Professional Bull Rider Michael Lane. Courtesy of the PBR.
The PBR is a sport that involves man verses animal. It’s where someone willing decides to go onto a bull, hold onto dear life, and try and stay on for at least eight seconds.
How does someone get into such a sport? Well for Michael Lane it started when he was four-years-old.
Growing up in Tazewell, Virginia, Lane would attend amateur events with his brother-in-law, and at the time, he noticed that kids could be part of the competition.
“I would go out to amateur events at four-years-old, and I noticed that the little kids would start out on sheep, which they call mutton busting back in the states.”
Raised on a farm, his siblings would show prize sheep, but Lane had other ideas.
“I don’t want to lead them around and show them, I want to ride them”
During shear season, Lane’s siblings would cut one, and he would immediately hop on and start riding.
“That’s where it all started for me, at the age of four, mutton busting.”
Now, he’s an 11 year veteran of the PBR and has travelled all over the world riding bulls.
Lane explained the first time he went onto a bull was like mixing excitement and nervousness together.
“It went both ways, I was excited and scared at the same time, because you’re at such a young age it is intimidating.”
Lane will be part of this Saturday’s PBR event at Budweiser Gardens. Tickets are available online and start at 25-dollars.
