No. 1 rider gears up for Championship Bull Riding
JACKSON, Tenn. — The Championship Bull Riding Classic kicks off Friday night in Jackson. Forty cowboys from across the country will compete.
“It’s exhilarating,” bull rider Cody Rostockyj said. “There’s nothing like it.”
Rostockyj is currently the No. 1 ranked championship bull rider in the world. He will saddle up Friday and Saturday night at Oman Arena.
“You still get nervous,” Rostockyj said. “I mean the butterflies are still there every single time you get on.”
The 26-year-old started riding bulls 12 years ago, something Rostockyj said his dad also did. “I rode it and thought it was awesome, so it just kept going from there,” he said.
Rostockyj will compete against dozens of other riders for $72,000 worth of prize money. “There’s a pile of money that could change your life in one weekend,” he said.
The money is good, but the sport is dangerous. Rostockyj said some of his past injuries include a broken collarbone, crushed face and a punctured lung. “Something a little broken is not a big deal here,” he said. “You don’t get paid unless you get on.”
Rostockyj wears chaps, a vest and a helmet for protection. He said winning takes hard work and confidence. “It’s fun being number one right now, but we still have 10 or so events left,” Rostockyj said. “I want to be number one when it ends.”
The event kicks off at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
For ticket information, click here.
