About a month ago, junior Christian Malacarne, signed a two-year contract to become a member of the Mexican rodeo team Rancho Contento. It is surprising that a year prior to this accomplishment, he had no interest whatsoever in the sport. In fact, he started by complete accident when another bull rider dislocated his shoulders and he was asked to fill in.
“The first time I rode, I thought I was a joke,” Malacarne said.
Although he was off to a strong start, having stayed on the first 3 bulls that he rode, he fell off the next 25. It was then that people were losing hope in him and less willing to give him another chance. His mentor, Alex Gomez, was the only one that did not give up on him believing Malacarne was capable of doing great things.
When it was time for Malacarne to compete in his first tournament, there was one problem: his mom. He knew his mother would never allow him to participate in the tournament because it is such a dangerous sport. When it came time to have her sign the consent form, he told his mom it was a mechanical bull he would be riding and the form was an electricity bill. It was not until after the tournament, that Malacarne told her the truth by showing his mother pictures of him riding a live bull.
Ever since then, Malacarne has been participating in both Mexican and American rodeo tournaments. The difference between a Mexican and an American rodeo is that in a Mexican rodeo one can use either one or both hands, participates as a team, and there is no maximum time limit as to how long the rider has to stay on the bull. In an American rodeo tournament, only one hand can be used, it is an individual sport, and the maximum time necessary on a bull is 8 seconds.
“Every time I go on the bull I think ‘why am I doing this?’ but there’s no turning back once I get on the bull,” Malacarne said.
Malacarne has already suffered a couple of minor injuries but that does not stop him from doing what he loves most. His favorite part about this sport is that that only a small number of people do and because everything he does he has to do for himself, there is no one else he can depend on.
With the contract he just signed he is now getting paid per ride depending on how long he stays on the bull, but he does not do it for the money. He does it for the love he has towards the sport.
“I’ve never been to a rodeo, but it’s fun to hear Christian talk about it,” Ms. James said, “because he’s so passionate about bull riding.”
This is his motivation to keep practicing and become a better rider in the three events he participates in the Mexican rodeo: bull, wild mare, and the jump of death. For now, he says he’s still learning something new each day and wants to continue doing this in the future. Time will only tell us how far he can go in this truly breath taking and exhilarating sport.
