A surge of adrenaline rushes through Luke Ellingson’s veins each time he drapes his legs over the hulking body of a rodeo bull.
The rush comes from the fear and excitement of riding beasts that weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Ellingson, 23, thrives on that excitement, even though he knows it could cost him his life.
“It’s just like anything else,” he said, trying to put the risk into perspective. “You can get killed walking across the street.”
Ellingson, a bull rider from Moose Jaw, Sask., travelled to 48 rodeos this year, pocketing more than $20,000 in prize money. His latest stop was the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys Association finals, held two weeks ago at Brandon.
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The thrill of bull riding can become an addiction for those with the courage and stamina to do it. Most will spend more money than they make on semi-pro circuits, such as the MRCA. Travel expenses take their toll.
The riders’ fortunes are defined by only a few fleeting moments. The clock starts ticking when the gate swings open, releasing bull and rider from a steel-framed chute. A horn blares eight seconds later, signalling the end of the whirlwind ride.
“Sometimes it seems like an eternity,” said Ellingson. “The next time it seems like it went by quick. It just depends on the ease of the ride and the way the bull’s bucking.”
Judges rate the performance of the rider as well as the difficulty of the ride. A spirited bull adds to the score, provided the rider can stay in good form while mounted on its back.
Bull riders remain a strong drawing card at MRCA rodeos, held across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Audiences are intrigued by the underlying element of danger, said association president Greg Wiebe.
The danger factor is something Wiebe became well acquainted with during 14 years of bull riding. During that time, he suffered torn ligaments, dislocated shoulders, six broken ribs, a broken leg and a ruptured kidney, not to mention “a million other little things.” He quit riding bulls in 1991, but still finds himself lured by the sport.
“It’s something that gets in your blood,” he said before the start of the MRCA Finals.
“To be able to ride a rank bull is such a natural high. It’s being able to push yourself to the extreme and win.”
The element of danger appeared to be of modest concern for Thomas Florek, a competitor at the finals in Brandon. Like Ellingson, he spoke of the adrenaline rush that comes from bull riding. He enjoys the camaraderie of the sport, he said, and dreams of becoming a pro some day.
“If you know what the bull is like, it’s fun,” said Florek, a 17 year old from Wawota, Sask. “It’s nice and sweet when they start spinning.”
The MRCA wrapped up its season with the finals in Brandon. Ellingson went into the competition with the highest point standings among MRCA bull riders. He also garnered the highest points at this rodeo, guaranteeing himself a chance to compete in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association.
