YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The Covelli Centre is gearing up for a fast-paced energy-filled weekend of man versus bull.
The PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour is happening this Friday and Saturday in Youngstown.
The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) is an international bull riding organization headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It touts itself as the largest bull riding league in the world and does hundreds of events every year globally.
Professional bull rider Wyatt Rogers will be one of the participants in the event. Rogers has been bull riding since the age of twelve and promises an amazing show from start to finish for the entire family.
“At the PBR, you’re going to see two hours of nonstop action performance. It’s a performance-based event so you’re going to have entertainment from start to finish between the clown keeping you entertained or the announcers keeping it energized in the building–the sound man,” said Rogers “Then you’re going see the 40 best bull riders versus the 40 best bulls in the world and you are going to be on the edge of your seat. I always say if you come once, you will come every year.”
Being a bull rider may look easy, but they have to care for themselves just as a professional athlete would.
“It’s just countless hours of behind-the-scenes work. From training and working out to practice riding bulls or taking gymnastics when I was little. There’s just little stuff behind the scenes that you don’t see from the everyday point of view when you come to the event and watch,” said Rogers. “We’re just as much as a professional athlete, as a professional football player or basketball player, whatever we treat our bodies the same. We have to maintain our diets. Strict exercise. Treat it as a job more than a hobby.”
The Covelli Centre event is strictly a bull riding event. Rogers said riders work all year to accumulate points throughout each event. The PBR season runs from November through May and riders compete for what’s called the Gold Buckle and and substantial prize money. Whoever has the most points at the end is the PBR world champion. Rogers also boasts a lot of education in and out of the arena.
“I have a bachelor’s degree in sports management and I have a master’s degree in sports administration,” said Rogers. “There’s not many bull riders or even rodeo people that can say they got a master’s degree. “
He also says eight seconds can seem like a blip, or a very long time to stay on a bucking bull.
“I mean, it’s a it’s like a dance. If you’re in timing with your partner and the bull is obviously leading it, everything goes smooth and eight seconds can feel really quick,” he said. “But if you get out of timing and you’re off beat, it can feel like the longest eight seconds of your life.”
The PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour is on Friday, February 7, and Saturday, February 8 at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown. and Saturday in Youngstown. For tickets and more information, visit CovelliCentre.com. You can also follow the Covelli Centre on Facebook.
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