At just 19 years old, Cooper James has already made a name for himself in the world of bull riding. In 2024, he was the Resistol Rookie of the Year and qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo, finishing the year with over $373,000 in earnings.
Over $212,000 of that total came during NFR where James placed in five of the ten rounds and got the win in two, an impressive accomplishment for a rookie bull rider.
This year James has already won the Springville Sierra Rodeo and placed third in the average at the Cactus Jack Xtreme Bull Riding and although he is off to a slower start this year, he’s ready to get things rolling ahead of the summer run.
“I didn’t really crack ’em like I wanted to at every rodeo,” James said. “I took it kind of slow, hit the bigger ones, picked up money here and there, but the real season doesn’t start until about now. It’s starting to heat up, and we’re getting going. I’m starting to feel the momentum – I’m on a roll now, and I’m looking forward to keeping it going.”
The sport of bull riding undoubtably can be tough both mentally and physically, but James prides himself on keeping a positive mindset no matter the outcome.
“There’s a lot of uncontrollables in this game – no matter the event,” James said. “But one thing I can control is my mindset. If I stay positive, confident, and excited to go to every rodeo – then you can’t beat me.”