Professional Bull Riding competition charges into Chicago: ‘This is the toughest sport on dirt’

The bulls finally pumped some life into the United Center crowd Friday night.

Not those Bulls.

The living, 1,800-pound bucking bulls vigorously jumping to dislodge their riders, who on average weigh in at a relatively minuscule 140 pounds.

Forty Professional Bull Riders athletes took rounds clutching one-handed to the thick braided bull rope wrapped around the horned beasts, the other hand waving in the air, fighting to stay on the animal for 8 seconds.

“Just fighting for the next jump,” rider Koltin Hevalow said of his mindset during his brief moments on the bull. “Staying in the correct position. Sticking to the basics of bull riding and just never turning loose, always keeping my hands shut, and don’t quit until my head hits the ground.”

Hevalow, 22, from McAlester, Oklahoma, grew up aspiring to become a professional rider. His parents both rode professionally. In 2022, he became the only rider to win his debut PBR event.

Friday was the first of two PBR Unleash the Beast series events at the United Center this week. The next rodeo is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Saturday.

It’s the first PBR competition at the United Center since 2011. Events in recent years have been at Allstate Arena.

Ciro Pescatore brought his 6-year-old son, Ernie, to the rodeo for his upcoming birthday. They’ve been coming to PBR events for the last few years.

“I like how it moves quickly and it’s kind of a family atmosphere. It’s cool to see the animals,” said Pescatore, 39, from St. Charles.

“I’m having fun,” said Ernie, who likes watching the bulls.

Both were dressed in cowboy hats and boots, as were most of those in the crowd of nearly 10,000.

“We like getting dressed up, too,” Pescatore added.

Bull riders earn a score if they stay on the bull for 8 seconds from the time they exit the chute. Each ride is worth up to 100 points: 50 for the rider and 50 for the bull, which also have their own standings.

Bulls are judged on their athleticism and power, such as their bucks, kicks, spins, changes in direction and intensity.

The ride scores determine each round’s results, which then count toward the PBR standings.

Hevalow said he hopes Chicagoans learn a thing or two about the western cowboy sport this weekend.

“I just hope that they understand the fact that we’re not just crazy people that crawl on these bulls, that we are professional athletes, and that we do train to do this, and this is what we do for a living,” Hevalow said. “Some people choose to be a doctor or other people choose to work a nine to five somewhere, we just choose to ride bulls for a living.

“And I just hope they can see and understand that this is the toughest sport on dirt,” he added.