PBR | Derek Kolbaba

Biography

Derek “DK” Kolbaba grew up chasing the same dream his dad once rode for. A second-generation cowboy from Walla Walla, Washington, he first climbed on a sheep at age 3 and never looked back. His father — a professional bull rider in the ’90s — taught him the ropes and set him on the path he still rides today, with his family’s support remaining the backbone of his career.

Now a nine-time PBR World Finals qualifier, 2017 PBR Global Cup Canada Champion, and over $2 million career earner with nearly 1,000 career outs, Kolbaba has built a legacy on grit, talent, and heart. Known for his calm focus and easygoing nature, he never rides without a piece of mint gum — a habit that’s earned a permanent place in his gear bag. As the closer for the Carolina Cowboys, he’s become the man you want in the chute when the game’s on the line. Kolbaba has matched up with some of the sport’s rankest bulls, including a 94-point ride on Canadian Mist during the 2020 15/15 Bucking Battle in Nampa.

After fracturing his C7 vertebra in 2023, Kolbaba returned in 2024 with the Cowboys, helping lead them to the 2025 PBR Teams Championship inside T-Mobile Arena. A proven veteran, he credits his family for keeping him grounded and hungry through every comeback.

Off the dirt, Kolbaba keeps things simple — medium-rare steak and potatoes after a ride, Jersey Mike’s turkey and provolone with jalapeños on the road, and black coffee (with a little French vanilla if he’s feeling fancy) in the morning. He’s a Zach Top fan whose first concert was Tracy Lawrence at the fair, and when he’s not riding, you’ll find him with his daughter and the people who keep him steady — the family that started it all.

Dec 12 - 13, 2025

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