It takes a certain type of person to even consider riding a bull.
For Smithers’ Zach Duursma it was all about the adrenaline rush.
“It was pretty awesome. I haven’t experienced a rush like that before,” said Duursma. “I’ve done lots of things like cliff jumping and I work at pretty high heights. I’ve never had an adrenaline rush like that.”
Duursma rode a bull for the first time at the Bulkley Valley Exhibition during the Smithers Rodeo along with 11 other participants on Thursday, Aug. 21.
“You don’t have time to think, you’re just on for the ride,” he said.
Despite having little to no training, Duursma held on for an impressive eight seconds, the longest time on the first go.
The key to staying on the bull is simple, he added.
“You have to hook your legs in really tight, get your hand gripped in there real tight and hang on for dear life,” said Duursma.
While he was one of the riders to hang on the longest, Duursma believes it was a bit of beginner’s luck that helped him stay on the bull.
“I tried three more after that but I got bucked off,” he said.
This isn’t the first time this adrenaline junkie has done something outside the box.
A couple of years ago, he also did an exhibition bareback bronc ride.
“It was a little crazier on the bulls,” he laughed.