PBR weekend is almost here!!  We at The Vegas Tourist could not be more thrilled or jazzed up for this coming weekend.  For the first time, the PBR World Cup is on American soil.   Not only American soil, but they are coming to Las Vegas!!

The 2010 World Cup presented by Dickies, is the PBR’s premiere international event. For three days only, it’s nation against nation to see what country has the best bull riders in the world.  Top riders from 5 nations go head-to-head for $200,000 in prize money.

Once again, the PBR takes over the Thomas & Mack Center this weekend April 16^th – 18^th . Everyone will be on the edge of the seats watching world-class bull riding during six rounds of action over the course of three days, with all 25 riders competing in each round.

This means we will have the opportunity to watch at least 50 show stopping rides each night! The top three scores for each country in each round will count toward the team total. The team accumulating the most points during the six rounds will be declared the winner and walk away as the best bull riders in the world.

Look for updates, photos, notes and commentary here, as well as on Twitter and Facebook.

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Fremont Street Experience went to the bulls Thursday night. The 15th Annual PBR World Finals kicked off under the big canopy.

It all started as the top 45 bull riders in the world were introduced to the excited audience. That was followed by a first. The first ever World PBR Bull Draft…

What’s a bull draft?? Good question… In the PBR World finals you have three top athletes. The worlds best bull riders, the worlds top bull fighters and you have the very best (toughest) bulls on earth…

In a first of its kind for the finals, the Bull Draft is where the bull riders get to chose what bull they want to ride.

It’s good and it’s bad… I mean you want a good, mean bull because the better he tries to throw you off and the harder you try to stay on, the better your score is and increases your chances of winning.

But in this sport, you aren’t out on a big field, covered with all kinds of padding and having to chase a ball around a field with other over paid athletes.

Hell no! In this sport you are strapped onto the top of a few thousand pounds of upset bovine who is not wanting you to be there and will try anything to get your butt off him. If you ride him, you get a chance to make some money. If you don’t ride him, you don’t get paid!

So the meaner the bull, the better chance of a higher score and getting a paycheck. You also have a higher chance of being thrown off, injured or maimed and not making any coin. I don’t know if I really want to be the one to chose my own punisher like that… There’s just some things that should be left to chance…

Than again, I get to watch all of this from the safety of the sidelines…

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“This new venue will provide PBR fans and New Mexico fans with the most unique bull riding experience they will ever see. You’re not going to find a better venue to watch the sport of bull riding and there’s not a bad seat in the house,” said Ty Murray, legendary cowboy and namesake for the event.

The venue will be transformed from a basketball court to a smaller, more intimate arena that will accommodate the top 45 bull riders in the world as they compete for one of the most coveted event titles on the elite Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) tour. In a four chute configuration rather than six, the bull riding action will be fast, furious and one a true PBR fan will not want to miss!

Fans can look forward to seeing local superstar L.J. Jenkins (Texico, N.M.), the 2008 Ty Murray Invitational event winner; New Mexico bull rider Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.); Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) who looks to be on track for his first world title after finishing runner-up for three consecutive years; and fan favorite J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.).

Tickets go on sale exclusively to TeamPBR Fan Club members starting Wednesday, October 1 at 10 a.m. MST thru Wednesday, October 8 at 9:59 a.m. MST by calling 800 732 1727. To become a TeamPBR Fan Club member and enjoy privileges such as purchasing tickets to all Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) events before the general public, please visit http://www.teampbr.com/site.php.

Tickets will be available exclusively online at www.UNMtickets.com on Wednesday, October 8 at 10 a.m. MST. Starting on Friday, October 10 at 10 a.m. MST, the general public will have access to tickets by phone at 877 664 8661, in person at all UNM Ticket Outlets and select Albertsons stores, and online at www.UNMtickets.com.

The format of the Ty Murray Invitational consists of four rounds of competition with the first three rounds featuring the top 45 qualified riders taking on the sport’s rankest bulls. The top 15 riders based upon their total cumulative score after three rounds will qualify for the Built Ford Tough Championship Round, the final decisive round of action which will happen at the conclusion of the third performance on Sunday, March 29. The rider with the highest score on four bulls will take the event title!

