Bareback Rider

Richie Champion

Richie Champion has been a mainstay among the PRCA’s elite bareback riders for over a decade. Known for his explosive style and consistency, Champion capped 2023 with a 15th-place world finish and his seventh career NFR qualification, earning $39,716 in Las Vegas. The Texan notched major wins throughout the year in Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, and Washington.

A true veteran, Champion’s résumé includes multiple top-five world finishes, highlighted by his runner-up world finish in 2017, where he placed in seven NFR rounds. He’s a past winner of Cheyenne Frontier Days, Ponoka Stampede, Salinas, and Reno, among many others, and owns go-round wins at the Wrangler NFR dating back to his 2014 breakout year. Despite battling injuries in 2022, Champion returned strong and continues to be one of the most respected and recognized names in professional bareback riding.