One ride at a time

It doesn't take long after a rodeo wraps up before somebody around the North Peace is asking how Jake Gardner made out. With the season the Fort St. John bull rider has been putting together, it's really no surprise.

Supplied photo

Gardner has spent much of the year riding against some of the best bull riders in the world, putting together a string of solid rides and keeping himself firmly in the conversation for a trip to his first National Finals Rodeo.

His biggest payday came earlier this year at RODEOHOUSTON, and since then he really hasn't taken his foot off the gas. A championship at the Cloverdale Rodeo followed, along with more strong rides as the summer schedule rolled on.

One of those stops was the NFR Open during the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs, where Gardner opened Pool B with an 84-point ride aboard Rise Up, another solid result against a field packed with some of the sport's top competitors.

As of this week, Gardner sits eighth in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings, just one spot behind reigning world champion John Crimber. With the regular season winding down, every qualified ride and every dollar earned could make the difference when it comes to punching a ticket to Las Vegas.

Things can change quickly this time of year as one good weekend can move a rider several spots up the standings, while one bad one can do the opposite. Gardner has put himself in a position where every ride matters from here on out.

When the Alaska Highway News caught up with Gardner earlier this year, he admitted getting to this point hadn't always been easy.

"Everyone sees the success of this sport, but they don't see the downfall of it," Gardner said. "I've been hurt in the hospital by myself a thousand miles away, and there were lots of times I could have quit."

Instead, he didn't.

"The end goal is to be a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world champion bull rider," Gardner said. "I'm just going to keep working hard, keep my head down, stay positive and keep pushing for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas."

Here in the Peace, it feels like more people are paying attention every weekend. Somebody's checking the standings, somebody's sharing one of Jake's rides online, and somebody's always asking how he made out.

Gardner said that support has meant a great deal throughout his career.

"You're only as good as the people you've got standing behind you, and the Peace Country has been behind me this whole time," he said. "It truly means a lot to me."

He's also never been shy about where he comes from.

"I'm northern B.C. proud. I'm proud to be from Fort St. John," Gardner said. "To represent the community of hard-working people and help put us on the map is pretty important to me."

There's still plenty of rodeo left before the regular season comes to a close, but Gardner has already given people around the North Peace plenty of reasons to keep checking the standings every weekend. If the last few months have been any indication, there are likely still a few more memorable rides to come before the road to Las Vegas is decided.