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PBR 101: From spinners to turn backs, scores to sores, there is a lot to learn about pro bull riders.
(Tulsa World (OK) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jul. 13--Defending 2007 PBR champion Justin McBride will continue his return from a severe shoulder injury while current leader Guilherme Marchi will attempt to his increase his points lead, highlighting the Express PBR Classic Friday through Sunday at Convention Center Arena.
McBride set the Built Ford Tough Tour on fire last year, compiling 14,820.25 points and winning $1.8 million until an injury in September proved disastrous. McBride finished the season, then underwent surgical reconstruction of his left shoulder following his spill on Gnash in Chihuahua, Mexico.
The Elk City rider finally returned last month in Dallas, placing seventh with 174.50 points after riding two of three head. McBride increased his PBR career record winnings to $4,906,201.54.
Meanwhile, Marchi, who hails from Leme, Brazil, has a 2,794 lead over fellow countryman Valdiron de Oliveria for the top spot in 2008. Marchi finished second behind McBride last year while earning almost half a million dollars. De Oliveria placed ninth in Dallas with Marchi tied for 10th.
Also expected to compete in Tulsa are Dallas winner Mike
Lee along with current third-place rider Kody Lostroh, No. 4 J.B. Mauney and No. 5 L.J. Jenkins. Lee ranks sixth this year, while Mauney finished third in the 2007 standings behind Marchi.
Also scheduled to ride is three-time world champion and 2007 Tulsa winner Adriano Moraes from Brazil. Moraes is 15th in the 2008 standings and will retire following the season.
McBride was a terror last season, setting a record for consecutive victories and riding 63.3 percent of his mounts. This season, Marchi has stayed on 48 of 63 bulls for a 76.1 percent performance. De Oliveria has ridden 69.94 percent and Lostroh 60.66. Marchi has won three events in 2008 along with Travis Briscoe.
Eight questions and answers detailing the world of professional bull riding
What is the PBR?
It's a four-level bull riding tour that consists of the Built Ford Tough series, which is the major league, and the Challenge tour, the Enterprise tour and the Discovery tour, the minor leagues. The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) was founded in 1992 by bull riders for bull riders. The PBR Tour has more than $10 million in prize money available annually and more than 100 million viewers watch on FOX, NBC and Versus. Over 1,200 riders compete annually and more than 1.5 million event attendees watch over 300 events in five countries.
How are riders scored?
A panel of four judges score each ride. Each judge awards a total of 50 points. The points are then averaged to award a total score between one and 100 points. The judges each award 25 points to the bull, based on how difficult it was to ride. They look for speed, direction changing, kicks, drops and belly rolls. All four scores are averaged to score between one and 50 points. The judges each award 25 points to the rider based on his control. They look for a rider to be centered on the bull and evaluate the moves a rider makes to counter the bull's actions. Additional style points may be added when a rider spurs the bull. All four judges' scores are averaged to score between one and 50 points. The final score is averaged of all the judges scores. If a bull earns 44 points and a rider 42, the score is 86. If the judges decide that a bull did not perform well, a rider may be awarded a re-ride. A re-ride is awarded if the rider has a qualified ride and receives a score, or if he is fouled by the bull.
What are the most frequent injuries?
Head and facial injuries are common, along with broken bones throughout the body. Groin injuries and broken shoulders are also frequent. Bulls have a tendency to step on the faces, arms and legs of bucked-off cowboys. Virtually no veteran bull rider has escaped without serious injury at some point in his career. The cowboy's credo is to ride with injuries, if at all possible.
What are the bull riding terms?
Away from his hand: Describes the scenario in which a bull is spinning in the direction opposite a cowboy's riding hand.
Cover: When a rider successfully stays on board his bull for eight seconds and earns a score.
Down in the well: Describes a situation in which a bull is spinning in one direction and the force of the spin pulls the rider down the side of the bull into the motion's vortex.
Fades: When a bull moves backward while simultaneously spinning or bucking in one or more directions.
