Lane Frost

Background

Lane Frost was born to a rancher family in Lapoint, Utah. His father was a trained bareback rider, who often competed on the rodeo circuit. Although his father took charge of young Frost’s training and instilled the discipline of bull riding in him, he was always believed to be a natural bull rider who shared a special relationship with the beasts in the arena. In 1969, seven-year-old Frost bull rode off the farm on the back of a domesticated calf, which shocked his parents. A couple of years later, he successfully won his first title at Little Buckaroos Rodeos held in Utah.

The Frost family moved to Oklahoma in 1981, and Lane Frost was enrolled in Atoka High School, where he started his rodeo training and professional career. Following that year, Frost won the National High School Bull Riding Champion. In the subsequent year, he won the Bull Riding Championship of the first Youth National Finals held in Texas.

Frost quickly garnered national prominence and became a highly successful bull rider by breaking multiple records and attracting new audiences to the sport. His winning streak remains unparalleled in the world of rodeo. It all came crashing down on July 30, 1989, when a bull struck him after a set.

Fans of Frost and followers of the sport continue to mourn the unmatched legend of Frost, who became the P.R.C.A. World Champion Bull Rider at age 24. Several documentaries, articles, and pop culture pieces have honored Frost, notable among which are the Garth Brooks hit single ‘The Dance’ and the 1994 biopic “8 Seconds” starring Luke Perry. On October 12, we honor the enduring legacy of this once-in-a-lifetime sportsperson.