For more information on the Professional Bull Riders and their return to Albuquerque, please contact Katharine Sherrer at 719 242 2800 ext. 3372 or visit http://www.pbrnow.com/ticketing/2009/albuquerque/.

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Team USA went into the 2008 World Cup with an extremely strong team.  Three of the five members are in the top 10 of the 2008 PBR World Standings—Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.), J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.), and L.J. Jenkins (Texico, N.M.); the fourth member was two-time and reigning PBR World Champion Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.); and rounding out the team was PBR fan favorites Sean Willingham (Summerville, Ga.) and Team USA alternate Luke Snyder (Raymore, Mo.).  They took second place after the first two rounds on Saturday evening and then dominated Sunday afternoon’s two rounds, finishing the weekend almost 100 points ahead of Team Canada who finished in second place overall.

“With the Olympics going on and everything going on in the world like it is, we got a chance to compete for our country.  Going into it, Brazil looked to be our biggest challenge.  We started out slow, but in the end, we put our chins down and hands closed,” JW Hart, Team USA’s captain, stated.

Team Canada, once again, was the runner-up for a second year in a row as they finished the weekend with 773.25 total points, although they had a strong start on Saturday, finishing as the number one team after the first two rounds.  Last year’s winner Team Brazil, captained by retiring PBR legend, Adriano Moraes (Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil), ended the weekend in third place with 773 points.  Rounding out fourth and fifth place was home country Team Mexico with 497.25 points and Team Australia with 262.5 points.

A special announcement was also made during Sunday’s performance to announce the home of the 2009 PBR World Cup.  Barretos, Brazil will host the premier international event on August 28-30.  Tune in next August to find out who will take the home the 2009 World Cup title and bragging rights for a year!!

OVERALL EVENT RESULTS:

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2008:

Round One Scores:
1) Team Canada, 256.25 points; 2) Team USA, 86.25 points; 3) Team Brazil, 84 points

Round Two Scores:
1) Team USA, 267.25 points; 2) Team Brazil, 256.25 points; 3) Team Canada, 170.25 points; 4) Team Mexico, 159.25 points; 5) Team Australia, 88.25 points.

Standings after the First Night:
1) Team Canada, 426.5 points; 2) Team USA, 353.5 points; 3) Team Brazil, 340.25 points; 4) Team Mexico, 244.25 points; 5) Team Australia, 88.25 points.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 2008

Round Three Scores:
1) Team USA, 258.75 points; 2) Team Brazil, 173 points; 3) Team Canada, 170.75 points; 4) Team Australia, 89 points; 5) Team Mexico, 88.75 points.

Round Four Scores:
1) Team USA, 263.75 points; 2) Team Brazil, 259.75 points; 3) Team Canada, 176 points; 4/5) Team Australia, 85.5 points; 4/5 Team Mexico, 85.25 points.

FINAL EVENT RESULTS:
1) Team USA, 878 points – $100,000; 2) Team Canada, 773.25 points; 3) Team Brazil, 773 points; 4) Team Mexico, 497.25 points; 5) Team Australia, 262.5 points.

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Previously, the bull draft—where the bull riders get to select their bulls—was only held at three-day events. Due to its popularity, the PBR will be featuring a draft at the following one- and two-day events: San Antonio, Texas on May 17, 2008; Dallas, Texas on June 21-22, 2008; Nashville, Tenn. on August 29-30, 2008; and Columbus, Ohio on October 10-11, 2008.

For the added draft events, riders will only choose their bulls for the Championship Round. The bull rider who is in the lead will get to pick his bull first. Then, the remaining 14 contestants will pick their bulls, with the rider in 15th position choosing last. This selection process will happen during intermission.

“We have seen how popular these drafts are with our fans. It has been standing-room only at the past several drafts, so we wanted to bring this excitement to more events across the country,” stated PBR CEO Randy Bernard.

Livestock Director Cody Lambert believes the draft system offers a new advantage to the fans. “It allows the fans to see the personalities of the cowboys and see which new riders want the chance to stick it on bulls like Reindeer [Dippin’], and become a hero for riding him.”

The 2008 BFTS season marks the first time in PBR history that a rider can choose his bull in competition.

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