Ranch & Rodeo

Derek Kolbaba

Walla Walla, Washington

Derek Kolbaba is a young bull rider who’s taken the entire bull riding world by surprise. At just 21 years old, he won the 2017 Reserve Champion Bull Rider title in the PBR — case in point. His ambition started early, when he was just seven, he told his father, former bull rider Kyle Kolbaba, that he wanted to follow in his footsteps. And from then on, he leaned on his father for training, advice, and support. Today, we can see Derek’s grit and natural talent transform him into a force to be reckoned with in the arena.
What goes through your head when you first wake up in the morning before you bull ride?
Carpe Diem.
Where is your favourite place to bull ride?
Pendleton, Oregon.
How do you up your game year after year?
I always wanna be better then I was the day before so I’m constantly striving to get better.
If you could do anything better, what would it be?
Stay on more.
Who are your heroes? Who do you look up to?
I don't have one hero, I look up to a lot of people and like to take advice and learn things from everyone.
What haven’t you accomplished that you aspire to do in your lifetime?
Become a world champion.
What part of you, or what you do, reflects a spirit of restlessness?
I never quit and always give it all I’ve got.
If there is any love-hate relationship with any aspect of what you do, can you describe what that is?
I love going to bull ridings but I hate 5AM flights!
What sound or noise do you love?
The roar of a Sunday crowd.