Ride it home... or call 000

I found it quite hard to find something of personal interest to discuss this week, then flicking through my Facebook news feed I saw my inspiration, rodeos.

Being from a small mining town with a population of 2,000, it comes as no surprise that many residents are thoroughly into the country theme. Personally, my family is the complete opposite. My mother would be disgusted if I were to be interested in a pig hunting, bull riding, ute driving, flannie wearing country bumpkin, despite the fact I love all of it! However my love for this scene is far different to those that actually participate within the sport. What I want to know is, why do they do it? Are they thrill seekers, wish to pursue it competitively or perhaps it's a hobby. 

The Bowen River Rodeo is a annual, three day weekend event held on the Queen's birthday, 70km west of Collinsville.  This is the only rodeo that I have attended, which probably changed my opinion about the country scene. From back home, this is the weekend everyone talks about, plans around and prepares for all year, but why? Bowen River Rodeo, in particular, attracts a variety of people from a range of different places. Many Collinsville residents make the effort  to go to Bowen River, to support our local events. However, not as many travel to  nearby rodeos such as Charters Towers, Twin Hills and several within Townsville, mainly Bartlett Park Rodeo. The Bowen River Rodeo is a great family weekend which consists of not only a bar and dance floor for the adults, but a show, movie nights and show rides which occupy your young.  It's all about the contestants however, why do they put it hours and hours of training and money into travelling for 8 seconds on a bull? The answer to that is, because it is work millions in the right association.

Mike Ozanian (2013) explained within his article that "...participants can make good money if they perform well. Last season's PBR [Professional Bull Riding] paid out $9 million to riders and $2 million to the [owners of the] bulls." The link before is a report of the PBR story and interview with CEO Jim Hamworth. A good friend of mine did very well through bull riding, he went on to represent Queensland internationally. PBR has become such a trend within country suburbs, however more predominantly within the states. It is such a competitive and demanding sport where only professionals involved. 

My brain is fried... wonder what interesting or unusual topic I will discuss for week 5.  :)

References

Ozanian, M. (2013). America's fastest growing industry: Professional bull riding. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2013/08/30/americas-fastest-growing-sport-professional-bull-riding/