Schultz hops back in the saddle
By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter
Photo Courtesy of Ethan Schultz
Strathmore’s Ethan Schultz is nearly ready to get back into the ring with the bulls that bucked him off and sidelined him for a couple of weeks with a concussion.
The timing of Schultz’s second concussion couldn’t have come at a worse time.
He was touring with the Bull-A-Rama group across Alberta when he got dinged up June 23 during a Bull Riders Canada event in Whitecourt.
The concussion forced him to miss the two events closest to his hometown: Bull-A-Rama on June 24 in Carseland — which also happened to be one day after his 23rd birthday — and the Bull-A-Rama event the following weekend in Rockyford.
“It sucks to miss those events close to home, but it’s just one of those things that comes with the territory of the sport,” said Schultz, a 2013 Holy Cross Collegiate grad.
Schultz plays it safe and has ditched the cowboy hat for a full caged mask when he rides. Even with the extra protection, it wasn’t enough to cushion the blow when he smacked his head against the backside of the 2,000-pound beast.
Schultz is being responsible with his injury. He has cooperatively worked with the professional rodeo sports team and even sat out an extra week just to play it safe.
“Head injuries are pretty serious. It’s something I’ve taken all the measures to make sure I am good to go and now I feel like I’m ready to get back out there,” said Schultz. “No more sitting around.”
Schultz didn’t want to miss another second of rodeo action in another busy summer. There’s a good chance you can catch Schultz in the bucking chutes each weekend, as he rides for Bull Riders Canada, and has his Lakeland Rodeo Association and Foothills Cowboy Association cards.
Now riding in the amateur circuit for five years, it didn’t take long for the local product to get attached to the sport.
Growing up in the great rodeo town of Strathmore, Schultz was drawn to bull riding at a young age and started hopping on steers when he was 12. By the age of 16, he graduated to junior bulls — a younger, smaller version than what you see at the Calgary Stampede and Strathmore Stampede — and eventually made his way onto the older, fully-grown bulls when he turned 18.
“The first ride on the older bulls was a little nerve racking. It was something I always wanted to do. I knew that I was capable of handling them; I have been on enough steers and junior bulls in the past, but it was just the realization of jumping on the big bull for the first time that surprised me a little bit,” said Schultz.
Of course, if Schultz ever had a question about the sport, he could reach out for advice of local legend Scott Schiffner, who basically has a master’s in bull riding.
“My family and Scott’s family know each other quite well and when I was 16, I started working for him as a farm hand. It didn’t take too long for me to ask him questions about bull riding and pick his brain about the sport,” said Schultz. “Scott is an awesome role model. He always has a positive attitude and has taught me to be a professional in everything I do.”
It might come as a surprise to learn a seasoned vet like Schiffner, who has won everything there is to win in bull riding multiple times, might also benefit from their relationship, but he has.
“Ethan is a great person all around. He’s hard-working, eager to learn and grow as a bull rider,” said the two-time Calgary Stampede champion Schiffner. “To be honest, I probably learn as much from him as what I pass on to him. He has the youth and excitement for this sport that reminded me how fun it can be sometimes.”
When Schiffner was Schultz’s age, he was lifting the bronze and earning a $100,000 cheque for winning the Calgary Stampede for the first time.
But comparing himself to the greatest bull rider isn’t part of Schultz’s plan. He has an idea in mind for his career and is going to take it at his speed.
“I had a good amateur year last year and I am hoping to build off that this season and develop some consistency. Maybe in a year or two from now I will buy my semi-pro card and move from there,” said Schultz.
Health and being fit to ride have been an issue for Schultz over the past few years. Aside from the concussions, Schultz also missed a large chunk of the 2015 season with a broken elbow after getting stomped by a bull.
“I don’t think that it’s a bad thing that Ethan is taking it slow. He’s had some bad luck with injuries in the past and he is now doing a great job of taking care of his body. I’m proud of him for not trying to rush into the sport like a lot of other guys and I think it will pay off in the long run,” said Schiffner.
Like most cowboys, Schultz has the dream of one day competing in the Calgary Stampede and winning the $100,00 prize, but all he is concerned about right now is getting back onto the bull when he is healthy enough to do so, which will be July 14 and 15 during the LRA Lamont and Buck Lake rodeos.