De Mers: Thanks for de memories

Rising rodeo star Cody De Mers needs some time. He's just been asked for his first rodeo memory, and he's shuffling through everything he's done.

"My first belt buckle," says De Mers after taking some time to think about it. "It was in sheep riding, and it was a leather buckle. I must've been about 5 or 6 years old."

While that might be the first rodeo memory that stands out to De Mers, rodeo has been with him for as long as he can remember.

He tried wrestling for a

year in high school but all De Mers ever wanted to do was ride on a bareback or saddle bronc next to any of his rodeo idols.

"Being able to ride with them is unreal," De Mers said.

The unreal became a bit more real last year when De Mers placed seventh in bareback riding and 20th in saddle bronc riding at his first National Finals Rodeo.

This year he is ranked eighth in the world in bareback riding. He is competing in this week's Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo at World Arena and scored a 78 in bareback (tied for fourth) and 76 in saddle bronc (third place), scores that will likely be good enough to keep him in the top 12 and bring him back for the finals Sunday.

"That's all I've ever known," De Mers said of rodeo. "I don't know anything else."

De Mers, 24, likely inherited his passion for rodeo from his father, Joe.

When Cody was young his father used to rope bareback broncs in rodeos. Joe never had the success that Cody has enjoyed but competed as often as he could in between multiple full-time jobs.

"When he could get away he would go to rodeos," Cody said.

Joe did all that he could to pave Cody's path to professional rodeo. Cody said it was a high priority for his father.

"If I needed it, he helped me get it," Cody said.

Because of the opportunities his father provided while he was young, Cody went on to win titles during college in the all-around competition (2000-01) and saddle bronc riding (2001). He also took second in bareback riding during 2001-02.

That success set the table for his professional career.

De Mers caught a big break this season when he competed in the Calgary Stampede in July. De Mers was not in the top 15 when he entered the rodeo but jumped back in when he won the bareback competition.

The Calgary Stampede is ranked as the No. 6 rodeo on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit. De Mers won $17,703 and received a $50,000 bonus for having four rounds of eight seconds.

"It's Canadian money, but it's still good money," De Mers joked.

Luckily for De Mers the exchange rate isn't figured into the world rankings in December when the National Finals Rodeo takes place in Las Vegas. There, he will again get to ride with his idols, who he says is anyone who can travel as much as rodeo cowboys do and still make a living doing it -- a place he never doubted he would be.

"I never had any doubts because I'm hardheaded," De Mers said. "I'll do whatever it takes to find out why I'm not riding good and whatever it takes to get riding again."

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0250 or sports@gazette.com AT A GLANCE

When: Today-Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 p.m.

Where: World Arena

Tickets: $8, $12.50, $16.50, $26.50; $2 off the two mid-price tickets for children ages 2-12, seniors 65 or older and military with ID. Order at www.ticketswest.com, visit or call World Arena box office 526-2626, Independent Records in Colorado Springs, Security and Pueblo; King Soopers, Citadel Mall information desk and ITR office at Fort Carson.

Parking: $5 per car

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