8 Seconds At A Time

New Website

2010-07-07T21:35:00.005-05:00

I've been trying to find a good home for a website over the past couple years, and I've finally found one. I'm launching the official Rant Sports Bull Riding website August 2nd, and I'll be a part of Rant Sports Network. The link will simply be: http://rantsports.com/bull-riding

So if you are visiting this blog, head over there to check out the new website. It's going to be a lot better than this one ever was, and I'm very excited about the future. I'm going to leave this one up because of the Kody Lostroh interview. It will always be one of my favorite website features.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see all of you visit the new website. Remember, the link is: http://rantsports.com/bull-riding

Interview With Kody Lostroh- Part Two

2008-01-29T12:00:00.000-06:00

Last week, I posted part one of my interview with Kody Lostroh. Kody talked about his start into bull riding, and he gave his opinions on some of today's PBR hot topics. Part one can be read by clicking on the following link: Kody Lostroh Interview: Part One.

This week, it's time for part two of the interview. The topics include Kody's goals for 2008, his plans after bull riding, and more. Before I get into the interview, I want to thank Dana Taylor (Bucknspin on numerous message boards) for helping me with the interview. I hope you all enjoy!

CT: Kody, you have started off 2008 on a roll! What are your PBR goals this season?

Kody: My goals for 2008 are to do my best every time and have fun. If I win, that's great. If I don't win, that's great also because I'm still alive and getting to live my dreams and do something I love to do. I know I ride well enough to win, so if I just do my best, the winning will be there. I've realized riding is the fun part, winning is just a bonus.

CT: Which rider do you enjoy watching the most right now?

Kody: I really enjoy watching Renato Nunes. That guy amazes me with the recoveries he can make and how hard he can spur a bull. He doesn't make too many correct moves, but he sure is fun to watch!

CT: Switching to the other side of the match-up, who is the best bull right now in the PBR?

Kody: It's hard to narrow it down to one bull, but Cochise, Copperhead Slinger, and Troubador are three of the top bulls.

CT: Let's switch it up and end this interview with a string of personal questions.

When you're in a slump, do you have anything in particular you do to work yourself out of it? Do you get on more practice bulls, or do you just wait it out and hope it works itself out?

Kody: If I'm not riding very well, I will almost always get on practice bulls until I feel like I'm back in the groove again. I'll get back to the basics that sometimes seem so easy to forget.

CT: Do you prefer a bull to go into your hand, or away, or does it really matter?

Kody: You know, the direction of spin doesn't really matter to me. The thing I do prefer about bulls that spin into my hand is if I get out of position, it's easier to recover.

CT: Have you ever tried the Brazilian rope? If so, what did you think about it?

Kody: Yep, I tried a Brazilian rope in 2006 when I was fighting a wrist injury. It felt really good on my wrist, and the concept behind it made sense. That being said, I couldn't ride very well with the Brazilian rope. Bulls that spun into my hand were much harder with it, and I had trouble keeping my hand in the rope. Because I had to set my hand off to the side, when I drove over the front end of the bull, it would roll my hand out of the rope.

I think Brazilian ropes work better for guys that sit down and try to muscle their way through the ride, and that's just not the way I ride bulls. However, they work great for some guys!

CT: Is there anything you'd like to see the PBR organization do to improve things for the cowboys, fans, or sponsors?

Kody: A riders' union would be great for the bull riders. It seems as though we don't have much of a say in what goes on anymore, so I think a union would be great. As far as the fans go, the PBR does a great job! The only thing they could improve is by showing more rides on the telecasts. The PBR does a great job with sponsors as well.

CT: What do you do with your time between PBR events?

Kody: Between events, I usually stay pretty busy. I'm married, so that takes up quite a bit of time in itself, but usually I am outdoors doing something. I like to hunt ducks and geese in the winter, and I like to hunt coyotes year-round. I spend a lot of time taking care of my cows as well because there is always something to do with them! During the summer, I spend quite a bit of time bucking young bulls and riding some myself. Oh yeah, the one thing that keeps me inside is a video game called Guitar Hero. I just love that game!

CT: If you weren't a bull rider, what profession would you be in? Also, do you have a plan in place for when you can no longer ride bulls?

Kody: If I didn't ride bulls, I'd love to be a professional hunter for Cabela's or something like that. I'd love to go all over the world hunting and seeing new things. Or maybe I'd be a shoe salesman, I'm not sure (just kidding).

I'm not too sure what I'm going to do when I am finished riding bulls. Hopefully that will start to come together pretty soon, but I'm not worried about it. God takes care of me and will have something for me when bull riding is over.

CT: Lastly, this is a personal one because I'm a video game guy. The PBR will be releasing a video game around the 2008 PBR World Finals. Are you planning on getting it, and did you have any part in the making of it?

Kody: I've heard about the game, and I'm sure I'll have to try it out. If it's good, I might buy it. I think I'm in it, but I didn't have any part in making it. It will have to be pretty darn good though if it wants to compete with Guitar Hero for a spot on my TV!

