Mason Moody Claims San Angelo's Xtreme Bulls Title

SAN ANGELO, TX – Like a lot of folks from South Dakota, rodeo runs through Mason Moody’s blood.

Now in his fourth year competing at the top level of the sport, he’s proving to those around him just why he loves the game he plays. He rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Richard Slam for 90.5 points to win Sunday’s San Angelo Xtreme Bulls at CRC Roofers Coliseum.

“When you get that good of a bull under you, it’s never a walk in the park, especially when they’re (spinning) away from your hand,” Moody told The Cowboy Channel after pocketing $13,325. “You’ve really got to ride them pretty. There’s no getting by them on the outside. You’ve got to do the correct moves.”

In fact, his focus on the fundamentals was a key reason why he lasted the eight seconds and built up such a big score. Bull riding is all about countering the moves made by the massive bovines, and Moody made the best of his situation.

“There was a point where he kind of had me rocked out of there, and you just shove your hips hard and shove out your chest,” said Moody, 22, of Letcher, South Dakota. “Sometimes it works out, and sometimes they buck you off, but that’s part of bull riding.”

Moody entered Sunday’s competition fifth in the world standings, and he knew he was matched with a powerful bull. Richard Slam is 5 years old and earned his first trip to the National Finals Rodeo in 2024. He’s been ridden just twice in his lifetime, the first last was August by Wacey Schalla in Lovington, New Mexico, for 89.5 points and the second Sunday afternoon in San Angelo.

The black bull with a white face was out twice at the NFR, bucking off both Chase Dougherty (Round 4) and Trey Kimzey (Round 9).

“I looked at Chase Outlaw’s ride from the other day here,” Moody said of the April 5 performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. “(The bull) was really good. You’ve just got to keep your hips under you and go at him. I knew I had a chance to win. He was a good one to draw.”

It helped in every way possible. With the win and the lion’s share of the cash paid out, Moody increased his season’s salary to $76,931 and moved up one spot to fourth in the world standings, surpassing Oregonian T.J. Gray along the way. It is just mid-April, and Moody’s already closing in on his 2024 earnings of $96,633. He finished last year 23rd in the world standings and missed the magical top 15 in order to play at the NFR by just eight spots.

Now, the South Dakota bull rider is making the moves necessary to earn a spot in that elusive field this next December. He credited faith and a strong support system of family members for helping him shoot higher each season.

“I have three older sisters that pushed me in the sport of rodeo, whether it was goat-tying or roping or riding bulls,” Moody said. “They were all good rodeo contestants. To have somebody like them to push you – and now we’re at the top of ProRodeo – and to have them still behind you every day is something I take for granted, but I can’t thank them enough.”

San Angelo Xtreme Bulls

Sunday's results

1. Mason Moody, 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's Richard Slam, $13,325; 2. (tie) Cody Teel and Lane Vaughan, 88, $8,883 each; 4. (tie) Ky Hamilton and Jesse Petri, 87.5, $3,997 each; 6. Clayton Sellars, 87, $2,221; 7. Fulton Rutland, 85.5, $1,777; 8. Jace Trosclair, 83.5, $1,332.