But Stevensville's Travis Wills is out for any edge he can get when he cowboys-up on the Professional Bull Riders' (PBR) Challenger Tour. If that means calling on his high school wrestling experience, then so be it.
“Bull riding is kind of like wrestling,” said the 23-year-old Corvallis alum, who will compete against some of the most talented up-and-coming bull riders in the country in the PBR Challenger on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Western Montana Fair.
Willis, who works for Temp Right in Missoula, has yet to hit it big in four years of bull riding. Some riders in his position begin to ponder quitting in the name of safety. But not this cowboy.
“It's something I've been wanting for a while, to get that feeling of winning my first professional championship,” Willis said. “The (Missoula) PBR is a pretty big event and it's a good feeling to know you can contend with the top guys.
“I haven't done well (in the local challengers) the last couple years. I've let little things get to my head like thinking about who is going to be there watching. But this year I'm just going to focus on what I have to do. Block everybody out and get in the mind-set I'm going to do the best I can.”
The PBR's Challenger Tour is comparable to baseball's minor league. It offers bull riders the opportunity to earn money to qualify for the elite Built Ford Tough (BFT) Series.
According to Kyle Strensrud, the fair's rodeo committee chairman, some of the top BFT names Missoula has drawn in the past will not be present Thursday because of a conflict with another event.
“But we'll have a lot of the top guys from the Challenger Tour,” he said. “Some of these guys are on the cusp of making it to the big time, and we'll have $15,000 in added money.”
The list of competitors is highlighted by Scott Schiffner of Strathmore, Alberta, Canada. He won the Calgary Stampede in 2001 and the first PBR Canada National Championship in 2006.
Schiffner, 28, is a cowboy's cowboy. He has overcome many injuries in his career, including a broken fibula and foot, a torn bicep and a fractured jaw. The worst injury he suffered came in 2002 when a bull stepped on his left leg, breaking his femur. The injury sidelined him for six months.
One popular misnomer about the PBR competition is riders are judged solely on their performance. In truth, judges score both the bull and the rider separately, with a maximum of 50 points possible for the bull and the rider.
The rider only receives a score if he stays on for the full 8 seconds, but the bull always receives a score. The rider is judged on aspects such as posture, position of his freehand and his dismount. Factoring into a bull's score are high jumps, fast spins and whether the animal stumbled out of the gate.
Thursday's Challenger will kick off three days of rodeo action at the fair. A two-day PRCA event will be held Friday and Saturday.
Notes: A total of 39 riders are slated to compete in Missoula. ... The rodeo clown will be Scott Cameron of Colorado. ... Tickets are $23 for adults and $20 for children, which includes gate admission. ... Last year's champion, Kody Lostroh of Longmont, Colo., will not be competing. ... Beau Hill of West Glacier has pulled out with a back injury. ... Billings will be represented by three competitors: Chase Edward, Nathan Hofer and Robert Mims.
Sports writer Bill Speltz may be reached at 523-5255 or bill.speltz@lee.net.
Competitors
Thursday at Western Montana Fair
Scheduled to compete
First section
Jordie Campbell, Bindloss, Alberta; Ryan Dirteater, Hulbert, Okla.; Corey Atwell, Moravian Falls, N.C.; Chase Edward, Billings; Max Fortmuller, DeWinton, Alberta; Jared Long, Ramona, Okla.; Jay Pahlke, Bismarck, N.D.; Shane Proctor, Mooresville, N.C.; Palmer Merritt, King, N.C.
Second section
Cole Hermanson, Mandan, N.D.; Chad Denton, Berry Creek, Calif.; Travis Wills, Missoula; Nile LeBaron, Chihuahua, Mexico; Nathan Tull, Shawnee, Okla.; Billy Robinson, Galax, Va.; Jeremy James, King City, Calif.; Tyler Thomson, Black Diamond, Alberta; Scott Schiffner, Strathmore, Alberta; Matt Werries, Jacksonville, Ill.; Jesse Torkelson, Winfield, Alberta.
Third section
Corey Navarre, Sulpher, La.; Derek Lacasa, Tres Pinos, Calif.; Tyler Pankewitz, Warburg, Alberta; Dusty Ephrom, Arcola, Saskatchewan; Harve Stewart, Stephenville, Texas; Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore.; Ty Elliott, Vernon, British Columbia; Cody Ford, Hermiston, Ore.; Chad Besplug, Claresholm, Alberta; Tony Mendes, Pueblo, Colo.
Fourth section
Ned Cross, Midland, Ore.; Nathan Hofer, Billings; Cory McCord, Tupelo, Okla.; Robert Mims, Billings; Rocky McDonald, Chihuahua, Mexico; Justin Hermanson, Kathryn, N.D.; Richard Knight, St. Helens, Ore.; Jay Dunford, Menoken, N.D.; Bronson Butcher, Muskogee, Okla.
PBR Challenger Tour standings
(Top 30 - in order)
Clayton Williams, Carthage, Texas; Mike Lee, Decatur, Texas; Bryan Richardson Dallas, Texas; Robson Palermo, Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil; Kody Lostroh, Longmont, Colo.; Matt Bohon, Cole Camp, Mo.; Jared Farley, Kempsey, Australia; Kolt Donaldson, Idabel, Ok.; Brian Canter, Randleman, N.C.; J. B. Mauney, Mooresville, N.C.; Ryan McConnel, Cortez, Co.; Scott Schiffner, Strathmore, Alberta; Sean Willingham, Summerville, Ga.; Brian Herman Victoria, Texas; Beau Hill, West Glacier; Cody Ford, Stanfeild, Ore.; L.J. Jenkins, Texico, N.M.; Vince Northrop, Davidson, Saskatchewan; Rocky McDonald, Juarez, Mexico; Ryan Dirteater, Hulbert, Ok.; Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore.; Aaron Roy, Asquith, Saskatchewan; Sinovaldo Correia, Lobato, Brazil; Matt Austin, Wills Point, Texas; Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wa.; Harve Stewart, Stephenville, Texas; Reese Cates, Carthage, Texas; Ben Jones, Sunset, Texas; Paulo Crimber, Olimpia, Bravil; Kasey Hayes, Liberal, Kan.
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