LOS ANGELES – With Los Angeles experiencing historic cold and the region’s first blizzard warning since 1989, one might think a Canadian would feel right at home.
That, however, is not so for Claresholm, Alberta’s Griffin Smeltzer.
“I’ve been living in Texas trying to stay out of it,” Smeltzer said wryly. “It feels cold. I don’t like it.”
This is Smeltzer’s second winter living in the Lone Star State. While he admittedly did move to get away from the frigid temperatures in Canada, it was also a practical move.
“There’s really not a whole lot of events going on in Canada during the winter, so it just made sense to be down here where there’s a lot of bull ridings to go to,” Smeltzer said.
The move is starting to pay off.
Smeltzer spent the first few months of the season riding on the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, earning a berth at the PBR SoCal Showdown at Crypto.com Arena thanks to his victory at the Cedar Park Chute Out in Cedar Park, Texas, last weekend.
It’s his fourth career Unleash The Beast event, and in three previous events, he had yet to record a qualified ride. But that all changed in Los Angeles, as Smeltzer rode Mikey’s Surprise for 86.5 points to place fifth in Round 1.
“It feels really good. I felt like I’ve belonged here for a long time, and it feels good to finally prove it,” Smeltzer said. “I had an idea of what (the bull) was. J.W. (Hart) always brings good ones, and to tell you the truth, I’m having a lot of fun and my body’s reacting well. So it just worked out.”
Boudreaux Campbell won the round with 91.25 points on Shameless, followed by Dalton Kasel (90 points on WSM’s Time in a Bottle), Marcelo Procopio Pereira (87.25 points on Skeeter Peter), Austin Richardson (87.25 points on Fat Magic), and Smeltzer.
Keyshawn Whitehorse, however, had to poke some fun at his friend.
“He’s from Canada, so with the points exchange, he goes down a point,” Whitehorse quipped.
Exchange rate or not, Smeltzer is finally on a roll. After winning the first PBR Canada Touring Pro Division event in Dawson Creek, Alberta, he went on a bit of a skid, failing to place in four of his first five events stateside.
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But he’s six for his last 13 (46.15% riding percentage) at all levels of competition and is currently riding the momentum of a three-out ride streak.
“I struggled a little bit at the start of the year,” Smeltzer said. “Lately here, I’ve been feeling really good. I’ve been having lots of fun. I’ve been traveling with Mason Moody, and together, we’ve been riding a lot of bulls, feeding off each other. And I’m just super thankful to be here. I’m super thankful and happy with the way my season’s going. I just look to try my absolute best to stay on tour now.”
The championship round from Los Angeles will air on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
Recording his first premier-series qualified ride in Hollywood is no small thing. Thanks to the rain and hail, Smeltzer hasn’t been able to get out and see much of the town, and he has a refreshingly down-to-earth attitude about it all.
“It is my first time in LA. I brought my swim shorts, so I’m a little disappointed,” he joked. “The traffic is not so good. But we’ve had a lot of fun here so far and look to do some more tomorrow.”
He may not’ve been able to go swimming, and it may have been too cold for his liking, but he’ll take a qualified ride over the rest of it any day of the week.
“It’s super exciting,” Smeltzer said. “I’m just so thankful for all the support I’ve had, and that’s the only reason I’m able to do this. So I’m super thankful, and I’m glad the monkey’s off my back. I feel good.”
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media