Hooked: When a rider dismounts or is bucked off and the bull goes after the rider or the bullfighter, attempting to forcibly hit the human target with his horns.
Hung up: When a rider is unable to free his riding hand from his bull rope.
Into his hand: Describes the scenario in which a bull is spinning in the same direction of a rider's riding hand.
Rank: A bull that is difficult to ride.
Spinner: A bull displaying a bucking pattern in which it spins in a tight circle throughout the ride.
Turn back: Describes a bull that displays a bucking pattern in which he heads in one direction and then makes a sharp move in the opposite direction.
What equipment do the riders use?
Cowboy hat or helmet: The cowboy hat offers a layer of protection between the cowboy's skull and the bull's hooves. For riders needing added protection, helmets shield the head.
Protective vest: The vest was invented by former bull rider Cody Lambert. It serves two primary purposes: to absorb shock and to protect the torso from punctures caused by contact with the bull's hooves and horns. Since riders have started wearing vests, internal injuries have dropped dramatically.
Gloves: Cowboys wear gloves only on their riding hand. This leather glove protects the hand and fingers. It also makes it easier to hold onto the bull rope. The cowboys tape the gloves on their hands since the force of the bull and friction of the rope is so strong.
Rosin: It helps the cowboy's glove adhere to the bull rope. It is sticky and provides a cowboy with a little extra grip.
Chaps: All riders wear chaps. They are custom-made and often sport the logo of the cowboy's sponsors. They are part of the armor used against the bull's horns and hooves.
Bull rope: The bull rope is flat and braided from nylon that goes around the bull's girth area behind his front legs. The rope has a handle that is braided into it and serves as the cowboy's only anchor for his ride. Most riders run the rope through their pinky or index fingers, but some prefer to use a suicide wrap, which is harder to get out of and increases the chances of a rider hanging up to his bull. Brazilian bull ropes, which are pulled from the opposite side, are usually wider.
Boots: They have a special spur ridge on the heel which helps their spurs stay in place. Some riders wear traditional pull-ons while some prefer lace-ups to fit the foot snugly.
Spurs: Spurs help the cowboy stay in position on a bull. The rowels are dull so they don't injure or cut the skin of the bull. The spurring action displays the level of complete control of the cowboy during a ride.
What is the event format?
Events consist of one to three regular rounds of competition in which all riders participate. Their scores determine their place in the overall competition and their share of the prize money that is paid out by round. At the end of each event, the top 15 riders compete in the championship round, or short-go, to determine the event winner. The rider's cumulative score on one, two or three bulls in the regular rounds determines their standing.
How is a rider paired with a bull?
Following the first round of competition, there has been a change in drawing bulls this year. Cowboys are still matched against the bulls in the first round through a computer-generated random draw. Before the second round on Saturday, the first-round winner will now pick first in a draft. From there, the second-place cowboy picks second, the third picks third, and so on. If there aren't enough cowboys who rode a full eight seconds, the draft will resort to buck-off times. The cowboy who rode closest to eight seconds will pick followed by the second closest rider to eight seconds, and so on. On Sunday, there will be a random draw prior to the fourth round and the top 15 riders, based on totaled scores from all previous rides, will pick in another draft before the championship round.
What is the riding procedure?
Once the bull is loaded into a bucking chute, the cowboy mounts the bull and secures his riding hand to the bull with a specially designed bull rope. The rope is pulled tight around the bull's torso just behind the shoulders. There are no knots to secure the ropes. The tail of the rope is wrapped through the fingers and is held in place by the pressure applied through the cowboy's grip. Once the ride begins, the cowboy is required to stay on board his bull for eight seconds. The clock is started when the bull's shoulder or hip crosses the plane of the bucking chute and is stopped when the rider's hand comes out of the rope. If any part of the free arm comes into contact with the bull or the rider's body, the rider is disqualified. If the rider is bucked off or the clock is stopped for a disqualification prior to the eight-second buzzer, the rider receives no score.
Glenn Hibdon 581-8396
glenn.hibdon@tulsaworld.com
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Copyright (c) 2008, Tulsa World, Okla.
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