LAS VEGAS — It’s safe to say that Cody Cabral will not soon forget his first trip to the National Finals Rodeo.
The Hilo cowboy hung in with 14 of the world’s best steer wrestlers for 10 nights at the Thomas & Mack Center under the bright lights and intense pressure of professional rodeo’s premier event and came out stronger on the other side.
Cabral, who qualified for the $10 million rodeo in the 15th and final spot, placed in four rounds to earn $45,962 and finished 13th in the final Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) world standings with $101,331 in season earnings.
Cabral’s solid run at the world’s richest rodeo helped cap a memorable career year that came just one season after he finished 56th in the standings. It was an experience the 6-foot-5, 215-pound bulldogger will remember for quite some time.
“A lot of it I was expecting, but it’s definitely different when you’re here in it,” said Cabral, 27. “We’re not stars, but people want your autograph and your picture, and that’s pretty cool. That’s definitely new and is weird at first.
“It’s been interesting, but it’s fun.”
The Waiakea High School grad tied for fifth place in the opening round to help calm any jitters he may have had and also finished fifth in the fourth round. Another tie for fifth followed in Round 6, and Cabral earned his final check of the event with a fifth-place finish in the ninth performance.
It was an up-and-down 10 days for the affable cowboy, who had his share of obstacles that included an ill-fated horse change.
“I ran that first steer and placed, and I got a little excited and was basically wanting to go win the world (title) after that,” said Cabral, who joined the PRCA in 2011. “So, I changed things up and switched horses in the second round, and that ended up costing me because I rode the horses wrong. I missed (a steer), but after that went back to my game plan and was just making runs and placed a little bit.”
That missed steer resulted in Cabral receiving a “no-time” in the second round, and he struggled with an 11.1-second run in Round 3. Those hiccups left Cabral off the pace, but he rallied and placed in three of the next six rounds.
One of the most enjoyable parts of his first NFR was the honor of carrying the Hawaiian flag into the Thomas & Mack Center arena each night on horseback during the rodeo’s grand entry.
“Oh, it’s been great, and that’s one of the things I’ve been really excited about,” Cabral said. “I was really excited to be able to carry that flag and represent my home state.”
Cabral, who travels and trains with nine-time NFR qualifier K.C. Jones, said being able to enjoy the experience with his family was a unique thrill as well. His parents, Al and Nancy, and brothers, Todd, Jeff and J.C., were part of a large group who came to cheer for him in Las Vegas.
“They’ve been a wreck, but they’re proud and excited,” he said before Round 10. “For my family, especially my parents, they haven’t really been following everything closely except for the last two months. Then it was like, ‘Oh, we may be going to Vegas!’
“It’s really kind of been sprung on them, and my mom invited all sorts of family. I’ve even met some new people.”
Cabral earned his maiden voyage to the NFR by finishing less than $2,000 ahead of veteran steer wrestler Jake Rinehart, and his experience in Las Vegas left him hungry for more return trips in the future.
“Now that you’ve been here, have experienced it and know how to settle down (and compete), you’re just so much more ready to come back and really do well,” Cabral said. “That’s where I feel like I am. I’m ready to come back, show off and win a lot of money.”
