RAPID CITY - It was a fitting end to the Pro Bull Riders first tour to Rapid City.
The two-day Kody Lostroh Invitational came down to the final ride of the weekend in the championship round Saturday night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.
Austin Meier took home a check for $12,304 after a solid score of 88 on a bull named Mortachi. Meier was the final rider of the night and had to beat Cody Nance's championship round score of 86.5.
"It feels great to come here to Rapid City and win big," said Meier. "This was an extremely tough field with a lot of great riders, so to come up here and win is just something I'll always remember."
Coming into Saturday night's final round the score to beat was 86 which was turned in Friday night by Brazil's Ednei Caminhas and Arkansas' Reese Cates. Meier, of Oklahoma, also turned in the highest first-round score of the entire weekend with another 88 on a bull named Wild Nights.
"That's a bull you look at and kind of go 'whew,'" said Meier. "There are definitely a lot more rider-friendly bulls. I looked at him coming into tonight and said 'That is a money bull right there.' We're all riding to finish first and with a near 90-point ride I have to be happy with that."
It was the young guns' turn Saturday night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center as many of the big names on the PBR competed Friday night.
More than 40 young cowboys risked life and limb for the entertainment of the fans and a chance at some good prize money. The contestants were divided up into four sections all of which competed in the first round. Ten contestants went on to compete in the championship round of which only Meier and Nance posted scores.
Some of the meanest and toughest bulls in the world were on hand such as Silverwings who hasn't allowed a qualified ride in almost two years.
Skeeter Kingsolver, of Kansas, came as close as any rider in a long time holding on for just under
eight seconds before getting tossed off.
A couple of bull riders escaped near injury after some angry bulls caused a couple near stomps, and spears.
Cowboys were getting air launched into the air, hitting the dirt face-first, and one cowboy nearly ended up in the first row of the crowd after his bull threw him onto the top of the gate.
However, the PBR's trip to Rapid City wasn't just about the world class bull riders. The event encompassed everything from a light show to the premier entertainer of the PBR, Flint Rasmussen. The cowboys were introduced to the crowd amongst an extravagant light show where PBR was spelled out in fire on the floor and smoke filled the arena. Rasmussen had the crowd laughing all night long with a witty routine that included his own rendition of a Kid Rock song to spot on impressions.
The show even included the Bud Light fan can in which a group of fans sat inside a fenced-off can where the contestants competed around them with the bulls charging directly at them.
"I think the event went extremely well," said the PBR's head promoter Tommy Giodone. "The crowds were into it and the people here were very gracious. They saw the real PBR. When you buy a ticket to this event you're going to see more than just bull riding. It's pyrotechnics, it's a theatrical show. And you're going to be entertained for the whole family and I think it's going to be even better next year."
