BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — It’s called the most dangerous eight seconds in sports, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
The “Professional Bull Riders – Velocity Tour” kicked off at the Mechanics Bank Arena on Jan. 18 in front of a packed crowd.
A packed stadium with screaming fans witnessed plenty of bull riding superstars going head-to-head with powerful bucking bulls.
“We like the sport. This is very exciting,” said Melanie Swaim. “We’ve been coming since as long as I can remember.”
Some call it the toughest sport on dirt, but most fans call it something else.
“I think it’s semi crazy,” said Lance Swaim. “I think they have a lot of fun, maybe doing it because it’s like a roller coaster ride. You go on one and you always want that next rush.”
Every rider risks their life to be the best, including Aaron Williams, a professional bull rider from Pismo Beach.
Williams started his rodeo days when he was in diapers.
“I couldn’t see myself doing anything else for a living,” said Williams. “I started on sheep, mutton busting and been going ever since.”
Mutton busting is an event where children ride sheep instead of bulls. It all started at a family outing when Williams was three years old.
“My parents took me and my brother to the fair and they had riding and junior bull riding, and I saw it and asked my dad if I could do it, and he said, ‘Yeah, sure,'” said Williams.
Twenty-five years later, the Pismo Beach cowboy went from mutton busting to professional bull riding.
“This is a great event,” said Williams. “It’s a great crowd, and it’s good to be in front of a home state crowd because there ain’t no party like a West Coast party.”
#Toughest #sport #dirt #PBR #Velocity #Tour #Bakersfield
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