PBR: Professional Bull Riders on Tour
For a rodeo rider, trying to master a feisty horse is tough enough, a task not to be taken lightly, but bearing down on a big bull increases the scariness quotient considerably. That's one of the things that makes watching a pro bull rider so compelling — it's thrilling and frightening in equal measure as you marvel at the riders' skills while praying that they make it out unscathed.
These days, when it comes to bull riding, it's all about PBR: Professional Bull Riders. The organization started back in 1992 as a grassroots effort spearheaded by a handful of riders with a vision for what the sport could offer to fans. PBR grew by leaps and bounds over the decades, and by the 2010s they were sponsoring three major tours every year, adding up to hundreds of events with millions of dollars in prizes being awarded annually.
Needless to say, attending a PBR event means watching the best bull riders in the business strutting their stuff. Over the years, champs like J.B. Mauney, Kody Lostroh, Justin McBride, Adriano Moraes, Chris Shivers, and Tuff Hedeman have all distinguished themselves as decorated heroes of the PBR, giving all the rest a high standard to which they could aspire. And each of their tours offer fans the opportunity to catch some bull riding history in the making, be it the Unleash the Beast Series that ends with the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas, The Velocity Tour that showcases the rising stars of the PBR, or the Touring Pro Division split into Western, Central, and Eastern regions.
Whichever PBR competition you end up catching, there's one common thread. You're guaranteed to see some world-class athletes reaching deep inside themselves to tap into the best of their talents and give rodeo lovers an unforgettable experience.