World Leaders In Bull Riding Compete in World Cup
 Keith Ryan Cartwright - Rodeo Attitude
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Pueblo, Colo. - To say all eyes are on the PBR would be an understatement.
This weekend the eyes of the world will be focused on Chihuahua, Mexico, and the PBR World Cup competition.
Last year Brazil dominated, Canada surprised the world with its toughness and the U.S. team was a major disappointment.
This year those same three teams figure to compete again for the World Cup title.
“If there is any weak spots in this team it would be me,” said Adriano Moraes, in a PBR Prime Time exclusive World Cup special. “But I have faith that if I pick the right bulls I can still ride 90, 91, 92 bull rides.”
Chihuahua hasn’t been an easy place for Moraes.
It’s a tough place to compete, and for many of the teams – namely the U.S., Canada and Australia – the language barrier presents a few problems, but it’s nothing many of Brazilians haven’t faced week in and week out on the Built Ford Tough Series.
“We just have to step up and do our job,” said Sean Willingham, of the U.S. team’s chances of succeeding.
In comparing the World Cup with the Olympics, which got under way this past weekend in Beijing, the U.S. team has a lot in common with the U.S. basketball team and their whole Team Redeem concept.
“We’re going to go down there and do the same thing as we do every weekend on the Built Ford Tough Series,” said Willingham, and that’s put their hands in their ropes and hold on for 8 seconds.
While some would argue that this weekend’s World Cup is going to come down to Brazil and the U.S. – between them their members have won 14 BTFS events this year, including the one event U.S. alternate Luke Snyder won earlier this season – an interesting storyline will be the perceived emergence or disappointment of Team Canada.
Last year’s Canadian contingency finished second; however, some say it had more to do with the awful outing of the U.S. team than the Canadian riders. So while the pressure is definitely on the two frontrunners, the onus is also on the Canadians to prove their place on a world stage.
“We may not be the best individual riders,” Scott Schiffner said, “but we come together as a team.
“We’re supposed to be hockey players and not bull riders anyway, so we seem to do well when it comes to team competitions.”
Unfortunately, Australia will be without three of its most consistent riders (or at least their three most notable riders) with injuries to Brendon Clark, Greg Potter and most recently Jared Farley.
“They’re going to have to dig deep and do the best they can,” said Farley, of his country’s chance of winning. “They’re going to go there to win and make the most of every moment. It’s going to be tough.”
Rocky McDonald, who also participated in the World Cup special Tuesday night on PBR Prime Time, was hoping to return from his injury in time to compete with Team Mexico, but will miss the event.
The fan-favorite, calling in to the show from his home along the U.S./Mexican border, noted that in spite of the five relative unknowns competing for Mexico, they do have the benefit of “playing on our home field.”
For more coverage of this year’s World Cup, check back on www.pbrnow.com and don’t forget to watch all the action from south of the border this weekend on Versus.
Team Members: BRAZIL -- Adriano Moraes (captain / rider), Guilherme Marchi, Valdiron de Oliveira, Robson Palermo, Renato Nunes; U.S.A. -- J.W. Hart (captain), Justin McBride, Kody Lostroh, J.B. Mauney, L.J. Jenkins, Sean Willingham, Luke Snyder (alternate); CANADA -- Cody Snyder (captain), Aaron Roy, Scott Schiffner, Tyler Pankewitz, Vince Northrop, Jesse Torkelson, Devon Mezei (alternate); AUSTRALIA -- Troy Dunn (captain), Ben Seeds, Ben Jones, Pete Farley, Kevin Connolly, T.B.A.; MEXICO -- Hugo Pedrero (captain), Alfonso Orozco, Octavio Torres, Francisco Morales, Nile Martin Lebaron, Francisco Torres. |
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Americas & Beyond | August 2008 
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