BIG SKY – For the ninth year in a row, the Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division stormed into town with thousands of fans from across the country anticipating three nights of world-class bull riding, mutton busting, rowdy concerts, and entertainment provided by the world’s most famous rodeo entertainer Flint Rasmussen—all set against the kaleidoscopic skies behind Lone Mountain.
The extravaganza began quietly enough on July 24 with a charity golf tournament held at The Reserve at Moonlight Basin where cowboys teamed up with foursomes in an 18-hole, five-person team scramble tournament. The preliminary event raised over $39,000 for the Western Sports Foundation, a nonprofit that supports riders injured participating in Western sports.
The next day saw the beginning of bull riding action, with 40 of the world’s best PBR athletes testing their mettle against many of the top bovine contenders supplied by eight-time PBR Contractor of the Year Chad Berger and longtime PBR spokesman Cord McCoy.
“It’s easy to see why this event is the six-time event of the year,” said PBR announcer Brandon Bates. “No matter where we go, whatever the situation is, you never hear fans that loud and you never feel energy like that. It’s incredible.”
Taylor Toves and Eduardo Apericedo put up dual 87-point rides to put themselves into the early lead after night one, with ten other riders managing qualified rides including the world’s No. 1 ranked rider Chase Outlaw. The first night of bull riding was capped off with an Arts Council of Big Sky and Outlaw Partners concert by Hayes Carll on the Town Center stage, one of the most well-attended Music in the Mountains events to date.
Night two of the PBR might have gone to the bucking bulls with only six qualified rides out of the 39 cowboys who rode—a 15 percent ride rate—but still produced highlights that kept the crowd on their feet until the last ride. Notably, 51 Viper, a Cord McCoy-raised bull that is partially owned by Big Sky locals, put up a 46.5 high-point bull ride, solidifying his reputation as one of the rankest young bulls on the PBR circuit.
