Taking the bull by the horns

Andrea Roberts
Times Intern

 

With the bull riding season in full swing, there are a number of talented locals who are willing to show off their skill in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) arena.
Wyatt Laughlin and Wace Pallesen are two local bull riders who are trying to show they can stay on a bucking bull – with an average weight of 1,600 pounds – for the required eight seconds.
“There is the probability of dying every time you go out there,” said Laughlin. “It is a hard thing that a person has to learn to give over and conquer the beast. With the bull riders who are riding at this [PBR] level, that is something that they know you just put all your fear in a jar, close it up and forget all about it.”
Laughlin has been riding bulls for about five years and this is his first year in the pro circuit. His season had started off well, placing second in Moose Jaw during the PBR Canadian Tour on Feb. 1. However, he injured his riding hand and he ended up taking a month off to heal.
Recently he was called to be an alternative rider in the Ranchman’s 17th Annual Invitational PBR Bull Bustin’ event July 5-6, in Calgary.
Pallesen started riding steers when he was about 10 years of age and moved onto junior bulls when he was 15, making it all the way to the Chinook Rodeo Association’s finals for junior bull riding, where he was the youngest competitor by at least two years. However, this season isn’t going so well for him.
“I haven’t been doing so hot,” he said. “I have been getting some rank bulls that are pretty good and I just haven’t been doing very hot lately to be honest.”
Pallesen injured his shoulder in May during the Bull Riders Canada event in Alix, Alta. Yet, although he said there haven’t been too many highlights to his season, one event that stands out is the Rockyford Bull-A-Rama, held on June 30, when he rode China White, a PBR bull that has been ridden by some of the best in the business, such as Scott Schiffner.
In order to keep in top shape, both Pallesen and Laughlin maintain a healthy lifestyle, making sure they eat well and exercise. Bull riders need to be quick and have fast reflexes. They also have to keep up this routine while they are on the road.