Ride ‘Em Cowboy

World’s Most Dangerous Sport Returns With Stock Show

Story and photos by Reid Neureiter

For the GPHN

Rodeo cowboys and cowgirls returned to the National Western Stock Show in January for a series of 20 rodeo performances, including the Professional Bull Riders (“PBR”) Denver Chute-Out Finals on Jan. 12.

The Chute-Out consisted almost entirely of bull riding, and were the culmination of three days of bull riding by more than 90 contestants. To get a qualifying score on a bull ride, contestants must stay on the bucking bull for a full eight seconds. Riders can only use one hand to hold onto the rope encircling the bull. Touching either himself, the rope, or the bull with the free hand will result in the rider’s disqualification.

The ride score is a combination of both the rider’s performance and the bull’s performance. Two judges assess the rider on a scale of up to 50 and two judges assess the bull, also up to 50.  So, a perfect ride would be a score of 100. Any score over 80 is considered a very good ride and a score over 90 is exceptional and very rare.

With bucking bulls weighing anywhere from 1,200 to 2,000 pounds, bull riding is considered one of the world’s most dangerous sports. Puncture wounds or traumatic blows from horns or crushing hoofs could break bones, damage organs, or worse. All the competitors wore protective padded vets, and many riders sported helmets and face masks in lieu of the traditional cowboy hat. Because of the danger the bulls present to fallen riders, a protective team of bullfighters (the term rodeo “clown” has fallen out of favor) is present for every ride, with the bullfighters distracting the bull from thrown or fallen riders.

Not surprisingly, there was a palpable feeling of anxiety in the arena as each cowboy tightened his grip just before the raging beasts were unleashed. Bulls with intimidating names like Skull Crusher, Another Lunatic, Wreckonciled, and Thunder Dome were on the program. Most of the bulls tossed their riders well before the requisite eight seconds had elapsed. The protection team earned their pay.

There was one comedic moment. At the beginning of the show, a  member of the bullfighting team planted a large snowman in the middle of the arena, promising that if a bull ended up destroying the snowman, spring would come early to Colorado.  The crowd erupted when, midway through the evening, one rampaging animal obliterated the snowman.    

The PBR bull riding event was won by Lane Nobles of West, Texas. Nobles had a final round ride score of 88.5 and a cumulative total of 262 points on three bulls, taking home $19,844 in prize money.