Kicking the new year off in style, Central Plains Rodeo Association (CePRA) bull rider, Triston Boor has taken the top of the leader board and has set out to win the Gunslinger Rodeo Series in his second year with the organization. “I have won buckles and saddles, but never a pistol and that’s a goal I would love to accomplish,” he said.
A third generation rodeo cowboy, Triston says that he is inspired most by his grandpa (Jerome, who passed away in 2009) and his dad (Mark). “They are my supporters and motivators for the future, in and out of the arena,” said Triston. “I just want to thank them for everything that they’ve done for me.” While Jerome was the owner and operator of Lazy J Rodeo Company, supplying some of the top bulls in the area, Mark is a prior Dodge National Circuit Finals qualifier in the bull riding; opening the door for bulls to get into Triston’s blood. Although his mom (Loretta) has never been affiliated with the sport, other than watching her family compete, Triston says that she is also a huge supporter of her children. His competitiveness is accompanied by his two younger siblings (sister, Shanndi and brother, Ty). While Shanndi used to run barrels within the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA), Ty continues to compete in the bull riding within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).
The 23-year old cowboy got his start at a young age, competing in the mutton busting and progressing to calves and steers, but got on his first bull his eighth grade year. He says that he has expanded his events to riding saddle broncs, but sticks to bull riding. “I’ve gotten on a couple for fun, but never took it serious,” he said. From there he competed in the NHSRA, where he qualified for Nationals in 2008 and 2009 and was crowned the Kansas State Champion in 2009. His growing talents landed him a rodeo scholarship with Fort Scott Community College, where he spent one semester before transferring to Pratt Community College (PCC). “I was only able to rodeo one year, due to an injury,” he said of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus acquired during his rookie year of the PRCA. But his tough luck wasn’t over as he returned to the arena after surgery to break his jaw and have five teeth knocked out on his third bull back in Mesquite, Tex. “They had to wire my jaw shut and I was put out of competition again,” he remembered. He says that his misfortune began as he had qualified for the Prairie Circuit Finals while holding his permit in 2010 and was knocked out during the first-round and did not get to finish out the finals. “I still ended up eighth in the standings, but would love to make the Circuit Finals again,” he said of another 2014 goal.
A recent graduate in automotive technology, the Pratt, Kans., resident now works for Main Street Auto. “I just work on cars. It’s a good job and you could say that it’s a passion outside of rodeo,” he said. He shares his rodeo passion with his long-time girlfriend, Latisha Simon, who is currently seeking a degree in agricultural business at PCC and will graduate this spring. She makes her way through collegiate competition running barrels on the rodeo team.
While only competing in five CePRA rodeos during the 2013 season, Triston was one position out from making the finals. “One of the bull riders doctor released out and I was offered the opportunity to go, but had already made other plans and wasn’t able to go,” he said. To reimburse himself, Triston has set his targets on hitting the association hard and qualifying for the finals. “To win the finals and the year-end would be good,” he concluded.
