Ep. 42 - PBR Bull Rider Ezekiel "Blue" Mitchell
Co-hosts Katie Schrock and Rachel Owens-Sarno join the PBR’s up and comer star Ezekiel “Blue” Mitchell about all things PBR and bull riding on episode 42 of the That Western Life Podcast. A 22 year-old bull rider from Texas that, despite not coming from a rodeo family, made his dreams of being a professional bull riding a reality. We also chat about Ezekiel as The Bachelor and so much more!
Becoming a Cowboy
“When I was younger, I always wanted to be a cowboy,” says Ezekiel. “My dad wanted to be a cowboy too but didn’t do anything with rodeo as a cowboy.”
His mom hoped that bull riding would just be a phase that he was going through. It wasn’t as Ezekiel used his imagination to make whatever it happen, whether it be a barrel tied to a tree with ropes or a mechanical bull with car suspension. He did whatever it took to “ride bulls” as he says with a laugh.
A natural born athlete, he ran track, played football, ran cross-country, and “basketball,” or at least he tried. While he had been successful in team sports, Zeke didn’t miss mainstream sports at all when he committed to the world of bull riding. His step-dad was the first to approach him with the decision to ride bulls or play football - he definitely didn’t want him to answer the question in the way that he did. A big part of his decision was where he felt the most accepted for who he was and that sport was bull riding.
Why Bull Riding?
“I went to a rodeo one-time and the music was blaring, and when he was riding the bull his free arm was in sync with the music … I remember watching that and thinking that was the coolest thing ever!” And then, the next contestant, “the bull ran off and he just waved at the stands as it went across and that was AWESOME! I felt like he was waving directly at me!”
These cowboys were also superstars that were on television and watching the likes of JB Mauney and Justin MyBryde put the stars in Ezekiel’s eyes from the time he was seven on. It became a factor in life when he made the decision to stay with the PBR versus Xtreme Bulls in the PBR.
Other factors was the financial opportunities that the PBR offers, as well as less travel, consistent events, and the best bulls and best competitors in the world. “If I was going to the best at this, I was going to have to compete with the best!”
Being a Rookie
Ezekiels’ first PBR event was in Billings, Montana, and he got the call as they were trying a new format that they ultimately didn’t end up using.
“It was pretty surreal to be in the locker room with those guys,” says Ezekiel. “Then fast forward to Madison Square Garden… I had been on the Velocity Tour and had the media … but Madison Square Garden was different - it was a media hub.”
There were all these competitors that Ezekiel had been trying to get to the same level as and was an amazing experience that he wouldn’t change for the world.
Bull Riding Role Models
As a student of the game, Ezekiel has been watching videos online since he was young of the likes of Ross Coleman, JB Mauney, JW Harris, Cooper Davis, and more. In fact, his high school iPad was FILLED with these bull riding videos of his legends.
When watching his role models, he treats them like game film, and he wanted to know why some cowboys were capable of putting up really big numbers. He spent time studying how he could dress up his ride without hindering his ability to keep to the fundamentals.
“I was often told that I ‘made it look too easy’ when I first started out,” says Ezekiel. Making rides flashy but getting qualified rides were so important for him in growing as a competitor.
Making it Financially
“Literally, you are going to have every reason to give up. The only thing that is going to make the difference between you making a nine to five or being on tour … is ultimately you,” says Ezekiel about the advice he would give to someone who wants to be in his shoes. “You know what you want and you have to be willing to do anything to make it happen at all costs.”
When we talk about hard times, Ezekiel has been there. The year was 2018 and it was Ezekiel’s birthday weekend and, while riding the best that he had ever rode, he was in college and flat broke. Every last dime was going to entry fees to get down the road so he could keep going to those PBR Velocity events.
Placing one hole out of the money for three weeks straight he was frustrated and irritated. The day after his birthday, he went to a bull riding in Liberty, Texas, and, with no added money, he made $200. Taking that prize money to Oyster Creek, Texas, he entered the bull riding three times and rode every bull he got on and kept getting re-rides for lack of animal performance. On the last re-ride he was going to get on for the day, it was the best bull ride of the day and everyone knew it … and he got nothing.
Covered in mud from head to toe from rainfall the night before and the humidity of Texas, the judge said that he rode 7.92 seconds.
“I’m sorry,” said the judge.
“I’m sorry too,” said Ezekiel, “Because I’m done riding bulls.”
Throwing his stuff down on the ground he started walking home. Every day his buddy would call and ask, “Are you seriously quitting? What about your college rodeo next weekend?”
“Yup, I’m done,” he would say. He asked every day and, the day before the college rodeo, when his friend called and said, “Where are you?”
“On my way to the college rodeo,” he said somewhat sheepishly. Ezekiel genuinely thought that he was done at that point.
PBR Camaraderie
It’s a different level of Camaraderie with the PBR contestants because they travel together, spend their time together, and compete day-in and day-out against the best cowboys and the best bulls in the world. And, at the end of the day, it’s very dangerous.
“We are like one big family!”
Health & Fitness
There seems to be two types of cowboy when it comes to fitness; those who work out and those who never do. Ezekiel laughed and said that last year he may have fallen into the latter category but he’s been working hard in the gym to make sure that he has no excuses. Working out in his career to be in his best physical shape, he knows he has to earn his spot and that it won’t be given to him.
Whether it’s the gym or practice bulls - he does what he can to work out and stay sharp when at home. On the road, you can do a lot of workouts on the road that don’t require a gym.
Media & Marketing
The classic, old school cowboy way is to stay out of the limelight but, in this day and age, Ezekiel believes that it’s so important to branch out into social media and have a presence. Almost 90% of people are on social media all day, everyday anyway - we best be capitalizing on it and getting more people involved.
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