OKLAHOMA CITY – Bull riding may be a young man’s sport, but don’t tell Silvano Alves.

The 35-year-old is the elder statesman of the Nashville Stampede – and a three-time PBR World Champion to boot – and his career ain’t over yet.

Not by a long shot.

Alves is riding at a cool 46.67% clip, going 7-for-15 thus far this season, far and away leading the Stampede in qualified rides – Alan de Souza is second with four qualified rides.

He notched his seventh ride in the Stampede’s upset victory against the No. 1 Austin Gamblers (12-3, 0-2 Freedom Fest) on Saturday at Freedom Fest in Oklahoma City.

Alves rode Dangerous Medicine for 86.75 points to help No. 7 Nashville (4-11, 1-1 Freedom Fest) to a 258.5-175.75 victory.

“I’m very happy about my ride and helping my team win,” Alves said. “I try to do my best every time, every ride. The bull today is a new bull. It’s his first time out in the Team Series in the PBR. He bucked only two outs at smaller Challenger events. But he’s a really good bull.”

While Alves may have fallen off the form that saw him win world titles in 2011, 2012, and 2014, this 2023 version of Alves looks as good as he has in years, and his confidence in himself has not been shaken.

“I know my potential,” Alves said. “I believe in myself, and I believe in my rides. Just like old Silvano – just go ride my bull and not worry about the outside stuff.”

Some of that outside stuff, as of late, is pretty significant. Alves’s latest ride is No. 494 of his career as he looks to become just the fourth rider in PBR history to eclipse 500 rides. Alves will join Guilherme Marchi (637), J.B. Mauney (538) and Mike Lee (525).

In the meantime, though, Alves is simply focused on helping his team get into the win column.

That mission was successful on Saturday. Dener Barbosa opened the scoring for the Stampede with 86.75 points on Chateau Montelena’s Montana Jacket, and Souza added 85 points on Zorro.

“All the team, we have good rides,” Alves said. “I’m very happy to help my team. We have the best bull riders in the world together on my team, and sometimes, one guy struggles. Sometimes, there are waves in his career. All bull riders have sometimes bad days, sometimes good days. I just try to help out my riders, ride for my team. Try to improve some stuff to get better and better. I learn a lot of stuff, all the team, with the coach and everything. I’m very happy about it.”

The first half of the season has been a slog for the Stampede. The 2022 PBR Team Series Champions have hovered at or near the bottom of the standings as most of the intended starting roster was sidelined with injuries. Alves admits there’s been some frustration as the team let opportunities slip away.

But the team was rejuvenated in Oklahoma City by the returns of Barbosa, Mason Taylor and 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco.

“We had three guys injured and out of our roster, but now everybody’s back,” Alves said. “There’s a whole bunch of time – it’s a half-season now with them back. It’s a start, and we hope that this week’s better, next week’s better, and better and better for the (Teams Championship).”

With the whole band back together – with the exception of 2023 acquisition and two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood – the vibe in the Nashville locker room is more confident, and even more so with a win under their belt.

A win against the No. 1 team in the league, no less.

The Stampede will look to keep the momentum going on Sunday when they take on the No. 5 Carolina Cowboys (7-8, 0-2 Freedom Fest). Action continues at 3 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

But more than another win, Alves hopes for another, more important victory.

“I think I’m just praying for nobody getting hurt, keeping my team safe,” he said with a smile, “and I’m just trying to ride each bull.”

Just like he has almost 500 times.

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media