Thiessen fighting for patriotism

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Canadian excited for a shot at BFO Las Vegas Championship title

LAS VEGAS – Daryl Thiessen only thought he was done with freestyle bullfighting.

Whether he was tired or had lost focus, the Elm Creek, Manitoba, man thought his time in the bullfight arena was over. He was ready to move on and focus on protecting cowboys during bull ridings and rodeos and remove himself from the competitive side of his life.

“I went home, and I went to some rodeos and worked those,” he said. “When Fergie called me, I told him, ‘I ain’t into it.’ ”

Daryl Thiessen is a proud Canadian, and as the only man from Canada in the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship, he is excited to represent his country.  (TODD BREWER PHOTO)
Daryl Thiessen is a proud Canadian, and as the only man from Canada in the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship, he is excited to represent his country. (TODD BREWER PHOTO)

Aaron Ferguson is a fellow Canadian bullfighter and is founder and CEO of Bullfighters Only. He understood Thiessen’s hesitance but reminded the young cowboy about the talent he possesses in his 6-foot-5-inch frame. He also reached into the inner core of who Daryl Thiessen is.

“That phone call got me back,” Thiessen said. “Seeing all those guys pave the way for the new age in the BFO and watching all the highlights, it crushed me that I wasn’t part of that, because I knew I had the talent to go there.”

Thiessen will be part of the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship, set for Wednesday-Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. He advanced through the Pendleton Whisky Qualifier Round last week.

“Fergie said, ‘You’re the most patriotic Canadian I’ve ever met; freestyle bullfighting needs a Canadian to be the man and build the sport in Canada,” Thiessen recalled. “Honestly I get goose bumps thinking about being the Canadian representative to that.

“In a country with 36 million people, it’s great to think I’m the lone Canadian representative in the sport I love. To be able to represent Canada is the ultimate to me. I’d like nothing more than to go in there and win this deal. I want to show kids from Canada that you don’t have to stay in your little community or your little rodeo association; there is a living to be made out there doing something you love.”

Theissen’s been in love with the game a long time. He grew up loving rodeo, ever since he attended his first bull riding at age 4. He started riding cows and even tried his hand at riding broncs,

“I’m 6-foot-5, so I had a pretty big growth spurt,” he said. “I have a lot of background in hockey, so I thought I’d throw on some cleats and a cowboy hat and try the bullfighting deal. It just took off.”

Freestyle bullfighting is truly a man-vs.-beast sport with danger and excitement at every twist and turn. By reaching for glory, the men will step closely to peril. It’s a tight-rope walk for every man who does it, but that’s part of the draw. It’s exciting to be inches away from an athletic bull that is hell bent on running them down.

Thiessen has lived it and has loved it. Now he hopes to prove why he expects to be one of the best.

“I’ve got a second chance, and I understand that doesn’t happen for everyone,” Thiessen said. “I’m so focused and determined right now. I’ll never let that happen to me again.”

The BFO Las Vegas Championship is set for Dec. 7-10 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets are on sale now at HardRockHotel.com and AXS.com.

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