The competitors for the 2022 Calgary Stampede Rodeo have been announced, including two time world champion saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston of Big Valley.
A total of 25 competitors from Alberta will be participating in the various events at the Stampede Rodeo which includes bareback and saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling and tie down roping, and barrel racing.
Rodeo is in Zeke’s blood. His father, Skeeter Thurston, was a six-time saddle bronc riding qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and five-time qualifier at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR); brothers Wyatt and Sam are also saddle bronc riders, and his sister Tess competes in barrel racing.
Zeke began competing in 2013, and went pro in 2015. Since then, Zeke has earned two world titles, had seven Wrangler NFR qualifications; he placed third in the 2021 Wrangler NFR standings, and fifth overall in world standings the same year.
He will be competing in the Saddle Bronc Riding competition presented by Cenovus Energy against 21 other competitors. Among those he is competing against are fellow Albertans-Ben Anderson of Rocky Mountain House, Layton Green and Sam Kelts of Millarville, Dawson and Logan Hay of Wildwood, Lucas Macza of High River, and Kolby Wanchuk of Sherwood Park.
Viewers can watch the Calgary Stampede Rodeo in person at the GMC Stadium, or tune into a special broadcast of the event on Sportsnet and Sportsnet One, between July 8 and 17 starting at 1:30 p.m.
