Bull Riding: The Fastest Growing Professional Sport

Professional bull riding is getting more popular all the time and is finally getting recognition in the sports field. Since the early 1990's, there has been a 15-fold increase in prize money for professional bull riders, and national television broadcasts bull riding competitions. The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) yearly awards the Gold Buckle to the bull rider who has reached the highest achievement in the sport. This belt buckle is worth over $50,000.

The cowboys try to ride an animal that weighs nearly a ton while it tries to throw them off its back by bucking, kicking, and jumping. Sometimes the rider gets thrown right away, some a few seconds into the ride, and others actually stay on for the full eight seconds. The riders get points, assuming they last eight seconds, for each ride. Of the possible 100 points, up to 50 points is for the rider and up to 50 points for the bull. The rider who rides using only one hand, keeps his place on the bull, and looks as though he is in control of the bull, gets the highest score. The more active and higher jumping a bull is will get it the most points for its part.

The riders have only a rope coated with resin wrapped around their hand to hold on to, and their free hand may not touch their body or the bull's during the ride. Cowboys who ride bulls have to be in good physical condition. They have to have strength, balance, stamina and coordination. The ability to mentally prepare themselves for the ride is also important. Imagine being bounced around and thrown from side to side for eight seconds by a creature almost 10 times your weight.

Sure, it can get violent, but what is football without the tackles? Or hockey without the fights? Is NASCAR as exciting if no one wrecks? Risks are what makes sports so popular. Bull riders occasionally get caught in their hand rope and get thrown around by the bull. Lane Frost, World Champion Bull Rider in 1987, was killed in 1989 when a bull ran over him at a competition in Wyoming. Tuff Hedeman, another World Champion, had his face crushed when he collided with the back of a bull's head during a ride.