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Show Eainraoirag a DMim) arc eogM secoondls Mendes didn't add to his prize money last w eekend because he has out with an injury. In bull riding injury is a part of the sport. Behind the the mentholated shoots, cream smell is a strong as the smell of manure. Safety gear, specifically helmets and safety vests, are now commonly used in the sport. Mendes wears the vest but opts for a cowboy hat instead of helmet. He said. "I've got a hard enough head." About wearing the vest he added. "Wearing the vest is universal." But safety gear wouldn't have kept Mendes from his getting current injury. He was riding a bull named Mighty Mike in Pueblo. Colorado, when he was pulled his groin muscle. Mendes said. "The first jump out of the box is when I tore it." "Last jear. he said. "I rode with a tom knee." or not. fans Injured cheered for the popular rider as he took part in the opening ceremonies. Among his loyal fans is Jeanne Sorensen. She drove from Cedar City to watch Saturday's bull riding competition. Sorensen called herself, "Ton) Mendes' number one fan." But as much as Sorensen likes Mendes, she also likes a bull named Reindeer Dippin. "That bull. she said, "is a rankest bull." To Sorensen the bulls and the riders are equal. She says. "Bulls are half the show." In scoring, the bull is scored equally to the ride as it can earn up to half of the 100 points that a rider can score. Mike Serf is a Salt Lake rider that found himself on top after the first night's competition was over. Serr grew up in Pocatello, Idaho, and started out riding in the junior rodeo. He's called Salt Lake home for two )ears. Serr was glad to be in West Valley because according to him -- Steve Turner goes up against the rides bull Showtime. By F. Aufdemorte around the country competed in the Bullnanza at the E Center in West Valley. The riders placed their hopes and their entry fees on an eight second ride that could earn them a paycheck. These riders in what is being called "America's first extreme sport are not all it to the next competition. Not only are some of these riders two-da- There are a lot of ways to earn a pay check and for the members of Pro Bull Riders (PBR) "bringing home the bacon involves climbing on the back of a bull and staying there for eight long seconds. Enter the world of professional bull riding. Last weekend forty-fiv- e riders from the card-carryin- March I, 2007 THE MAGNA TIMES, WEST VALEEV NEWS, KEARNS POST 8 g nickel-and-dimin- y g doing much better than just getting by. there are some riders who make more in a good year on the back of a bull than the income of a member of the States United Congress earned talking bull last year on Capitol Hill. Tony Mendes, a bull rider from Jensen, Utah, is old and according to PBR's website he has an six-figu- re 29-yea- rs eight-yea- total career earning of $668,248 in the bull r riding association. With his faded blue jeans, cowboy boots and a "yes ma'am" mannerism that takes you back to the old west, tli is young cowboy may look the old west part but he's a modem day bull rider with a website for his fans. Like any sport, training and preparation play a big part in the final outcome of the game. Mendes said that he when he prepares to compete he concentrates on stretching and body building. He said, "Strength is the key but flexibility is important." soft-spok- being close to home "makes the traveling easy." On the first night of competition Serr earned a score of 84 points for the eight seconds he spent on the back of a bull. The next night Serr's luck wouldn't hold on so long. He drew the bull "Poison Oak" for his ride. Serr said. "I knew the one I had was going to buck." on the bull for 2.38 seconds. Even though the ride was disappointing to Serr and fans alike, he still moved on to the third round with fourteen other riders. The third bull. North Star, proved to be as difficult as the second. Serr was unable, to go the full eight seconds required to receive a score. d But Serr's one. ride on Frida) night was good enough to earn him Sen-stave- d eight-secon- A bull Got Cold Feet? Do you frequently rub your legs to relieve pain? Do your legs ache or cramp during a walk? You may have PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE, a common circulatory condition caused by a blockage of blood vessels in the legs. Right: A bull kicks up some dust in the arena at the E Center. Photos by Fitzgerald Petersen HOCKEY - continued traded his hours with one of the other firefighters. He added that he would make sure to pay them back eventually. At the end of his time with the Grizzlies he had six guys he needed to pay back. When Stevens is not fighting fires or playing ice hockey, Stevens enjoys hanging out with his family. He loves to w atch his son play hockey and his daughter practice her cheerleading. .While Stevens w'as work- ing two jobs and juggling schedules to find time for both, he couldn't have been more satisfied but he knew days with the Grizzlies might be cut short because the team was scouting college players for recruitment. After his tenth game with the Grizzlies, he said, "I'm ;ust here to fill the void until ley find who they need. Ie added, I'll stay as long s they want as a backup oalie." Stevens is now back to from puqe 4 one job-th- e one her prefers to make his number one, full time career. He said. "I hope to do firefighting for a long k eight place and a prize of $666.65. At the end. Texan Craig Jackson walked away with the first place silver belt buckle and prize money of $8,760.85 rider tries to stay on for eight seconds. Does it take a long time for a sore on your leg to heal? Above: Rider Jake Mann is slammed up against the railing by a bull after his ride. Mann was not injured. Tony Mendes PioneerValley pay-chec- |