CT: Well said Kody, but I'm sure you will probably get a copy for free if you keep riding like you have been. And once again, thank you for taking time out of your schedule to take part in this interview. It's been a pleasure! Maybe we can catch up with you again in the future.

The Final Say
It's nice to hear fans' opinions on certain things, but it's even better to hear a rider's opinions and perspectives on certain things. Kody Lostroh is one of the best in the world which makes things even better.

Hopefully this was the first interview of many I'll have the chance to participate in, so keep your eyes open for future ones as well. If you have anything to add, or if you have a comment for Kody, please feel free to comment below or discuss it in the Gibson Pro Rodeo forum. If you want to send me an email, my address is: CThrash13@hotmail.com

Thanks for reading the interview! You all are the reason I keep writing. Have a great week everyone!

Interview With Kody Lostroh- Part One

2008-01-22T12:00:00.000-06:00

Each week, I offer my opinions on all kinds of PBR topics, and I always list my key match-ups for the BFTS events. Those things are a blast, but they are nothing compared to interviewing one of the best bull riders in the world.

Kody Lostroh, currently third in the Built Ford Tough Series standings, was gracious enough to take time out of his busy schedule and answer several questions I had for him. Lostroh, the 2005 PBR Rookie of the Year, is off to a great start this season, and he will be in the race for the World Title all season.

The interview will be broken up into two parts, so keep an eye out for part number two as well. This week, we talk about Kody's start in bull riding as well as a few PBR hot topics. I hope you all enjoy!

CT: Kody, I'm just going to start from the beginning. What motivated you to start riding bulls, and when did you get on your first one?

Kody: I grew up on a farm, working with horses, cows and other livestock. I always rode our horses, and when I was 7 years old, I got a copy of the Cheyenne Frontier Days video. I watched that video about 5 times a day, and I would always watch the bull riding part twice as much. I just loved it and wanted to do it, so my mom signed me up to ride steers at our local fair one year. I got bucked off in a hurry, but it was a blast! The rest is history, and I've been at it ever since.

CT: Who were some of your heroes growing up (in or out of rodeo)?

Kody: I never really looked up to anyone, but I really liked the way some guys rode. I loved watching Mark Cain, Clint Branger, and Chris Shivers. They always made something that was so hard look really easy.

CT: Did you try to pattern your style after anyone specific?

Kody: I didn't try to pattern anyone's specific style. I just tried to make the correct moves to make the ride look good. I always knew that riding the front end of a bull and not letting myself get back was the most effective way, so I always watched the guys that did that well.

CT: That's great advice for any young riders out there. Now let's switch things over to the PBR. How long have you been watching?

Kody: I've been watching the PBR since I was old enough to know what it was, probably about 10 years.

CT: What is your all-time favorite ride from a fan perspective?

Kody: My favorite ride was Mark Cain on Wolfman for 96 points. It was the best ride I've ever seen...ever.

CT: What has been your favorite ride personally?

Kody: Well, my favorite ride personally would be when I rode Dr. Proctor at the 2006 World Finals. It was the first time the bull had been ridden, and he had thrown me off two or three times before that. Going in, I totally changed my game plan and did something I had never tried. I scooted my rope back about a foot further than I normally do, and I pulled it so loose that I could have pulled it by myself. It worked, and I became the first guy to ride him and won the round with 91.5 points! I've been more points than that before, but that ride sticks out as one of my favorites.

CT: That ride was definitely one of the reasons you finished third in Vegas that year. Now, let's get to some of this season's PBR hot topics.

You have stated you don't like the bull draft. After a couple events of participating in it, do you still feel the same way?

Kody: Well, I'm a little more on the edge now for liking the draft. I'm still not too sure about it, but I enjoy having the opportunity to get on certain bulls. I guess as long as I don't have to pick last, I like it.

CT: That's fair enough. Speaking of the draft, which bull would you like a shot at the most?

Kody: I'd like another shot at Chicken on a Chain.

CT: What did you think of the "winner take all" event in Fresno this past weekend?

Kody: The "winner take all" event would have been a lot better if the bulls in Fresno would have been better. It's too hard to give everyone a chance to win when there isn't an even pen of bulls. The re-rides weren't very good either. I thought it should have been a regular event.

CT: What do you think of Adriano's retirement?

Kody: Adriano is retiring at the right time. It's good to see a guy go out on his own. It really sucks to see a guy that used to be so good have to leave because he can't do it anymore. Adriano is one of the best riders ever, and I will miss him.

CT: Lastly, with the recent news of steroid testing for bulls, do you think riders should be tested as well? Why or why not?

Kody: It would be a waste of time to test bull riders for steroids because nobody uses them. This isn't a strength sport. It's an agility and balance sport.

The Final Say
As I stated earlier, this was part one of the interview, so stay tuned in the coming weeks for part two. In that portion, Kody and I will talk about his goals for 2008, possible PBR improvements, his plan after bull riding, and more.

If you want to say anything to Kody or comment on the article, please do so below or discuss it at the Gibson Pro Rodeo forum. I hope everyone enjoyed part one of the interview, and I hope everyone has a great week!