‘Keep your hand closed’: Professional bull rider Cody Coverchuk shares secrets

Close to 100 bull riders are in Saskatoon this weekend as Professional Bull Riders Canada’s PBR Saskatoon Classic returns to the city.

The event is held at the Sasktel Centre, and sees eight riders from Saskatchewan compete.

One of those riders is Meadow Lake’s Cody Coverchuk who is currently the No. 2 bull rider in Canada behind Calgary’s Nick Tetz.

Coverchuk joined the CKOM Morning Show to talk about the event and how he got into bull riding.

Listen to Cody Coverchuk on CKOM

“It all started with a dare, actually, when I was 12,” said Coverchuk. “We just progressed from there. I never thought I could make it a career, but here we are 11 years into it.”

The goal in competition is for each rider to last eight seconds before the bull bucks them off, with the rider’s performance earning points, as well as the bull.

Coverchuk said he tries to not pay attention to what bull he gets, but sometimes he can’t help but take a peek.

“The draw comes out probably a couple days before each event,” said Coverchuk. “I’d like to say I don’t look at the draw too much but when it gets this close to the end of the year and there’s this much money on the line, I find myself looking at what bulls everybody has.”

The Saskatoon event is the final regular-season event before the Canadian finals on Nov. 8 and 9 in Edmonton.

So how does a rider stay on a raging, angry and bucking bull?

“Keep your hand closed,” Coverchuk said with a laugh.

The rider said he’s been very lucky in his career when it comes to injuries and broken bones.

“(I’ve had) two (broken) bones, I do believe, I’ve been very fortunate in my professional career,” said Coverchuk.

Bull riders do wear protective equipment, including hockey helmets.

“I wear a helmet and I believe everybody at the PBR wears a helmet,” said. “A helmet only helps you so much if a bull steps square on you that’s 2200 lbs.”

The event in Saskatoon concludes Saturday night.

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