Professional Bull riding came to Des Moines for two days of danger, excitement and dirt
Words by Chance Hoener
Attending the Professional Bull Riding Built Ford Tough Series is a surreal experience. It opens with an invocation in a dark Wells Fargo Arena that’s lit up with sparks and flame. A choir of wives and girlfriends cheer on their other halves, and the crowd roars. It’s a glimpse into another world. There’s excitement and there’s danger. Man versus beast–a whole 2,000 pounds of it.
The current top-35 riders from around the globe–the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and even New Zealand–all came to Iowa on April 23 and 24 to compete in the Des Moines Invitational. A win can bring those riders one step closer to overtaking the current No. 1: J.B. Mauney. In Des Moines, 20-year-old Derek Kolbaba from Walla Walla, Washington, gained some ground with an 89-point ride in the championship round. That ride also earned him almost $40,000 in prize money. Not bad for 8 seconds of work.
