In our article last year, “2017 PBR World Finals”, we commented at length on the immense appeal and increasing excitement of this sport which pits highly trained athletes’ wits, mental alertness and agility versus the sheer brute force of the bulls! Its fan base has continued to grow over the years and now counts millions upon millions not only in the two Americas but all over the world. Those who can, travel across the globe to watch the contest in situ while those unable to take the journey watch the contests on the screen. CBS Sports Network and other networks around the globe broadcast PBR contests. PBR televised broadcast viewers are now estimated at half a billion households. In February of this year (2018), a new digital network called RidePass adds hundreds of hours of bull riding and other western sports to anytime availability. It is a fitting addition to to-day’s digital world especially since PBR turned 25 this year! Happy 25th anniversary!.
It is a well-known fact that the ride lasts a mere eight (8) seconds but these are adrenaline-filled seconds like no other. Some animal activist groups think it a cruel sport but actually the riders are more likely to suffer injuries than the bulls. Bulls are money and that ensures that they are well looked after by their owners. Likewise, the athletes know well that it is paramount for them to have a good ride; it means thousands or millions of dollars in their pockets while a bad ride or a fall gets them next to nothing. Yet for most champions the most highly prized reward is to have their name listed in the Ring of Honour, similar to a hall of fame induction, and the $20,000 gold belt buckle.
2018 PBR World Finals contests in Las Vegas have been full if breathtaking and hair-raising moments as the riders tenaciously held on to the fiercely bucking bulls! We have captured those memorable moments on camera and will share them with you. On the second day of the contests, we are glad to report that all the champions left the arena on their feet. At the end of the second day, the 2008 World Champion, Guilherme Marchi (36 years old) announced that with 16 years’ experience of professional bull riding, he was looking forward to the next stage in his career: coaching and training aspiring bull riders in his native Brazil. Meanwhile, J. B. Mauney confirmed the close friendship between those two champions adding that professional bull-riding camaraderie was more like a family bond than competition.
As always happens at this type of sports events, there is more to sample, experience and purchase by way of memento or souvenir. Thus there is PBR Finals Week Western Gift Expo, besides music and song with Vanessa Legrand, and great food and drink specials. All in all, the 2018 PBR World Finals is indeed a most exhilarating sports event offering maximum excitement and a rare chance to meet and mix with some of the best champions in the field.
For more details, please see the following links:
www.ridepass.com
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/professiobal_Bull_Riders
2017 PBR Media Guide, PBR & Bull Riding Basics