* Canadian Rodeo News Champion Bareback story by Dianne Finstad
To repeat is sweet, especially when it’s taken some time to get there.
Orin Larsen has lived that experience, as he put a bow on his most successful Canadian rodeo season ever by capturing his second Bareback Riding Championship.
“The second one is way tougher,” admits Larsen, who won his first Canadian buckle back in 2019. “It was a really interesting year. I’ve had a lot of great people in my corner, so I can’t take any sort of credit for this buckle at all. I’ve got a huge army behind me, and I’m just a vessel.”
The Inglis, Manitoba raised cowboy came into his tenth CFR flying high. He’d won the Season Leader award and had put together a best-ever $51,476 season. But he was also experienced enough to know that with wolves like Ethan Mazurenko, defending Canadian champion Clint Laye, World #2-man Jacob Lees, and his own traveling partner Kody Lamb on his heels, there was no safe seat.
So Larsen threw down the gauntlet by taking first place opening night, putting out a shiny 86.75 point ride on Calgary’s Harry Money.
“I’d never heard of it ‘til today, to be honest,” says Larsen. “Everyone said it was just a nice little horse that circles around there, and he never disappointed, that’s for sure.”
Larsen didn’t let his boot off the gas the whole five CFR rounds. He was second on the second night with an 85.75 on C5’s Great Knews, fifth Friday night with an 84 and then wound up with another go-round buckle on the Saturday afternoon, after edging Ty Taypotat by a quarter point, with his 85.25 on Duffy’s Reservation.
But just behind him, Jacob Lees was also placing steadily, and he claimed first Friday with an 88 on Duane Kesler’s Felton Angus Hot Shot. Clint Laye was second that same performance, and both were just behind Larsen in Saturday afternoon’s results.
So it all came down to Saturday night and a spectacular section of bareback riding. This time it was Laye’s turn for a go-round win, with an impressive 89.5 on Calgary’s Agent Lynx, the high mark of the event at the CFR. But Larsen rose to the occasion and tapped out an 86.75 on Macza’s Side Show, which was good enough for second money in the round. It gave him the all-important average (428.5 points), with its $17,250 bonus. It also meant his CFR bank account showed $58,534, more than doubling his regular season earnings to finish with a grand total of $110,011.
Larsen, the eldest of this year’s bareback riders, will tell you he’s feeling better than ever, which makes all the difference.
“I think for the most part, that’s been a huge contribution to the season. I feel great, surprisingly, being 35 and not an ounce sore. I feel really, really fortunate to feel this good. I guess we’ll see what next year brings.”
“I know I’m a little older, so it takes a little more work. I had to do quite a bit of work, especially being around these young kids. They make an old guy like me work harder.”
Larsen seems to have figured out the whole ‘aging like fine wine’ formula but he’ll be the first to tell you in his game, the formula involves sweat and motivation.
“I guess when you take care of yourself a little bit more, like you have to, and those kids kind of kick you in the ass a little bit, it makes you work for it a little bit more. It really makes me want to keep going.”
“Oh man, it’s so much fun – just being in that locker room with those guys is a blessing in itself. You don’t know when your time is done as far as rodeo, so we’re just going to enjoy the moment.”
Larsen and Lamb hit the rodeo trail non-stop in 2026, in their bid to make the NFR. That didn’t quite materialize, as he finished 17th in the world, just under $20,000 behind the last qualifier.
“I didn’t quite have the season down south that I wanted to but I had a pretty great season up here, and this is the place to really capitalize on everything all through the year,” adds Larsen.
“And honestly, I just had a bunch of great people this year around me. It’s a huge blessing. Without them, I’m nobody.”
So Larsen is able to share the taste of victory with his circle of support, making all the miles and effort even more worthwhile.
“Yeah, it’s not a cakewalk. Anyone who thinks the Canadian rodeo or Canadian title comes easy, I’ll tell you for free, it’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever do, and to get two of them is by far a dream come true.”
But the dream has not yet dimmed for Larsen. Already, his thoughts are turning to…
“The next one. That’s all. I mean, right now I’m gonna try and just be grateful and be appreciative of what I got today. But next year starts tomorrow, so we’re gonna start fighting for the next one.”