Riding on Faith Rodeo 2024 Summer Series is dedicated to the late bull rider

BANDERA, Texas – The Bandera Rodeo community honored the life and legacy of Peter De Luna with a San Antonio family Friday night.

Peter De Luna, 22, died in a bull riding accident on May 31. He leaves behind his mother, sister, grandparents and girlfriend.

No one but Peter was prepared for this loss when he started bull riding in May 2023.

His journeys – and now his legacy – are based on faith.

“We spend our lives on faith,” said Troy Konvicka, CEO of Riding on Faith Rodeo. “We have to believe in something.”

Konvicka has owned and operated the Riding on Faith Rodeo for eight years, but the ultimate tragedy came with Peter’s accident last week.

“I was up in the commentary box when the incident happened,” Konvicka said.

De Luna’s death was an accident that every bull rider prepares for and every parent prays will never happen.

“I hate that it has to be this way,” said Vanessa De Luna, Peter’s mother. “I hate that it’s happening under these circumstances, but I couldn’t be more proud of this whole community that has supported our family this whole time.”

De Luna’s mother has done her best to be strong for those around her.

“It’s really hard,” Vanessa De Luna said. “I have to keep praying that he’s in a better place. I have to keep praying for my daughter, for Kamryn. I have to keep praying for both of them.”

When Vanessa De Luna stepped onto the ground where Peter rode for the last time on Friday, the entire arena could feel Peter’s absence.

Konvicka and the Riding on Faith Rodeo community have found a fitting way to honor De Luna’s memory. The remainder of this year’s Riding on Faith Rodeo Summer Series is now dedicated to him.

“Hopefully there’s some meaning to this,” Konvicka said. “He lived his life to the fullest. He did what he wanted to do. He was a very happy, outgoing young man.”

“We want to make sure all year long that every time you come to this rodeo, we think of Peter,” Konvicka said.

Vanessa De Luna told KSAT that Peter’s family will eventually be presented with a rodeo trophy in his honor.

This is how Peter will be remembered for now by his family, his rodeo friends and the Bandera community.

Further related reporting on KSAT: