Mechanical Bull Riding 101

Mechanical bull riding is an absolute blast! Watching your friends hang on to a buckin’ bull and trying not to get thrown off is just as much fun as riding it yourself. Are you ready to step up and give it a try? ACE Adventure Resort has the opportunity for you on Saturday, February 25th at our Cowboy Country Night. Featuring live music from Appalachian Outlaws playing your favorite country hits. To help prepare you to be the best honky tonk cowboy at The Lost Paddle we put together these helpful tips. Start studying and get your tickets for Cowboy Country Night at ACE.

Get a Grip

First things first, you gotta hold on real good. Most mechanical bulls come equipped with either a rope handle or a leather strap so riders can have the best grip possible. Use your dominant hand to grip the rope and keep your second hand free to help you with balance. Control is not solely the gripping hand’s responsibility. Grip the sides of the bull as tightly as possible with your thighs. Your leg muscles should be used to help root your lower body to the bull.

Balance is Essential

Proper balance is everything. You need to position yourself towards the front of the “seat,” as close to the handle as possible without actually sitting on your hand. This helps you keep maximum control over your body and helps to center your weight. Your body is the counterbalance to the bull. In other words, the weight of your body balances the weight of the bull. If the mechanical bull tips forward, your body should move backwards. If the bull’s head moves backwards, your body should move forward.

Keep Your Eye on the Bull

Watching the head of the mechanical bull will allow you to be aware of the directional changes its body will follow. Additionally, try to keep your chin down to help center you. Avoid looking at the people around you (no matter how hard they try to distract you!) or you’ll easily lose your balance.

Stay Loose & Make the Right Moves

It’s important to hold tightly your lower body to the bull’s, but what you do with your upper body is vital as well. Keep your torso and free arm loose – this allows for better balance and ensures that your upper body flows with the motions of the bull. When the bull’s head moves down, lean back. This keeps you on the bull and prevents you from falling forward off the ride. When the bull’s head moves upward, lift your hips and lean forward as to not fall off the back of the bull as its body dips closely to the ground behind you.

Can You Hang On For 8 Seconds?

February 25th is your chance to mount up and take on Bruiser the Mechanical Bull at ACE Adventure Resort. It’s Cowboy Country Night with Appalachian Outlaws playing your favorite country hits on The Lost Paddle indoor stage. Tickets are only $10 in advance and $15 day of the show. Admission includes as much bull riding as you can handle too. So use these tips and impress your friends with how long you can ride that bull!