Las Vegas Weekly

October 30, 2009 · 9:35 AM

The 16th anniversary PBR World Finals kick off today

By Robin Leach

Justin McBride hoists one of his PBR trophies.

Photo: PBR

Over the next 10 days, nearly 2 million fans will get up close to the 16th anniversary Professional Bull Riding World Finals here in Las Vegas. Cowboys travel to Sin City from as far away as Australia, Brazil, Canada and across America to wrestle the meanest, toughest animals on the planet.

It’s an 8-second ride to hell that could wind up maiming a rider for life or lead to death. Certainly, the original Xtreme sport comes with myriad painful, punishing injuries. It truly is an intense survival of the fittest where the thrill of victory meets the agony of defeat, and the injuries from being thrown and kicked can be deadly.

The kickoff party took place last night on the Fremont Street Experience stage downtown as the pro bull riders were introduced to fans. They also drafted the bull they’ll go head-to-horns with during tonight’s first round of the Ford Tough finals at Thomas & Mack. The finals run through Nov. 8.

For the past eight months, the world’s best bull riders have been competing week in and week out to reach Las Vegas and a $1 million coveted title. Two-time PBR world champion Justin McBride, a former student at UNLV, has returned to Las Vegas, although he retired from competition last year.

Don’t be confused this weekend when you see everybody dressed up in boots, Stetsons and jeans because these are not Halloween costumes. These outfits are the real thing for the next 10 days of brutal fighting of man against bull.

Last year, Guilherme Marchi of Brazil rode to victory as world champion but said he would retire with $3 million in winnings. However, the 27-year-old rider is back and is second in the standings. PBR expert McKennon Wimberly said: “Guilherme is one of the greatest bull riders who ever lived.” The Brazilian, who is trailing leader Kody Lostroh by only 294 points, is gunning for the title.

“I’m coming into the finals still fighting,” he said. “I try hard all the time. I’m trying to win back to back. My dream is to win a second gold buckle.” No rider in the 16 years of PBR has won back-to-back titles, although our hometown hero Justin won twice, in 2005 and 2007. Champion riders such as 1997 winner Mike Gaffner believe that if anybody can win consecutive titles, it would be Guilherme, who has covered 14 of his last 15 bulls and hasn’t been thrown off since the second round of the preliminaries.

Riders and fans will be all over town as of today as Las Vegas becomes the Wild West headquarters of the sport. Vegas DeLuxe will follow the daily bucking bulls schedule with photo reports starting Monday. Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue will be as close to the action as possible.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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