Ace Urrea

By Phillip Kitts Photos by Avid Visual Imagery

What do you get when you put an extremely goal oriented, loyal and grounded young man within the sight of his dreams?

You get a young man named Ace Urrea who has grabbed the attention of everyone in the youth bull riding attention and has a bunch of guys in the pros looking back thinking he is coming soon. Ace was born in Harlingen, Texas, and currently resides in Devine, Texas. Like any other young bull rider, he cut his teeth in rodeo with Mutton Busting and has now made his way on to the Miniature Bull Riders (MBR) tour. During his early years, Ace had it on his mind that he wanted more than anything to find his way to the top levels of bull riding and represent a nation that carries the roots to his heritage. As a young Mexican athlete, it is astonishing to sit and talk with a young man who so deeply believes in where his ancestry comes from and how much pride he takes in his history. Even his father points out that when Ace started to move forward in his career he instantly wanted to carry and represent the Mexican flag on his gear and in his heart.

Early on in his budding bull riding career, Ace idolized the great Chris Shivers and has used Mr. Shivers’ riding techniques and performances as a foundation to what he wanted to accomplish. This platform put Ace on the path to where he has landed today but it has come with an extreme amount of hard work. When Ace made his debut with the MBR he was thrilled to take the step. He had been trying for a couple of years to break into the Miniature Bull Riders but never seemed to have any luck since every time he tried, they always seemed to be full. During the PBR Global Cup in 2019, that changed. Ace said “when I got the call on short notice, they wanted me to ride during the MBR portion of Global Cup I was excited”.

It was there, outside AT&T Stadium, that Ace took his first step toward what looks to be a promising future. But knowing Ace will tell you how he took it to the next level.

Ace Urrea is already a tall guy in terms of a bull rider but in no way does this divert him from his dream. He describes himself as a mid-range student who enjoys biology but hates reading. Ace grew up in a bilingual home but as dad says “he speaks Spanish, if you want to call it that”. None of this really defines Ace but knowing the base of his life explains only some of his drive. In every way Ace is much like any other teenage boy, he loves thin crust pizza, fajitas and quesadillas. What makes him so unique is way below the surface.

When Ace made his entrance into the MBR he was immediately met with challenges, as a taller bull rider he just never seemed to get his grip and always seemed to fall short. It was here that the MBR family again played a role in his success. Ace quickly became buddies with a great MBR bull rider named Canyon Trevino. Canyon has made a road for himself in bull riding both as a rider as well as a TV personality. The bond between the two young men quickly became more than “buddies” and matured into a typical MBR family bond. Over the next season Ace continued to struggle with his riding but for anyone who followed his adventures on social media could quickly see that Ace had no quit in him. This never give up attitude is a small portion of what changed the trend for this young bull rider.

After a little bit of time, Canyon reached out to his buddy encouraging him to join him at a bull riding school put on by the legend Gary Leffew. Fortunately, it was in the cards and Ace attended the school and the change was almost instantaneous.

Gary quickly recognized the struggle Ace was having in that as a taller bull rider it is harder for him to get a hold with his feet and utilize his spurs for leverage. With a little fine tuning from the guru and hours and hours of hard work from Ace, the change began to happen. It was not long until every video you saw on social media and every event you attended you would see Ace getting the job done. Not only was he now covering a lot more bulls, but he was doing so with a lot more control and confidence.

This confidence only strengthened the fire within young Ace, being a young man who was hungry to grow and succeed and do so while representing the roots of his heritage. His swagger and personality made him even more proud to be a “Mexican Bull Rider”

With the first taste of success, you often see young bull riders satisfied with the small success but not this young man. One trip to a Gary Leffew school led to another trip and then a private weeklong session where he used every opportunity to learn and refine his skills. Even more so, you will see amongst the social media world Ace in the gym working out, strengthening both his body and mind as he continues to drive toward his goal. He matched his gym efforts with hours on his drop barrel and as he said, “A Buckrite is the next step, as soon as I can get there”.

During our talks with Ace, something profound stood out outside of the bull riding. As a young freshman in high school, his articulate words and mature demeanor is only overshadowed by his extremely polite conduct. As a young man who speaks so well, he also portrays a humble and classy way that is emphasized by how proud he is to represent Mexico as a bull rider but also be a part of the MBR family. Every word he says when it comes to those who he rides with is nothing will guide and protect you, the Lord will never put anything more than support and appreciation for them all.

When asked about how the change in his riding and the change in his status amongst the bull riding world has influenced him in a typical Ace style, his response is “it is cool to be noticed but I want people to know that if they believe, they can do it”. This sentiment is relayed in the strong Hispanic following he continues to gain. His dad, JR, commented “recently we have had so many people who live in Mexico who have reached out in support of what Ace is doing, it warms the heart to have so A following has become profound, on a regular basis this young man hears from many who recognize all of the hard word work and investment he has put toward success.

What is the future for a determined young man? Anyone who knows Ace will tell you it is one thing, and that is a permanent spot on the PBR tour once he comes of age. This is just as important to Ace “I want to be one of the first Mexican bull riders to make the tour and stay there for a long time”. “I want to bring a world title to Mexico and represent them and my family to make them proud”.

These are amazing words from an amazing young athlete who recognizes the value of where he comes from and where he is going. The future is bright for young Ace Urrea and he will no doubt be one to keep an eye on in the future.