By Jared Curtis

The toughest bull riders in the world take over Wells Fargo Arena

Ryan “The Cherokee Kid” Dirteater is among 35 top-rated bull riders coming to Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday, April 21 (8 p.m.) and Sunday, April 22 (2 p.m.) for the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series. Tickets range from $12 to $152. For more information, visit www.iowaeventscenter.com.

Eight seconds might not seem like a long time, but try jumping on the back of a 2,000-pound bull, and it won’t seem so easy. For 20 years, the Professional Bull Riders series (PBR) has been bringing the sport of bull riding to fans around the world. On Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22, the PBR will take over Wells Fargo Arena for the fifth time, bringing 35 of the best bull riders in the world for an event like no other.

“The fans in Des Moines are great, and it’s always a good event,” said Ryan “The Cherokee Kid” Dirteater, who is currently ranked eighth in the PBR Built Ford Tough Series. “I always look forward to competing in Des Moines, and hopefully I’ll take home the win this time.”

Dirteater is a rising star on the circuit who has only wanted to do one thing his entire life: be a professional bull rider.

“My dad rode bulls, so I basically grew up around it. I started riding bulls myself when I turned 9,” he said. “I grew up watching the PBR and always knew I wanted to be there. I knew that if I worked hard and had patience, it would only be a matter of time before I made it there.”

Although Dirteater joined PBR when he was 18, injuries have cut into his riding time.

“I was out for nine months with a dislocated knee in 2009 and missed the entire 2010 season. I came back in 2011, but was sidelined again for a few months with a torn ligament in my elbow,” he said. “I came back and rode at the end of the 2011 season and have been moving up the ranks ever since. I’m lucky that I’m young and my body heals pretty well.”

Dirteater says pain isn’t going to keep him from the gain.

“I could have just given up on the sport and done something else,” he said. “But I wanted to keep riding, so I continued to train and work hard.”

Although winning is important, Dirteater has other goals in mind as well.

“Everybody hopes for the win, but I work really hard to ride at the top of my game all season,” he said. “Hopefully when I’m done riding people will see me walking down the street and say, ‘There is the greatest bull rider that ever lived.’ ”

The PBR series will offer weekend events — a Saturday night event starting at 8 p.m. and a Sunday afternoon event starting at 2 p.m. — and feature 35 of the best bull riders the world has to offer.

“It’s a great fun and family-orientated event that isn’t nothing without the fans. The more they cheer, the better we ride,” he said. “Stop out and experience something you’ve never seen before and enjoy an action packed-event with plenty of thrills and spills. I guarantee you’ll get your money’s worth.” CV