Eli Vastbinder is the epitome of cowboy tough. After a career of more than a decade with the PBR, Vastbinder persevered through a dislocated shoudler and broken ribs at his career-first World Finals in 2021 to register a historic four 90-point rides at bull riding’s most prestigous event, tying the all-time record, and be crowned the PBR Rookie of the Year. Despite being in his 30s, Vastbinder has proven he is capable of contending with the sport’s youngest and most established talent, and the resilient North Carolina cowboy posied for greatness in 2022.
Things to know about Eli Vastbinder

World Finals Appearances: 1
Hometown: Statesville, North Carolina
Residence: Statesville, North Carolina
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 170
Born: 4/17/91
Riding Hand: Right
Career Earnings: $254,163.26*
High-Marked Ride: 92.75 points on Medicine Man during Round 5 of the 2021 PBR World Finals in Las Vegas on November 7, 2021
For Vastbinder’s career stats, click here.
Awards

2021 PBR Rookie of the Year
Eli's journey to the PBR

- Eli Vastbinder’s career would probably never have taken off without the support of fellow North Carolinian, and two-time PBR World Champion J.B. Mauney.
- More than a decade ago, when Vastbinder had just turned 18, it was Mauney who fronted him the money to purchase a plane ticket to compete at his first PBR event.
Career in Review: 2009-2020

- Vastbinder’s PBR career began in 2009, first competing with the organization in October at the Canadian Touring Pro Division event in Ottawa, Ontario.
- After toiling away in both 2010 and 2011, Vastbinder recorded his first qualified ride with the PBR in 2012, delivering an 81.5-point score in Ft. Myers, Florida in July, en route to his third-place finish at the Touring Pro Division event.
- After being shut out in his limited competition schedule in 2013, Vastbinder recorded six Top 10 finishes in 2014 and five Top 10 efforts in 2015.
- Vastbinder then took a year hiatus from the PBR in 2016, which he followed with just two event entries in both the 2017 and 2018 seasons respectively.
- Again taking a year break from PBR action in 2019, Vastbinder began to reclaim his footing with the organization in 2020, riding to a then career-best seven Top 10 finishes across all levels of competition.
Career in Review: 2021

- Vastbinder would then take the bull riding world by storm in 2021.
- In mid-February, the North Carolinian recorded his first PBR event win, dominating the field in Lexington, Kentucky.
- Compliments of the win, Vastbinder made his premier series debut roughly a month later in Glendale, Arizona, riding to a 15th place finish.
- While Vastbinder would make seven additional appearances on the Unleash The Beast in the first half, including a sixth-place result in Omaha, Nebraska, it was the elder statesman’s second-half surge that caught the attention of many.
- On the spurs of an eighth-place finish the weekend prior in Nashville, Tennessee, Vastbinder nearly won the Iron Cowboy Major the following weekend in Fort Worth, Texas, denied the victory, and finishing second, after being bucked off by YETI PBR World Champion Bull contender Chiseled in a heartbreaking 7.06 seconds. While he fell short of the win, Vastbinder’s efforts epitomized his toughness as he attempted seven bulls in less than 24 hours en route to the silver finish.
Career in Review: 2021 continued

- As the 2021 season continued to unfurl, Vastbinder didn’t escaped season-derailing issues. In early October, he was unable to compete in San Antonio, Texas due to travel issues. Vastbinder entered the Touring Pro Division event in Columbus, Ohio, just days later, earning his career-first Touring Pro Division victory.
- Vastbinder concluded the regular season with a third-place finish in Manchester, New Hampshire, cementing his first berth to the PBR World Finals.
- A family man at his core, just days prior to his PBR World Finals debut, Vastbinder and wife Paige welcomed their twin daughters, Blake and Blair, seven weeks earlier than expected.
- The Statesville, North Carolina, bull rider began the World Finals with a bang by winning Round 1 with 91 points on Manaba, snapping the bull’s 14-out career buckoff streak.
- Following a buckoff in Round 2, Vastbinder then separated his right shoulder (riding arm) and broke his ribs attempting to ride Whiskey Bent in Round 3. Vastbinder was awarded a re-ride, and he somehow went on to ride Hell on the Red for 90 points before needing to be assisted off the dirt.
- Vastbinder’s memorable Finals then began to really take shape. He came back on Saturday night and once again battled through his broken ribs to post another 90-point ride, this time aboard 2021 ABBI Classic Champion Juju. He capped his World Finals by riding Medicine Man for 92.25 points to win Round 5 on Championship Sunday and clinch the Rookie of the Year title.
- Vastbinder entered the World Finals fifth in the Rookie of the Year race, 177.5 points behind No. 1 Junior Patrik Souza, before usurping Souza, Chase Dougherty, Jesse Petri and Rafael Henrique dos Santos with his fifth-place finish at the World Finals.
- The then 30-year-old tied a PBR record with four 90-point rides at the World Finals, becoming just the eighth rider in PBR history to do so. He also became the second oldest Rookie of the Year winner in PBR history. Keith Adams was 31 years old when he won top rookie accolades in 1997.
- Vastbinder is also the only non-World Champion to produce four 90-point rides during one World Finals and is the only rookie to do so.
- After a career of more than a decade, Vastbinder finished the 2021 season a career-best No. 9 in the world.
Coming Up

See Eli at the PBR Gwinnett Invitational coming to Gas South Arena on January 22-23, 2022.