenager!
Pozzobon has been setting the rodeo world on fire the last couple of seasons, starting with a National high school title back in 2009, to CPRA rookie of the year in 2010 and his first-ever appearance at the Calgary Stampede in July of this year.
Pozzobon comes by his rodeo prowess honestly. His grandfather, Marino, is a legend in the sport, while his dad, Luke, and uncle, Mark, were both bull riders before him.
“I owe a lot to my dad,” states the young Pozzobon. “He encouraged me, and taught me almost everything I know.”
This spring and summer have been a whirlwind of activity for Pozzobon as he competes on several different Canadian and North American rodeo and bull riding circuits. Any given weekend will see the former Merritt Secondary School student attend up to five and six rodeos around the continent in a three to four day period.
Pozzobon’s skyrocketing rodeo career reached a new high in April of this year when he was chosen to join the “Built Ford Tough Series” – a showcase of the top 50 bull riders in the world.
“They pretty much treat us like rock stars,” says Pozzobon.
In just his third competition on the BFTS, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Pozzobon successfully rode two of his three bulls to scores of 86.5 and 87.25, good for 11th place overall.
In the past month, Pozzobon has acquired Smithbilt hats as a major sponsor.
A broken hand – suffered at the Calgary Stampede – will probably keep Pozzobon out of Merritt’s Labour Day weekend pro rodeo, but the future still looks bright for this rising star.
