Gus Gaillard Wins Brad Gjermundson Extreme Broncs

While the 2026 regular season came to a close on September 30, that doesn’t mean the rodeo action stops before the NFR in December! October 1 officially marked the first day of the 2027 season, and many of the sport’s best bronc riders gathered in New Town, ND, for the Brad Gjermundson Extreme Broncs.

The competition opened with Zeke Thurston taking the first-round win, scoring 88 points aboard J Bar J’s Rocket Man for $5,593. Jake Finlay followed with 87 points, while Stetson Wright finished third with 86.5. Kolby Wanchuk added an 86-point ride for fourth, while Ben Andersen, Chase Brooks, Gus Gaillard, and Ryder Wright tied for fifth with 85.5 points.

Kolby Wanchuk topped the field in the second round with an 89-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo's Another Cowboy for $5,593. There was a three-way tie for second between Brody Cress, Gus Gaillard, and Chase Kling, who each scored 88.5 points. Ben Andersen finished right behind with an 88-point ride for fifth, followed by another three-way tie for sixth between Kade Bruno, Sage Newman, and Ryder Wright’s 87.5-point efforts.

The final round brought the highest scores of the event. Gaillard and Thurston tied for the round win with matching 91.5-point rides, each collecting $9,541. Q Taylor finished third with 89.5 points, while Bruno and Rusty Wright tied for fourth at 88.5. Andersen rounded out the top six with another 88-point ride.

While the average came down to a mere half point, Gaillard ultimately secured the title with 265.5 points, collecting $11,186. Thurston finished closely behind with 265 points, earning $9,870, while Andersen finished third with 261.5 points and $8,554. Wanchuk followed closely in fourth with 261 points, earning $7,238, and Taylor finished fifth with 260.5 points and $6,580.

Rusty Wright finished sixth in the average with 259.5 points, followed by Kling with 258.5. Cress and Bruno tied for eighth at 258 points, while Ryder Wright rounded out the top 10 with 256.5 points.

Brad Gjermundson Extreme Broncs Results

First Round:

1. Zeke Thurston, 88, $5,593

2. Jake Finlay, 87, $4,935

3. Stetson Wright, 86.5, $4,277

4. Kolby Wanchuk, 86, $3,619

5. (tie) Ben Andersen, Chase Brooks, Gus Gaillard, and Ryder Wright, 85.5, $2,797 each

9. (tie) Brody Cress and Logan Hay, 85, $1,645 each

Second Round:

1. Kolby Wanchuk, 89 points, $5,593

2. (tie) Brody Cress, Gus Gaillard, and Chase Kling, 88.5, $4,277 each

5. Ben Andersen, 88, $3,290

6. (tie) Kade Bruno, Sage Newman, and Ryder Wright, 87.5, $2,632 each

9. (tie) Allen Boore and Q Taylor, 87, $1,645 each

Finals:

1. (tie) Gus Gaillard and Zeke Thurston, 91.5, $9,541 each

3. Q Taylor, 89.5, $5,922

4. (tie) Kade Bruno and Rusty Wright, 88.5, $3,126 each

6. Ben Andersen, 88, $1,645

Average:

1. Gus Gaillard, 265.5 points on three head, $11,186

2. Zeke Thurston, 265, $9,870

3. Ben Andersen, 261.5, $8,554

4. Kolby Wanchuk, 261, $7,238

5. Q Taylor, 260.5, $6,580

6. Rusty Wright, 259.5, $5,922

7. Chase Kling, 258.5, $5,264

8. (tie) Brody Cress and Kade Bruno, 258, $4,277 each

10. Ryder Wright, 256.5, $2,632

If this event was any indication of what to expect at the 2026 NFR, it's sure to be 10 action-packed rounds of bronc riding!