If you’ve watched any PBR action this year, you’ve undoubtedly experienced rookie sensation John Crimber. Currently sitting at number two in the Unleash The Beast Standings, Crimber won his first Professional Bull Riding this year in Jacksonville, Florida, and continues to dominate in the bull riding.
Crimber is no stranger to bull riding. His Dad, Paulo Crimber, is the Florida Freedom Head Coach and a 10-time PBR World Finals qualifier. Paulo also won the average at the 2004 National Finals Rodeo. When asked what helps him stay focused on the road, he attributes his success to his Dad. “My Dad is the one that kind of keeps me in line,” Crimber says. He remembers watching his Dad ride at the NFR in 2004 and wanting to be like him.
“I always wanted to be a bull rider. I grew up watching my Dad, and I wanted to be like him.”
Now, at only the young age of eighteen, Crimber is taking the sport of bull riding by storm. Going into the weekend at Billings, Montana, he has won six round wins in the 2024 season and is 589.33 points ahead of world No. 3 Dalton Kasel. He continues to work out and gets on practice bulls to stay consistent. “That’s what I’ve been doing, just trying to get better every week and every day. I bought a couple [practice bulls] after I won Jacksonville.”
In addition to working out and getting on practice bulls, Crimber credits much of his success to opportunities such as being on Team Cavender’s. “It’s helped me a lot, just introducing us to new opportunities.” He has been on Team Cavender’s for three years now.
“We get to go to the summit every year. And last year, actually, it was the day before I went to my first PBR. Joe Beaver went over there and spoke to us, and he kind of motivated me.”
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be at the top as a teenager in the PBR, Crimber has this to say, “Being so young and doing it at 18 years old has been just a blessing. It’s crazy to think I’m 18, doing what I always dreamed of, and being on the run for a world title.” Although fans may poke fun at him, saying he looks like a baby, he remains confident and has big goals for the future.
Crimber continues to talk with Beaver and hopes he will get drafted after the World Finals. “Hopefully, I’ll get drafted to a team and be riding for one of those teams for the rest of the season.” In the meantime, we’ll be cheering on this young gun and following his future in the sport of rodeo.