I went to a bull riding rodeo for the first time on Sunday. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the arena: the people chattering, the stands getting filled, the smell of hot dogs and popcorn, the music blaring.
It felt thrilling every time a rider got on a bull and the gate opened. The thrill typically lasts mere seconds, as balancing and concentrating on top of a 1400-pound rampaging bull is difficult to maintain, even for professionals.
But it took a while between each rider. Actually, the rodeo itself took a while. The show started at 6 pm but it wasn’t until 7 when the first rider came out. The average time was around 10-15 minutes until the next rider was ready. Granted, there were many hiccups and errors, like having to use different bulls because they were too sedated, but when the action happened, it was worth it.
What caught my attention, though, were the stories being shared by the announcer during the transitions. The announcer needed to keep the audience’s attention so that they didn’t leave or feel too bored. He would share stories of young bull riders thriving and others who had their careers halted because of life-threatening injuries.
In fact, the announcer brought one of the injured bull riders to the arena and told us how he a dislocated shoulder, fractured pelvic and rib, and a knee injury, all from his last bull ride a year ago. The bull rider was noticeably limping when entering the arena, yet he had a calm and serene look on his face. He looked like he was ready to hop on a bull despite his injuries. We are the same age, yet we live in entirely different worlds.
Bull riding is a high risk, high reward path that draws a certain type of people. The adrenaline and thrill it gives riders is something that’s hard to understand for an average person like myself. For some, they’re just naturally drawn to such activities.
Or perhaps they just found the right activity that brings out their thrill, one that feels risky, yet deeply rewarding and meaningful. But does such an activity need to be inherently risky? Or could the feeling be applied to any activity?
Here’s my inspiration for the day.