Moose Jaw's Kavis Drake is Ready for his 1st CFR Appearance

It may be his 1st appearance at the Canadian Finals Rodeo but it has been known for some time now that Moose Jaw's Kavis Drake is one of Canada's elite headers. Entering the 2024 CFR in the #2 spot on the head side, Drake put together a phenomenal season with his partner, Denim Ross. Together the pair of young guns would rack up $30,000+ in CPRA season earnings while also making a name for themselves south of the border at some PRCA rodeos. It was great to chat with Kavis about his season, his partnership with Ross and everything else team roping before he heads south to Mandan, North Dakota & the Wrangler Finals before coming home to gear up for Edmonton.

Drake sticks it on one aboard his new horse 'Lil D'

Question: How's it feel to be heading to CFR #1?

Answer: It's pretty surreal, it hasn't really sank it yet to be totally honest. I don't think it will sink in until I'm either getting my back number or I'm backing into the corner in the 1st round. I'm excited though.

Question: What was it like roping with Denim all summer?

Answer: It was good, he's pretty easy to get along with. We eat a lot of Subway & Dairy Queen but other than that he's pretty easy going. It's nice knowing that when I do my job, I don't have to worry about him at all, I know that we're going to win. I think that he's the best guy going honestly and I'm just fortunate enough to rope with him.

Question: What makes your guys' run so good?

Answer: We practice going fast a lot. Like Denim said in his interview, we have a set of horses that we practice going fast on every time and I think we've done it so much that the rodeo setups feel easy. Honestly the rodeo setup almost feels easier than the jackpot setup, just cause we've done that rodeo setup so much- just sending it and going fast. He knows what I'm going to do and I know what he's going to do.

Question: What's your new horse?

Answer: I bought him from Brett Buss during the Strathmore weekend. I call him 'Lil D', he's 17 years old. Brett roped on him when he headed for Klay Whyte and won some season leader titles on him. He quit roping on him cause he had some younger stuff coming up and then he just sat in the pen for 3 or 4 years. Brett cornered me at the Medicine Hat spring rodeo and asked me if I wanted to try him and I figured trying him wouldn't hurt. I tried him right before Strathmore and ran 4 steers on him and said 'Yup I'll take him, I don't need to run no more, I'll take him".

I still got my 6 year-old roan 'Aussie', he's my jackpotter. I like jackpotting on him cause he does the same thing every time, he never messes up. He scores good and does the same thing every time.

Question: How much did the Circuit Finals play into setting up your season?

Answer: Oh man, it's crazy. If I didn't have that Circuit Finals money, I'd be 8th or 9th and barely making it. It plays a huge part. If you can get into that and just get a couple thousand, it's huge.

Kavis Drake & Denim Ross were a force to be reckoned with at the 2023 Maple Leaf Circuit Finals, claiming the title and $5,000+ to set them up for their successful 2024 season.

Question: Who else are you excited to watch in Edmonton?

Answer: All of em, there's not a bad one. This year might be one of the toughest sets of team ropers that the CFR has ever had. Obviously Trey & Jeremy's chemistry together is insane and then Brady & Calgary with what they did last year, the list goes on and on. I think all of the 11 other teams will be rank to watch honestly. It's hard to narrow it down to a couple because all of them are just so good, everyone going just ropes great.

Question: Who's been the biggest influence on your roping career?

Answer: It's hard to narrow it down to one guy. My dad would be the biggest influence cause he taught me how to rope, got me started and bought me horses. I idolize lots of those NFR guys and I try to take a little bit out of every guy. Like Driggers he is just so good in every setup, Egusquiza throws so fast, Clay Smith scores so good. It's hard to narrow it down to one guy.

I really admire my partner's opinion too, he understands the game of team roping so well. When I'm down and struggling, I actually go to him and ask what he thinks I'm doing wrong. He's so knowledgable when it comes to team roping.

Question: What're some goals you want to accomplish yet?

Answer: We're going to try and get into the Winter Rodeos and then next year I think we're going to go. We're going to rodeo with Clay Ullery and Tyce (McLeod) is the plan right now and go and try to get our feet wet down there. If things go good then that's great, if not then hopefully we can get ourselves back into the Winter Rodeos and we'll have another year under our belts and try to make the NFR.

Drake sticking it on one like it's his day job.... Oh right, it is!

Question: What other CFR Head horse would you like to stick one off of?

Answer: There's lots of em. Dawson's yellow obviously. I know he didn't make the CFR but Tate Schmidt's sorrel horse, I think that horse is amazing. Trey's yellow, I'd like to get on him and just run a couple to see what he feels like. The list goes on, it's hard to narrow it down to a couple. Kash's bay is so fast, I bet he'd feel cool.

Question: What head rope are you using?

Answer: I've been using an XS GT4 but there's this brand new Triton laying on the garage floor and I keep looking at it and thinking it might have to crack out for the CFR. You'll probably see me with a GT4 in the 1st round but don't be surprised if I have a Triton too.

Question: What do you do for your mental game before a run or rodeo?

Answer: I'm just honestly trying to keep a clear mind. When things are going good, I try not to think of anything but seeing my start and rocking and rolling. When I'm having a little bit of a slump, I tell myself to keep my swing flat and don't beat yourself... just get your swing flat and throw it when it feels good.

Question: Who's the better goat roper between you and Denim?

Answer: I don't know man, I'm not gonna lie, Denim is pretty nasty with the head loops on the ole goats. He's pretty damn good.

This interview is part 3 of 3 of a Superstar Header Trifecta presented by Rein Equine Marketing:

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