The rider mounts the bull, grips a flat braided rope, nods his head and the gate to the chute opens. Hopefully for the next eight seconds, the cowboy can hang on to the bucking, spinning and kicking animal that can outweigh the cowboy by about 900 kg (2,000 pounds).
Known as the most dangerous eight seconds in sport, bull riding is one of the most popular events at a rodeo and has become an event onto itself in the form of events like the World Professional Bullriding Inc. finals held in Olds recently.
Thirty of the top bull riders competing in events around North America over the past year converged on the Cow Palace to test their nerve and skill against bulls with names like Sour Grapes, Fruit Loops, Hell Bent, Gunsmoke, Hells Angel, Inferno and Whiskey Wisdom, to name a few.
For most of the competitors, the ride was short, being bucked off before the mandatory eight seconds passed to record a score.
However, for those who were able to hang on and receive a high score, it can mean a big paycheque at the end of the night and a championship buckle.
Going into the finals, an injured Tyler Patten was leading the standings with 3,180 points and was hoping to be able to miss the final event of the season and still be on top to claim the championship for 2009. Several cowboys were on his heals in points, however, and were hoping they could overtake the Buck Lake cowboy.
At the end of the two days of competition, Tanner Byrne of Prince Albert, Sask., prevailed, winning both the world championship and the finals title. Steven Turner of Cochrane was second in the championship while Wacey Finkbeiner and Cody Stamp finished up the rodeo tied for third in prize money paid out.