Las Vegas and the PBR Finals

This was the third year that Brad and I attended the PBR Finals in Las Vegas. It is a really fun week and, although it helps to have an interest in bull riding, even if it is your first time you can't help but get excited watching the rides. (or lack of if they get bucked off before the 8 seconds are up). Our friend, Julie, came too she was introduced to bull riding by Brad two years ago when he was in LA on business. Julie is hooked just like us, so it makes for a fun weekend.

I have a few favorites, as does Julie, but I am going to introduce you to Valdiron de Oliveira, he finished 4th in the world this year and 3rd last year, I hope he wins next year. We were at the Fan Zone for PBR club members on Saturday and enjoyed the meet and greet with the riders and all the sponsors too. In addition to the Fan Zone there is a Marketplace where we considered investing in some bulls but in the end renewed our Nationals Season tickets instead. I figure it's a crapshoot either way, and maybe the bulls might be more fun, maybe next year. Let's face it, a bull has almost as good a chance of making it on the Build Ford Tough Bull Riding Series as the Nationals do winning a pennant right? Anyhow, I digress, here are Valdiron's Brazilian bull riding friends...
When we attend the evening rounds at finals we always do the same thing; take a cab to Thomas and Mack, walk in, head to the Tequila Station for jumbo margarita's and then Brad talks us into standing behind Justin McKee and crew so Piper can see us on television. She loves it and she gets a kick out of seeing us in Las Vegas. Here is what the Versus stage looks like.


This year during the rounds we were treated, as always, to some wonderful comedy and crowd pleasing entertainment (as well as creatively placed ads for all the big sponsors) by Flint Rasmussen, who has been a PRCA Barrel man of the year, and now exclusively with PBR for a number of years. Flint was also at the Fan Zone on Saturday and I had a chance to catch up with him and send him my folks regards, he has been a friend to Ellensburg and our family for a number of years. It was nice to see him again and I got lucky that the line wasn't too long. The past few years I have been too lazy to stand in line to just say hi, especially with hot Brazilian riders around.


Now, back to the bull riding finals, like said, every show was great. Valdiron had a 91.5 point ride on Spitfire to win the 2nd round and the 4th round was won by Robson Palmero, and he called his bull pick in for the 5th round from the HOSPITAL! He ejected off Hustlin and landed on his head/neck/shoulder and scooted out of the way and then just laid down. The EMT's took him out on a backboard, turns out he was okay, banged up but able to ride round 5 and the short go too. These guys are tough!
In this picture you see Renanto Nunes, he won the entire event and was crowned 2010 PBR World Champion. (Yep, another hot Brazilian).

So, you've heard all the details now let me show you a few things that made us chuckle. Take for instance this picture of Brad, he graciously posed with this Cooper Tire photographer so she could win the competition between photographers at the Fan Zone. Isn't he the best?





How about these shots? This Chickie literally hanged out on the opposite side of the arena from where the bulls were bucking every night with that sign. She played with her hair, stood around and waved at people in the stands. please note what her sign says though, it says 'Bring the Noise' it shouldn't be so difficult for her to raise it up and use it to get the crowd to cheer right? Rock star drinks was the sponsor that had that idea. She did end up raising it when a rider got 90 points or more, but otherwise, she just stood like this.


Finally, one of the most well known bull contractors is a guy named Chad Berger, he owns Bones, Code Blue and a few other well known bulls. This year his bull, Bones, was named 2010 World Champion Bull. That is a pretty impressive feat, and he did it bucking off 2008 PBR World Champion Gilhereme Marchi on Friday night. Here I am with Chad after he handed me a pink signed case with band-aids inside. Cute marketing idea by Cooper Tires to tie in with Breast Cancer Awareness month.

And that is our weekend of bull riding in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for our other exploits that weekend. Oh and please note, I was delighted and thrilled to be wearing www.cowgirldivaz.com jewelry the entire weekend. Lynn's jewelry was so much better made and stunning compared to what everyone else was wearing.