California cowboy Chad Denton followed his family’s footsteps. “I always wanted to be like Grandpa. He was a rodeo cowboy, and I wanted to be just like him.” As a kid, Denton rode calves and steers and age 13, he climbed on his first junior bull. He credits Gary Lefew’s bull riding schools with improving his technique. Denton says the greatest accomplishment of his career was making the PBR World Finals in 2002. “It meant a lot because I came back after so many injuries and finished 12th in the World that year. That was exciting.” Injuries have not been a stranger to Denton over the course of his career. “I completely destroyed right shoulder at the 2002 Finals. I landed on it wrong in the second round but the fourth round I knew it was bad when I bucked off. I ended up breaking bones in my shoulder which required surgery, and I was out for eight months.” Denton says he looks to World Champion bull rider Cody Custer for inspiration. “Cody was a great bull rider, but I think he’s a role model and hero because of the way he acts outside of the arena. He’s just a remarkable person.” On Denton’s riding, Custer responded by saying, “I think Chad is right on the verge of being a great rider. I know he’s pretty hard on himself, but I think if he can get his confidence up, great things will come. Not to mention, he’s about as good of a guy as they come.”
About Chad
