scone.com.auBull Riding a Bit Like Surfing
ADRIANO Moraes a superstar of the bull riding world from Brazil was in Scone on the weekend to mentor bull riders from throughout Australia on bull riding and life.
Adriano said he was loving his first experience of regional Australia and said bull riders are the same the world over, a bit like surfers.
“I love it, the landscape and the people, they are so warm, so welcoming, so funny and fun, I’m in love with this culture and it is a dream come true,” Mr Moraes said.
“We are exactly the same it’s weird, I believe the sport is a bit like surfers Brazilians, Americans, New Zealanders, Australians they’re all the same they are the same tribe, they may come from different countries but we have the same language and understand each other,” he said.
“I’m here to help the guys, to polish some raw diamonds and I’m pretty impressed, we are going to have some great guys come out of this,” he said.
“Now that bull breeders are importing American genetics…the calibre of bulls is getting better and we need the guys to be prepared for the change that’s coming pretty soon; so they need to learn in a proper way, the bulls will be rank bulls that ride at a higher level and in order to ride at a higher level you need to be technically better, I’m preparing them for the future,” said Adriano Moraes.
A student from Durbin, Western Australia being mentored by Adriano Moraes. Photo: Patricia Taylor Photography.
Mathew Hancock and his wife Lee organised the bull riding classes and chose Scone through their connection with Jade Smith, president of Scone Rodeo Committee.
Mr Hancock said the venue was fantastic and the improvement in the riders during the two days was spectacular, which he attributes to the Adriano’s approach to riding and life.
“Every rider improved majorly, nearly every single student has messaged me and said how much they appreciated the weekend and they all improved out of sight,” said Mr Hancock.
They learn all facets and he starts everyone, even advanced riders at the very beginning and he teaches you how to correct moves, how to pull your rope, how to wear your gear, what to do when a bull turn left, when a bull turns right or straight ahead, he covers everything
The next step is to start to compete in rodeos and they have that connection now with Adriano as a mentor, as their respected master and if they are having trouble and they need a hand they can contact him and he can help.
Mathew said Adriano’s approach to helping someone become a better bull rider was as much about what happens outside of the ring.
His approach is to have a happy and successful life to have a happy and successful bull riding career
It’s not only be great bull riders and great humans
An older bloke that was there, he was bigger, fatter and wanted to ride and we didn’t know this at the time, but he lost his son six months before hand and his son had wanted to be a bull rider and he went their for his son
He had three or four attempts and he finally rode one, Adriano went over, hugged him and he said ‘I don’t want you to get on ever again’, he understood what the bull ride meant to him,”
Adriano Moraes mentoring a young bull rider on the weekend.
One young kid who was a total underdog, but we open our arms to everyone and he was welcomed into the circle and that kid one the best ride of the weekend and his mother messaged me to say how much the experience had impacted him
Adriano’s own story is inspiring, being raised in a poor part of Brazil with dirt floors and the whole family sleeping in one room, to becoming a multi-millionaire from the sport he loves and sharing his passion with bull riders of all levels the world over.
Adriano laughed that he began his career in bull riding because he was “too lazy to work, too scared to steal and too dumb to go to school.”
“I was a farm boy and got on calves for the heck of it, I had no video games to play and one day I found out that what I did for fun people could do for money and I thought you know what I think I can do it,” he said.
“The first rodeo I went to I came second, I made nine times more than working hard a month at the ranch and I kissed the rodeo princess and I thought that’s the life!
“Up until that time I’d only kissed Catorina and she was the ranches mule that pulled the wagon so at least the princess had smaller ears,” said Adriano Moraes.
This weekend the second of the two clinics will be run, with more advanced riders flying in from all over Australia to learn from the master.
People are welcome to watch the riding at White Park from 4:30pm on Saturday and 2:30pm on Sunday for the average price of a rodeo admission: $30 for adults and $60 for a family.
Related story:
- Arena Ready for Bulls Tomorrow – January 25, 2019.