Weston Sutherland Finding His Stride as a Young WPCA Outrider

Born September 10, 2005, Weston Sutherland is only 20 years old, but chuckwagon racing has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. Coming from a third-generation wagon racing family, the son of driver Mitch Sutherland and grandson of former chuckwagon driver Kirk Sutherland, the sport was woven into his upbringing from an early age. Some of Weston’s earliest memories at the track don’t involve competition, but childhood imagination. “Britton Irvine and I used to hang around with the other kids when we were about eight or ten years old,” Weston recalled. “We’d play wagons with our bikes or wheelbarrows. That’s just what we did.”

With family deeply involved in the sport, racing always felt like a natural path. But it wasn’t until his teenage years that Weston truly found his direction. Ever since he was little, his family was racing, so he kind of assumed he would do it. When Weston got to be about 14, he became more interested in sports and other things. When he turned 15, he realized outriding is what he wanted to do. Weston officially began outriding in 2022 at just 16 years of age, drawn to the athletic demands of the role. “I always liked being involved in things more and being athletic,” he said. “I like running and jumping. Outriding just fit me.”

Stepping into such a demanding role at a young age came with a steep learning curve, both physically and mentally. “You have to figure out pretty quickly how to keep your head up and get your feet in the stirrups,” Weston explained. “You also have to learn how to accept your mistakes and learn from them. Taking your first penalty is tough. You take some flak, and you have to take what the drivers tell you in a good way and use it to improve.”

That mental side of the sport became even more evident when Weston began outriding for his father. “It’s pretty stressful sometimes,” he admitted. “You want to do good for your dad. I went through a period where I was taking a lot of penalties for my dad and grandpa, but not for anyone else. I think I was too worried about making mistakes for my family, and that actually caused me to make them.” A conversation with veteran driver Doug Irvine helped shift his mindset. “Doug told me outriding is 90 percent mental,” Weston said. “If you overthink everything, you’re going to make mistakes. That’s one of the biggest pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten. It’s a mind game.” Despite the pressure, the family dynamic still finds room for humor. After one penalty, Weston recalled his mother offering reassurance. “Dad was giving me some feedback, and Mom asked how he took it,” Weston said with a laugh. “She said, That’s OK, you’re my baby boy, he can’t fire you. We all laughed.”

Weston’s journey hasn’t been without adversity. In 2021 he suffered a serious injury during a practice run in High River. He was learning to ride without stirrups when the horse veered toward the gate. Weston supermanned over the front and got stomped on and broke four ribs and punctured a lung. He spent two nights in the hospital, and they were concerned about his heart. While the physical recovery came, the experience left a lasting impression. “It wasn’t really physical coming back,” Weston said. “It just made me more mindful of what a horse might do if I’m ever in a similar situation again.”

Among the highlights of his young career, one moment stands out above the rest. “Riding for my grandpa Kirk during the Calgary Stampede,” Weston said. “That meant a lot to me.” Competing at the WPCA level, however, presents ongoing challenges, particularly in earning opportunities. “There’s a lot of talent in the outriding pen,” he said. “It’s tough to get rides when there are so many good outriders.”Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Weston is optimistic. His offseason focus remains practical and hands-on. “I try to keep active and sledding helps,” he said. “I don’t go to the gym as much as I should, but I’ll be riding lots during spring training. Mitch Weber and I will ride a handful every day. I also went to Doug Irvine’s a couple of years ago, and I think I’ll do that again. I rode with Brit Irvine too.”

For Weston, success in 2026 is clearly defined. His goal is to be the most improved outrider at the end of the season and outride for a few more drivers.

At just 20 years old, Weston Sutherland continues to carve his own path in the WPCA, balancing family legacy, hard lessons, and steady growth as he looks toward the season ahead.

BRYAN HEBSON