Mess With the Bull

Starting tonight, ninety of the world’s best bull riders will attempt to tame a particularly ornery collection of animals for a shot at over $80,000 in prize money. Part of the National Western Stock Show, it’s the biggest event of the year for the Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division...

By Kiernan Maletsky

January 6, 2011

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Starting tonight, ninety of the world’s best bull riders will attempt to tame a particularly ornery collection of animals for a shot at over $80,000 in prize money. Part of the National Western Stock Show, it’s the biggest event of the year for the Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division. Among the competitors will be last year’s world champion, Kody Lostroh, who grew up in Longmont.

This isn’t the biggest contest on the PBR circuit (that would be the Built Ford Tough Series); a wider range of riders are allowed to compete at this level, and in addition to the prize money, they get a chance to join the BFTS tour. But don’t confuse this with the minor leagues: Many of the riders from the big show do this event, too. PBR Senior Vice President of Competition Jay Daugherty puts a finer point on it: “You’re going to see the best guys. You’re going to see the best of the best.”

The competition starts tonight at the Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt Street. The preliminary rounds will be held today and tomor-row at 7:30 p.m., and the final is on Wednesday at the same time. Tickets range from $18 to $100. Find more information at www.pbrnow.com.
Jan. 10-Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m., 2011

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.