Las Vegas Weekly

October 31, 2008 · 1:59 PM

World’s best bull riders are ready for their 8 seconds

By Robin Leach

Justin McBride holds a PBR FInals trophy aloft.

Photo: PBR

Sin City becomes Cowboy Country this weekend, all next week and the following weekend, but don’t be confused -- the jeans, boots and Stetsons are not Halloween costumes. For the fans of the 2008 Professional Bull Riders World Finals, the outfits are the real thing and perfect to wear for the next 10 days at the Thomas & Mack Center.

With five season victories this year, 26-year-old Guilherme Marchi of Brazil is leading, with 65 successful rides from 87 bulls at $1.4 million, followed closely by rider Valdiron de Oliveira.

Guilherme, who has announced that he will retire after next week's Vegas finals, has placed second the past three years! Now comes the unexpected and the unknown: Former UNLV hero Justin McBride is back in the chase after a long layoff from double shoulder surgery. A week ago, he announced that he’ll retire after this go-round, but he is determined to win the $1 million title prize and the $225,000 event winner’s purse for the third time before he kicks up his heels and spurs at a working farm ranch in Oklahoma! CLICK HERE and HERE for our exclusive Luxe Life stories last week.

“They ride with different styles, but Justin and Guilherme are both the greatest bull riders that have ever lived,” said PBR expert McKennon Wimberly, who was seconded by PBR’s Nick Landreneau and “Daisy Rookie of the Year” Clayton Williams.

It truly is an intense and extreme sport where the thrill of victory meets the agony of defeat, and the injuries from throws can be deadly serious! This is survival of the fittest in the toughest and most dangerous of sports. Bull riders from as far afield as Hawaii and Australia will be competing in the 45-man field.

Justin will be joined by fellow riders Brendon Clark and Sean Willingham to host 10 p.m. after-parties both weekends at the Silverton Casino Lodge’s Entertainment Pavilion. It has been transformed into Wild West HQs for the thousands of PBR fans. The three riders will meet fans and sign autographs. There will also be pre-parties in the Shady Grove Lounge, and every day from 6 to 9 p.m. there will be live coverage into the Shady Grove. Bikini-clad beauties will compete on a mechanical bull to win a $1,000 riding contest – with fans determining the winner with the most applause.

Luxe Life will follow the entire daily bucking bulls schedule with video and photo reports on our all-new VegasDeluxe.com> Web site starting Monday.

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