One Professional Bull Riding (PBR) competitor filled in at the last minute and then put on a show for the South Dakota crowd.
In a PBR Tweet, Brazilian rider Antonio Salgado got off to a great start with Boogie Bomb to start Championship Sunday in second place. He was initially an injury-alternate rider in the UTB event.
Adriano Salgado received a last minute invite to Deadwood, SD and he is making the most of it! Salgado turns in an 88.75-point ride aboard Boogie Bomb to start Championship Sunday in second place. 📺: @CBSSports Network 8 P.M. ET pic.twitter.com/4ZlUnEJHL4
— PBR (@PBR) September 26, 2021
Atop Boogie Bomb, Salgado held his own. After some fierce bull riding, the man adjusted, and Boogie Bomb was almost helpless in tossing his carbo.
Salgado finished in fifth place in the PBR Monster Energy Invitational. The man took home $7,743.31 for his showing in Deadwood, S.D. Lifetime, he’s earned $51,000 in three years of competing in the circuit.
One PBR commentator said, “If he can ride his way into the Top 35 this weekend, it’s a gamechanger.”
And Salgado made the most of his opportunity.
The 23-year-old Salgado, who started ranked 48th in the world, moved up to 41st after the bull riding event.
But it was that Boogie Bomb ride that got him in the right direction.
Another last-minute ride in 2018
Texas native Ricky Aguiar got that same opportunity in Colorado a few years ago.
In a 2018 PBR story, Ryan Miller pulled out of the Colorado Springs Classic because of a family emergency, and Aguiar was next up.
“They called me actually on Wednesday and said I might have a spot,” Aguiar said, “And Thursday they called me and confirmed that I did have a spot.”
The Texan drove all day, starting from his home in Stephenville and making it Broadmoor World Arena for his event. It only took 10 hours to get the bull riding event.
The Texan settled in, intending to have fun. He stretched his legs and rode bull Sledge Hammer for 87.5 points. That he did and more.
After 12 straight buckoffs, he ended that cold streak that day in Colorado. Aguiar made his PBR debut in 2007 and Velocity Tour debut in 2015.
“I can always be better,” Aguiar said about his performance. “It started off good, but I kind of let myself get lazy. Next year’s definitely going to be a lot better.”
Most recently, Aguiar competed in the Sioux City Classic in May but didn’t place at the bull riding event. In April’s home state PBR Aggieland Classic, he ranked 17th.
PBR Busy In September
The professional bull-riding circuit took to the USS Lexington outside of Corpus Christi for the second annual PBR Air Force Reserve Cowboys for a Cause event.
The riders helped a USO branch with food storage and added some mulch for a new playground set.
“All the guys are joining together to help today,” PBR rider Joao Ricardo Vieira told PBR.com. “I am so blessed, and it is good for us to give back.”
The riders competed in the Sept. 4 PBR event, with Jose Vitor Leme finishing first at the special event. He took home $16,233.33 for his bull riding with an aggregate score of 175.00.
