EXPLORE BIG SKY – Night two of the Big Sky PBR kicked off in style on Friday with Montana State University’s rodeo team galloping into the arena to one of the loudest cheers of the night and kicking up a storm of dust. However, the evening ended on an even higher note. After two hours of bucking bulls, mutton bustin’, the Murdoch’s dance-off contest and antics between announcer Matt West and entertainer Flint Rasmussen, two cowboys faced off on two bounty bull rides for a dramatic finale.
Luciano de Castro and Brady Fielder both notched scores of 89.5 on their first rides, giving them the chance to ride the bounty bull and win $20,000. Fielder won the coin toss, earning him his choice of bull, but in a display of sportsmanship he deferred to de Castro who chose two-time national champion Ridin’ Solo, leaving Fielder to ride veteran bull, Viper.
Dark had settled over Big Sky, with stadium lights competing with an almost-full moon illuminating the dirt and snot trailing from the bovines as the two riders tried to keep their seat. Both Fielder and de Castro went the distance, lasting eight seconds astride the leaping, spinning and bucking 1,500-pound athletes.