Eighteen-year-old Kavis Drake from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, has made history as the youngest Canadian Champion Team Roper after a spectacular performance at his Canadian Finals Rodeo debut. Teaming up with his best bud and fellow phenomenon, Denim Ross, the duo delivered an outstanding performance, winning more than any other team throughout the week with $31,876 each in earnings. The pair's success would secure Drake his first Canadian title, and finish Ross as the Reserve Canadian Champion Heeler.
Drake's 2024 season kicked off with a bang when he and Ross clinched victory at the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals just 11 short months ago in Regina, Saskatchewan. This win launched him to the top of the standings with $5,800 in earnings, and quite frankly, he never looked back. The cool part is that during our interview after the Circuit Finals last November, I asked Drake what he wanted to achieve within the next year, he simply replied, "A Canadian Championship". And now that goal has become a reality that we all got to witness this past week in Edmonton.
When asked how it felt to achieve this dream, Drake reflected, "It honestly hasn't sunk in yet. I don't think it will until I get the buckle with my name on it."
The weekend began on a high note for Drake and Ross as they won Drake's debut round at the CFR with a time of 4.2 seconds, pocketing $11,100 each and boosting Drake into the lead on the head side—a position he never gave up from there on out.
Drake & Ross went 4.2 in Round 1 for the Day Money. Video by: Rein Equine Marketing
Round 2 brought some misfortune when the pair registered a no-time, but they quickly rebounded with a victory in Round 3, clocking a 3.9 and earning another $11,100. This performance not only widened the gap between Drake and the rest of the headers, it also pushed Ross to the top of the heel side standings.
Drake & Ross turned in a 3.9 for their 2nd Round Win in 3 nights. Video by: Rein Equine Marketing
Round 4 was another setback, as the pair faced their second no-time of the week. Meanwhile, Trey Gallais and Jeremy Buhler managed to secure a cheque in Round 4, allowing Buhler to slip back ahead of Ross in the heeling standings, setting the stage for a dramatic final round.
On Saturday night, in front of a packed Rogers Place crowd, the team ropers delivered what could be considered one of the greatest rounds in Canadian team roping history. With a time of 4.4 seconds sitting fifth and all of the guys on his tail sitting well, Drake knew exactly what he needed to do to have a chance at the Canadian title. "Going into the last round, I thought I needed to win third or better," he reflected, "And going into it, I thought, oh shoot, surely we can get 3rd or better."
"When Bird and Tyce went 3.7, I was super happy for Tyce—it was his first Go-Round buckle in six years of being there and the first time he'd ever been under 4 seconds in his career. Then Kolton and Landen went out and were 3.8 and all of a sudden, it was getting tough" As the competition intensified, Drake recalled his emotions in the moment: "I actually went back to grab my horse when Kash and Spady went and then the crowd just erupted after they announced they were 4.1, I thought, 'Holy, we are about to see if we are clutch right here, because we're going to have to be now." Throw in a 4.2 from fellow contenders Levi Simpson and Logan Cullen, and it became pretty clear that Drake & Ross would need to go fast.
"After Trey and Jerry went, Denim told me, 'If we can go 3.7 or win the round, I think we both have a chance.' And I said, 'Well, let's try to go 3.7 then.' When I finished and saw 3.7 on the board, I couldn't believe it—I went crazy!"
Drake and Ross's Round 5 run ignited the crowd, with over 12,000 Rogers Place fans cheering wildly. From the arena floor, Drake felt the thrill: "As soon as I faced, I knew I’d won it, that was a pretty cool feeling. Riding into the box knowing I needed to win the round to win Canada was such a cool feeling."
Drake also reminisced about his childhood and all of the times he put himself in that exact moment, "Colter Dunn is a great friend of mine and he used to come over all of the time. We used to run CFRs in our minds on the super slider as kids, imagining needing to win the last round of the CFR to win the Canadian title. I’ve run that steer a billion times in my mind, not knowing it would actually become a reality for me."
Now just as fast as their runs in Edmonton, Drake and Ross's 2024 season has ended and their 2025 season has begun. This morning, the pair jumped on a plane to Texas so that they can compete at some PRCA Fall rodeos, looking to qualify for the big indoor winter rodeos as they embark on their quest to make the NFR.
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