Southeastern Ultimate Bull Riding is bringing a rodeo back to Huntsville

HUNTSVILLE, Ala (WHNT) — Bull riding is about to blast off to the Rocket City.

The idea was brought to life by Cullman local, James Couch. He’s been riding bulls for nearly 20 years.

“Pawpaw basically raised me, and he raised bucking bulls for years, and when i was 13 years old, I got on my first bucking bull,” said Couch. After that, I’ve been with him, helping raise them and going to rodeos.”

Couch is a part of a three-man team partnering up to bring a rodeo back to Huntsville

“We came up here and talked to A&M Center, and we started running some numbers around and, dates, basically, and got it squared away,” he said. “Then we just started getting boots on the ground.”

At the event, they will have barrel racing, traditional bull riding, and competition for younger riders.

“We’ve got some of the best young riders in the state of Alabama,” said Todd Haley. They’re going to be here, riding steers and junior bulls, and then we’re expecting to have about 30 different, senior bull riders. Those are guys that are riding all over the country.”

Todd Haley is the organizer who runs marketing. He’s worked with couch for more than a year to make the event happen. He said in that time, they’ve snagged the sponsorships they hoped for.

“Our team’s vision is southeastern ultimate bulls becomes a series,” said Haley. “Huntsville will always be our home port. This is where we’ll hold the championships, but our vision is to hold southeastern ultimate bull riding events in Tennessee and Mississippi and Georgia. This is the inaugural event. This is the first time we’ll put it together, but this is our home and we’re always going to come back here.”

He also explained the objective of bull riding and the meaning of “eight seconds.”

“So I think a lot of people when you see bull riding, you think eight seconds is the win, right. Eight seconds just gets you started.”

In those seconds, there’s a high chance of injury. Couch shared some scary stories, but he said the passion for riding keeps him coming back for more.

“The rodeo world is a completely different world,” said Couch. I meet guys, up and down the road, and what it establishes is it’s not just a friendship. It’s a brothership.”

You can check out their sponsors, get more details, and purchase tickets on their website .

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