Will Purcell has been a professional bull rider for the past 10 years, but for five of those years he's been sidelined by injury.
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It might seem like a high price to pay but for Purcell and his PBR counterparts the broken bones and concussions are all part of following their passion.
Purcell and 28 other professional bull riders will test their skills against bucking bulls weighing up to 1000kg in Ballarat on Saturday as part of the PBR Ballarat Stampede.
The goal of the riders, as they are thrown about like ragdolls on the back of the bucking bulls, is to hold on for eight seconds.
"I guess that's what makes it such a good spectator sport - the element of anything could happen," he said.
Purcell trains every day to ensure his reflexes are lightning fast but admits that most of his best rides he doesn't remember because he relies on muscle memory and reflex to stay on.
"To be honest it's not much of a sensation any more - it's all subconscious and that's what you train toward. When you're not thinking the body reacts a lot faster if it's all subconscious and you've done the work to prepare yourself your reactions should be fast."
"With some of the best bull riders I've made I don't remember them - I've got to see the video."
Purcell is one of only two Victorian riders on the Australian PBR tour, and will do double duty on Saturday starting the day at his hometown Merrijig Rodeo in the high country before travelling to Ballarat for the evening event.
WATCH WILL PURCELL IN ACTION BELOW
"I grew up on a cattle farm so we were always around cattle and handling stock. The local Merrijig rodeo put the idea in my head for getting on a steer. I don't know when I first got on a steer but I got on my first bull when I was 15," he said.
"Once I did that I got bitten by the bug and never stopped. My uncle and dad encouraged it from the start but mum was against it dead set against it - we were always doing stupid stuff as kids and she thought it was another phase. She wouldn't talk to dad and my uncle for ages and wasn't very encouraging at the start, but since she realised that's what I actually want to do she's been one of my biggest supporters."
The bulls are bred to buck and each ride is scored for both the rider and the ferocity of the bull.
"The harder the bull bucks the higher the score," he said.
Dislocated shoulders, broken bones and concussions are common as the riders and bulls part ways.
"It does hurt but it's my passion and drive. The passion outweighs any injury in my eyes - it's what I want to do and I'm lucky enough to be able to make a living out of it."
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The Ballarat event is a chance for the bull riders to earn points toward their overall national and world standings as they look to qualify for prestigious events in Australia, Canada and the US.
Purcell plans to travel to compete in Canada and the US at the end of the Australian season in April.
The PBR Monster Energy Ballarat Stampede is on Saturday at the Ballarat Showgrounds from 7pm.
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