The Professional Championship Bull (PCB) Riders Tour bucked its way into the La Crosse Center on Friday, Nov. 7, and Saturday, Nov. 8, continuing a four-decade tradition at the downtown venue. For 40 years, the event has brought top tier rodeo talent and high energy competition to La Crosse, drawing fans from across the region.
Attendees lined up outside of the doors to get a taste of the night’s electric atmosphere. Once the action began, a crowd of a few thousand spectators filled the stands, cheering on some of the best cowboys and cowgirls as they competed in events such as bull riding, mutton busting and barrel racing.
The event drew attendees of all ages to the La Crosse Center. “This evening it doesn’t matter whether you’re 6, 66 or 96, we’ve got something for each and every one of you,” said Roger Mooney, a nine-time National Finals Rodeo announcer who served as the voice of the night.
The evening’s main event was the bull riding competition, an event in which the contestant attempts to ride a bucking bull for eight seconds while holding a braided rope that is wrapped around the animal’s chest with one hand.
Bull riding is often referred to as, “the most dangerous eight seconds in all of professional sports,” said Mooney.
A total of 30 of the world’s best bull riders coming from as far as Brazil and Canada gathered in La Crosse to compete. Each rider tested their strength and skill in facing those dangerous eight seconds inside the arena, fighting for top prize money and bragging rights.
“Steel spurs, leather chaps and the god given ability to shake, rattle and roll. Tonight you’re gonna see great rides and tremendous athletes,” Mooney told the crowd.
The evening’s winning rider was 37-year-old Cody Nance, a seasoned professional who has been competing since 2004. Nance is a 12-time PBR Finalist with more than $2 million in career earnings and is widely regarded as one of the top riders in the sport.
The evening also featured barrel racing, a women’s only event that requires precision and speed. In this event riders and their horses weave through three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern, with runs often decided by just hundredths of a second. The winner of the evening’s barrel racing event was Kallie Parish, with a finishing time of 11.56 seconds.
When asked what sets this rodeo apart, PCB promoter Robert Sauber pointed to the event’s energy and production value. “The production, the pyrotechnics, the music, the crowd, just the electricity in the air right now. It’s incredible to get that kind of energy going. To do that, you’ve got to have the right people, the right announcer and the right production,” Sauber said.
The preparation and community contribution for this event was immense, “I look forward to coming up here every November. It’s a really community built event now. The community coming out to support is everything,” said Sauber.
