Shay Marks Returns to Competition with Eyes on Qualifying for the 2025 National Finals in Edmonton, Alberta

AIRDRIE, Alta. – There's a familiar face back in the PBR Canada ranks, and he's already making waves – Shay Marks.

A former World Finals qualifying bull rider turned stock contractor, Marks is making a late-season push for the PBR Canada National Finals in Edmonton on November 14-15.

Marks, who last competed in 2021 before hanging up his rope, made an unexpected comeback at his own event, Buckin’ At The Brook, held annually since 2024 in his hometown of Sunnybrook, Alberta. He was convinced by his father-in-law to liven up the card, by dusting off his gear and entering himself.

"I didn't even really consider it until a couple hours before the bull riding," Marks said. "Codi's dad said, 'You're going to have to get on.' I said, 'Oh yeah, right.' Then it just kind of got into my head."

Once the idea took hold, Marks says instinct kicked in.

"I went to pick up bulls and grabbed my gear bag, threw it all together. When I got there, I ended up entering and decided to get on."

Despite a four-year hiatus, Marks, who won seven events since making his PBR debut on Canadian soil in 2013, said the nerves he expected never arrived.

"I had a pretty good idea I was going to be getting on, but I was trying not to overthink it. I actually thought I'd get pretty nervous, but I didn't, which caught me off guard."

"I got on that first one, no nerves. I was rusty, sure, but I was confident,” Marks added. “And by the second one, I kind of had my motor running, realizing what I needed to do."

That second bull? He chose Glamorama, a bull he raised himself and had since sold. The matchup was poetic and successful. Marks rode him for 84 points, finishing his own event tied for third.

"I used to get on him all the time and I couldn't ride him," Marks laughed. "I was going to pick a different one, but Wyatt Gleeson said, 'Pick him, he feels good.' I said, 'Are you sure?' But he convinced me."

"Turns out, he doesn't feel a lot different now than when I used to get on him."

Now 29, Marks is balancing the return with big life changes. He and wife Codie, a familiar face at events under the Marks brand, recently announced they're expecting their first child. But she's been nothing but supportive of the comeback.

"I mentioned it to her once or twice, and she said, 'Are you sure?' I think she was questioning my decision a bit. But once I said I was going, she was all in. She's been around it long enough."

"I just felt like doing it,” Marks continued. “It felt like the right thing to do. I figured I might as well go before it's too late. I'll be too old before you know it."

While his days are now often spent on the contractor side, Marks admits he missed the camaraderie.

"The nice bulls made me miss it," he joked. "The big scary ones? I didn't think I missed them. But now, even those don't seem to bother me."

"It was probably a good break, honestly. I was beat up and pretty sour. But I missed it. I miss being with my friends. When you're working with the bulls, you're always leaving, not getting to hang out as much."

So how serious is this comeback?

"I'd like to try and make the Finals, which is possible, but not easy," he admitted.

After Buckin’ At The Brook, he made a call to two-time PBR Canada Champion Nick Tetz to do the math, who helped assure Marks that there was a possible pathway.

Having earned 80.33 national points at his first two events back, Marks is well on his way. And as for whether fans can expect to see him cracking out again in 2026?

"I honestly don't know. I was talking to another buddy, Mike Ostashek, and he asked, 'Are you going to keep going next year?' I said, 'I have no clue. I'm just rolling with it.'"

"I'm old enough not to care what anyone thinks. If I go to a few and call it quits, or if I keep going, it's on me."