Bill Fraser was raised on a Montana ranch and spent 22 years exhibiting at professional rodeos. Today, as the proprietor of Cowboy Up Now, he provides mechanical bull rides at fairs and corporate events in Southern California. Fraser shared some advice for first-time riders, and our first-time rider Rick Wormwood evaluated how useful those tips really are.
HOW TO HOLD ON
Fraser First-time riders should ride with their palm up while grasping the handhold. If you ride palm down there is a good chance you will sprain or break your wrist.
Wormwood Wear the leather glove, too. I wish I had worn the glove.
HOW TO RIDE
FraserThe key is to sit up straight and keep your legs a little forward or straight down, never back, as the bucking motion will pull you over the front of the bull. It is also important to use your free hand for balance, and not try to ride two-handed. The power of the bull is centered in the middle, so you want to ride the front end.
Wormwood It looks really hard, and it’s harder than it looks.
HOW TO FALL
Fraser When a rider falls it is best to try and land straight out and not in a heap, as the air mattress should cushion all falls.
Wormwood I wish I would have known that, but I don’t think I’d have had time to straighten out. It’s not like you’re falling from a diving platform.
ON DRINKING BEFOREHAND
Fraser Drinking in excess and trying to ride a mechanical bull is inviting trouble.
Wormwood What Fraser says is probably true, but I almost wish I’d had more to drink, because then maybe the landings would have hurt less, through the same principle that suggests drunks get injured less in car wrecks because they are more relaxed at impact.
OVERCOMING THE PAIN
Fraser Two aspirins and a few days' rest will normally take the pain away. Really, if a person is in reasonable physical shape he or she should not have any real or lasting effects from riding a mechanical bull.
Wormwood I hurt like hell for the next few days, and the bruises are still deep purple a week later, so what’s this Fraser guy trying to say? I am in reasonable physical shape! Eggplant is a reasonable shape!
