Lani Hansen/Senior Reporter
TULSA, Oklahoma– It’s that time of year again to dust off your cowboy hat and boots as the toughest sport in the nation returns to Tulsa for the 18th consecutive season. Tulsa welcomes back the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) elite Unleash The Beast, holding the PBR Express Ranches Classic presented by Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
According to a PBR press release, PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 500 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash The Beast tour (UTB). The tour features the top 35 bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT), the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD), and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico.
For two nights only, the Top 40 bull riders in the world will compete in one of the most exciting sporting events to witness, going head-to-head against the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown of man v. beast.
PBR’s PR Specialist Kacie Albert wrote, “last season the premier PBR Unleash The Beast event in Tulsa produced one of the greatest moments in PBR history.”
During the event’s accompanying 15/15 Bucking Battle, Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) teamed with Woopaa (Barker Bulls/Hookin’ W Ranch) for a record shattering score. Leme’s score of 97.75 points aboard Woopaa beat the previous top ride score of 96.5 points.
The second back-to-back PBR Champion made Tulsa the high-marked ride in PBR history for a few months until he faced the same bull in the championship round of the PBR World Finals earning a 98.75 point score.
Historically out of the past 13 PBR World Champions, seven of them have won the Tulsa event to capture the gold buckle.
The 2022 PBR Express Ranches Classic, presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, begins with Round 1 at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, April 15, followed by Round 2 and the championship round at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 16. All competing bull riders will get one bull each in Rounds 1-2. Following Round 2 Saturday evening, the riders’ individual two-round scores will be totaled with the Top 12 advancing to the championship round for one more out and a chance at the event title.
Tickets for the two-day event went on sale Jan. 31, starting at $15, taxes and fees not included. Tickets can be purchased online at: ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the BOK Center Box Office or by calling PBR customer service at: 1-800-732-1727.
