Dakota Eldridge has qualified for the National Finals Rodeo every year now for a decade plus one. The Nevada native knows the name of the game and as the money and talent evloves so does his mentality.
The 2024 season was a strong one for Eldridge. He has sat at the top of the PRCA World Standings since the Texas Swing and although he thought it might have made things easier for him later on, he stayed hungry for No. 1.
“It all started with Houston. Getting the win there sets you ahead of everybody and it just, man, it made me hungrier than I ever have been trying to go in No. 1. I’ve been trying to catch Dalton [Massey] all year,” Eldrige said.
The two tossed the top two spots in the world back and forth for a minute before Massey’s success took off but Eldridge says that it has still been fun. One thing is for sure, the level of compeittion in the bull dogging is only going up.
“It’s been so fun and my wife, she’s so supportive of me and she’s like ‘no, get out there and stay out there’,” he said.
The veteran steer wrestler thought he might go home if he ever had this much money won but he is gunning for gold. Along with consistency in the arena, that also comes with preparation physcially and mentally.
“Come the end of October and November, it’s game time. I’ll be in the gym everyday and eating right and just mentally preparing myself too,” Eldridge said.
With the change of the game and himself, Eldridge takes a more healthier approach in is preparation, a key to gaining confidence. While he might not practice as much as he used to, Eldridge stays sharp.
Because of everything put together, Eldridge says he is ready to go.
