It was a rough year for Powell’s professional bull rider Kanin Asay, but he’s ready for more. He’s aiming to win the world title in 2016.

Asay ranked 27th in the world for bull riding this year, according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, just $30,000 shy of ranking in the top 15 and competing at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

“It seems like a lot of money, but that is just a good weekend or a rodeo,” Asay said.

If it weren’t for a few injuries along the way this year, Asay would have made it — so he’s got his eyes on the 2016 finals.

“It was a very trying year again, being hurt two or two and a half months. Not getting to rodeo really hurts when you get down to the last weekend and you have to win to get in the top 15,” Asay said.

Asay was in the top 15 earlier this year following a win at the Buc Days Pro Rodeo in Corpus Christi, Texas, in April. But, luck is a factor in rodeo. Sometimes it is luck of the draw, or just the ride itself.

“It was tough, I mean, I rode really good and drew good, but then I would get hurt on something that was not a hard ride,” Asay said. “It was just frustrating, but shoot — I am still alive, and I can’t complain too much.”

Earlier this year, Asay’s ear was nearly ripped off when a bull’s back hoof crushed down onto his head, cutting his ear three-quarters of the way off while competing in Nevada.

While Asay was airborne, caught somewhere between the back of his bull and slamming into the ground, the bull spun around and caught him on the side of the head. Fortunately, he was wearing a helmet — which he credited for saving his life.

The resulting injury required 200 stitches to reattach his ear. Now his ear just gets cold easier and occasionally hurts a bit, he said.

“It is just a big piece of scar tissue now,” Asay said. “The back of it is a big scar and gets achy and miserable, but I have an ear, and I can’t complain.”

A fundraiser at the Cody Nite Rodeo generated $7,500 to help out with his medical bills.

“You can’t even explain how thankful we are for everything and everyone who supported us,” Asay said. “All the people and all the local sponsors have been — everyone has been amazing and helped me stiff up and get going.”

Asay bounced back from his injuries like he always does and was back in the chutes in time for some Utah rodeos.

Asay said the highlight of the year for him was winning another round at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

“To win a round at any rodeo is great, but to win one at Cheyenne is amazing,” Asay said. “It sure does help the confidence and gets you wanting to keep going.”

Asay suffered yet another injury and had to miss a few weeks of competition when he got knocked out for 10 minutes in Canby, Oregon, and was life flighted to Portland. But, injuries are familiar territory for this Big Horn Basin cowboy, such as in 2008, when he ruptured his spleen.

“It was just a break deal,” Asay said. “The bull jerked me down and hit the center of my face mask.”

Asay plans to ride in the Bucking Ball in Gillette on New Year’s Eve and will head to Denver then Fort Worth and San Antonio, Texas, to compete at the start of 2016 — his 11th year in the PRCA.

“I’ve been very very fortunate with a long career,” Asay said. “A lot of guys haven’t had as long a career as I have.”

This year’s NFR featured riders about Asay’s age, but most were in their early- to mid-20s.

“It always gets tougher and tougher every year,” Asay said. “It is something that you just got to rise to the occasion and ride as good as you expect, and be happy with how you ride and go home.”

Bareback riding, hitting the gym and hunting have been Asay’s approach to keeping fit for future rodeos.  

A recent hunting trip with Meeteetse’s Dusty Tuckness, winner of the 2015 bullfighter of the year award, along with some other Wyoming riders, ended with Asay carrying an antelope over his shoulders for three-quarters of a mile.

He said his goal for 2016 is to win the world title by keeping in shape and getting a higher riding percentage.

“At this point, it is still rodeo for as long as I can rodeo,” Asay said. “I don’t want to retire, and I definitely don’t want to retire because of an injury.

“I just have to make sure I stay in the best shape I can stay in and make the best decisions I can make to go win the world title, and then retire.”