In the past four months, six of the top bull riders in the world have experimented with switching from American ropes to Brazilian-style ropes.
Brendon Clark, Sean Willingham and Luke Snyder were among the first. Travis Briscoe made the switch, and like Clark, has since switched back. Kody Lostroh and J. B. Mauney have each ordered Brazilian ropes, but have yet to use them in competition.
The biggest difference between the ropes is that on a Brazilian rope, the block for the riding hand is located on the same side of the handle where the tail of the rope comes through, so that if a bull rolls left, the rope will pull the rider to the right and theoretically keep him in the middle.
According to Marcel Nunes, the older brother of reigning World Champion Renato Nunes, one other noticeable difference is that the typical handle on an American rope is three fingers high, but the handle on a Brazilian rope is normally four fingers high.
The elder Nunes, who last rode at a PBR event in 2008, has crafted a new career braiding bull ropes.
Since the first of the year, Nunes said he’s braided 60 Brazilian-style ropes and another 10 American ropes. In addition to braiding ropes for most the Brazilian riders on the BFTS, he recently finished braiding a Brazilian rope for Mauney on Easter weekend.
“To make a good bull rope you need to learn to braid it real tight,” said Nunes, who began learning the trade when he was 9 years old. “This is the way I make mine today. Every day you braid you keep getting better and better.”
Nunes braids his ropes using a combination of polyester and sada, which he travels to Brazil to purchase. Nunes said the sada material “can last 10 years” and is strong enough to pull a bulldozer without breaking.
Nunes said local amateurs from Texas and Oklahoma regularly contact him, and that he’s beginning to receive unsolicited letters with checks – he charges $280 for the rope and another $50 for the pads.
On one recent afternoon in April, he received three orders by mail from Texas, Wyoming and Arizona. Often the letters contain specifications, from the size of the handle to the tightness of the rope.
Based the growing number of orders, Nunes said he wouldn’t be surprised if in another four to five years a majority of the amateurs turning pro in the United States will be using a tightly-braided Brazilian rope.
Nunes can be contacted at nunesbullropes@yahoo.com.
NEWS & NOTES
Coleman healing: Ross Coleman had his left shoulder surgically repaired last week by Dr. Tandy Freeman. Coleman dislocated the shoulder last month at a Touring Pro event. In a Thursday night text message, he wrote, “Sore, but healing up.”
He also said that in addition to the bone – “broke socket and ball” – he also had a torn rotator cuff that needed to be repaired. Coleman, who is moving from Oregon to Texas next week to be closer to his wife’s family, is expected to be out of competition for six months.
Teaching the trade: Fan favorite McKennon Wimberly will be hosting a bull riding school June 25 and 26 at the fairgrounds in Harlowton, Mont.
According to a Facebook posting earlier this week, “This school will offer tools and information on the basics of bull riding through advanced techniques to help take you to the next level. Whether you are just getting started or have experience, you will take something of value from this school.”
For more information, contact Tammy Pate at tammypate04@yahoo.com.
International competition: Riders from all five countries represented in the PBR are in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, and Jaguariuna, Brazil, for two Brahma Super Bull events this weekend.
Representing the United States is Cody Campbell, while Jared Farley (Australia), Chad Besplug (Canada) and Alfonso Orozco (Mexico) are also competing. BFTS veteran and Brazilian native Paulo Crimber also traveled home to take part.
PBR CEO Jim Haworth is in Brazil for the event.
Stat of the week: After winning three rounds last week, en route to claiming his second BFTS win of the season, LJ Jenkins has now won seven rounds in 14 regular-format events in 2011. He’s won seven of the past 17 rounds, not including the Last Cowboy Standing event in Las Vegas. Jenkins won two in Albuquerque, N.M., two more in Kansas City, Mo., and three in Seattle.
Only Valdiron de Oliveira, the No. 1 ranked rider in the world, has won as many rounds as Jenkins. Robson Palermo has won six rounds this year, including four Built Ford Tough Championship Rounds. Two-time World Champion Chris Shivers has won more rounds (4) than anyone else without winning an event.
Tweet talk: Dickies DuraBullfighter Jesse Byrne will be answering questions from PBR fans via Twitter at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, prior to the final two rounds of the Des Moines Invitational. To participate, simply tweet your question to @TeamPBR and be sure to include the hash tag #PBRchat. Follow the live chat at www.twitter.com/TeamPBR.
TV times: For the second week in a row, TV times will be earlier than normal, with the Des Moines Invitational airing on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 4 p.m. ET.
Live Event Center: Follow all the action from this week’s BFTS event by logging on to the Event Center at www.pbr.com/live. The multimedia center provides in-arena audio, live scoring, live blogging and event-related interviews.
— by Keith Ryan Cartwright
