PBR Team Bull Riding

[Mountain Cowgirl]

I am really enjoying the high level of bull riding in the new PBR team riding competition. Each team has 5 pro riders. The team spirit and energy have really made for some amazing rides. Of course with the high quality of bulls, the best available, injuries have occurred with some injuries taking out some top riders for a few weeks.

Today I saw one bull that was so good he even got under a bullfighter and cast him 10 feet in the air, then tried to stomp on him. They have a team of sports medicine doctors on hand with a portable MRI and even a surgical trailer. This new event promises to be rodeo at its finest. Bull riding is now considered to be the most dangerous sport on the planet, not just rodeo.

I don't watch it because of the danger, just because I enjoy seeing the skills, determination, and strengths of these young men. So far De Lima that filled in for the injured superstar, Leme, is riding at an unexpectedly high level. My favorite team is the Austin Gamblers.

Another interesting aspect of pro team bull riding is they have a world team competition with the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, and Australia competing. The USA Eagles won again this year with Brazil almost winning. Many of our PRCA champions were selected to ride this year. One, in particular, was Stetson Wright from Utah. He made an amazing ride that will place his name among the best bull riders in the world.

The interesting thing about team bull riding is they are running it like other sports with drafting and trading. It is still dangerous and does have injuries and while I don't like that aspect, I do love that the riders love what they do and live to do it. The more I learn about the different bulls and how they are scored, the more it becomes interesting. Riders selecting bulls may go for one that will give them a high score or may choose to play it safer with a lower-scoring bull where even a lower score will put their team in the lead. Rather than going for the highest individual score possible, they strategize as a team.

I am amazed at how popular this team riding is becoming. I had some visitors drop by and was going to turn it off and they both said no together. He is a paramedic/fireman and volunteers for any bull riding duty in his area. Their 6-month-old baby, such a little cutie, was even waving her arms around and had her eyes glued to the screen and making noises.

 

[Faster horses]

I had no idea...

 

[webfoot]

To me rodeo in any form or fashion is and should be an individual sport. That is probably just me but I am not a fan of the team concept in rodeo. Having said that I traveled with a man who was a former world champion bull rider who got kicked out of the RCA for attempting to set team rodeo back in 1967. He was setting up a deal with Hunt (can't remember his first name) who was the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs. Apparently he was 50+ years ahead of his time.

 

[Mountain Cowgirl]

I think the reason I like the team competition is that it is helping revive the American spirit because of the comradery of the different countries that may make up a team. Then in world competition, those teams change to represent their countries. I see a team sport that values God, family values, and freedom, and rewards those that work hard at what they do. The only time you see a rider take a knee is to praise God and thank the USA for the opportunity it has afforded them. No racial nonsense or anti-American political statements.

My favorite will always be individual riding and personal achievement. I think what the team riding is doing for changing the image of professional athletes, some that make personal anti-American political statements, is refreshing since all other team sports seem to cater to the insanity that has swept the USA. So far I don't see the PBR catering to this insanity.