Tony Mendes (born August 10, 1977) is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Tony Mendes |
| Born | August 10, 1977 Reno, Nevada |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) (2019) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg) (2019) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Rodeo |
| Event | Bull riding |
| Turned pro | 1996 |
| Retired | 2015 |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Highest world ranking | 1996 PRCA Bull Riding Rookie of the Year |
Background
editMendes was born in Reno, Nevada on August 10, 1977.[1] He continued to live in Reno and then in Jensen, Utah. He is the younger brother of Scott Mendes, who was the 1997 PRCA World Champion bull rider, and a co-founder of the PBR. Tony started riding at age three on top of a sheep. Over the years, he progressed from sheep to calves and steers, before climbing on his first bull at age 14.[2][1] Tony was recorded to be 5' 10", and 170 pounds during competition.[1]
Career
editTony was the 1996 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Bull Riding Rookie of the Year,[3] as well as the 1996 PRCA Wilderness Circuit Champion bull rider. He competed in said organization in 1996, 1998 to 1999, 2008 to 2009, 2011 and 2012.[1] He also competed in Bull Riders Only (BRO), the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), and Championship Bull Riding (CBR).[citation needed] He qualified for his first PBR World Finals in 1999 and recorded a 93.5 score atop the 1900-pound Clayton's Pet of Double J Rodeo Palace in the short-go. He was often referred to as the "Wild Man" because of the energy he displayed.[2]
Tony qualified for the PRCA's National Finals Rodeo twice (1998 & 1999)[1] and the PBR World Finals eight times (1999 to 2005, 2007).[2] His brother Scott also qualified for the PBR World Finals in 1994 and 2001, the latter case marking the only time that both brothers qualified for a world championship event together. Tony also qualified for the CBR World Finals in 2012.[citation needed]
Tony's last professional bull-riding out was at the PBR Velocity Tour event in Portland, Oregon, on February 28, 2015.[4]
Personal life
editOn January 2, 2008, Tony was featured on the CBS game show Power of 10. He was defeated without winning any money. He was featured in Bullrider, a documentary by Josh Aronson. Mendes is married to Abby, with whom he has two children.[1] The Mendes' reside in Fruita, Colorado, as of 2019.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Tony Mendes Profile". Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. www.prorodeo.com. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Rocky Boots Announces Endorsement Signing Of Tony Mendes And Jody Newberry". Professional Bull Riders. pbr.com. January 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
- ^ 2017 PRCA Awards, Rookies of the Year - Overall Rookie of the Year, p. 625.
- ^ "Tony Mendes". ProBullStats. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
Sources
edit- PRCA Awards. Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
External links
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