Eight seconds.

It can fly by or seem like an eternity on the back of a 2,000 pound beast.

Bull riding runs deep in the blood of those that dare to take on nearly two tons of muscle and attitude.

Many of the bull riders who make the trip to King on Thursday nights typically ride in bigger Professional Bull Riders (PBR) events on the weekends. It’s a chance for locals to see some of the top competitors in the region.

From now until March 25, the winter series is being held at the King American Legion Post 290.

“We get the best guys from North Carolina, some guys from out of state,” said Palmer Merritt, who helps coordinate the event. “There are a lot of young bulls that need to get bucked. It’s a whole lot easier to pay these guys some money to do it. These caliber bulls are nothing no guys really want to practice on.”

The winter series began in December and starts at 7 p.m. each Thursday. Event organizers are shooting for 15 events total.

“It’s good for the community here,” Merritt said. “I was born and raised in King and I’ve always liked to help the community. It brings people together and it’s good fun family entertainment. These guys try to put on a good show for people to come out and have a good time.”

Billy Robinson, of Galax, Va. has been riding for 12 years. Robinson travels from coast to coast competing in different bull riding events and he reached the 2007 PBR World Finals, placing eighth overall and earning $35,500.

On his PBR profile internet page, Robinson said his biggest career accomplishment was winning the Built Ford Tough Series in Nashville, Tenn., in 2003, where he scored a 92.5 and won $28,000.

“This is about the only smaller deal I come to. I usually do the PBR events,” Robinson said. “You’ll see some of the bulls down here you see on TV. It’s kind of my way of practicing, to try and come down here and do good and make a little money on the side.”

He got started in high school and has turned bull riding into a profession.

“I’ll guarantee it’s the longest eight seconds you’ll ever have,” Robinson said. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem that long. Other times it takes forever. If everything is going right it all falls into place.

“You won’t find a more exciting sport. Guys getting on some of the best bulls in the world, bucking bulls of the year in the PBR. If somebody comes and watches it, they’ll be hooked. These guys are out here giving their all just to try and make a living doing it.”

The ride is scored from 0-100 points with the rider and bull each awarded anywhere from zero to 50 points each. The combined points make up the final score for the ride.

During the eight seconds the rider’s free hand cannot touch the bull at any time without being disqualified.

A good solid score is between 80 and 89. Scoring a 90 or above is even more difficult.

Kids can also call in for sheep and calf riding on Thursdays as well.

Bull riding has been called “the most dangerous eight seconds in sports.”

Bart Miller, originally from Nebraska, recently moved to Archdale just to compete in the sport.

“I’ve been riding since I was a little kid. I love it. I wake up every day and get to do what I want to do so it’s a pretty good lifestyle,” Miller said.

“Every bull is different. Even if you’ve been on a bull more than once, there’s always something different and more exciting. There’s nothing that I’ve found in this world that’s given me a rush like bull riding. I’ve sky jumped and done roller coasters. Nothing is like the adrenaline rush you get when you ride a bull that bucks really hard. I don’t ride bulls to ride them and say I stayed on a bull, I ride them to ride the best bulls.”

Miller refuses to call bull riding a “job.”

“It’s something I really love to do. It won’t last forever so I’m trying to make the best of it while it lasts right now,” Miller said. “I started doing this to make an extra $500-600. If I stay out here and ride bulls I won’t have to have a job.”

There is certainly some money to be made in the sport, especially for the PBR’s top guys.

Retired rider Justin McBride of Elk City, Okla., the 2005 and 2007 PBR world champion, currently leads the all time money leaders list with more than $5 million in career earnings.

So how do you gain control for eight seconds over an animal that’s 10 times your size?

Miller has ridden “God’s Gift” a notoriously tough bull well-known nationwide among bull riding circles.

“Bull riding is about matching the bull move for move,” Miller said. “Having a counter for his move. As long as you do that bull riding is simple, but there are days when it seems very hard.”

Robinson has experienced much success, making the PBR finals six times.

“You don’t have to be strong strong, but you do have to be in shape,” Robinson said. “I work out a lot and do everything I can to prevent injuries.”

Robinson, 30, is considered a veteran among some of the younger guys.

“I do this for a living, to put food on the table for me and my family,” he said. “It’s something I enjoy doing and I kind of still hold my own, so I feel good about it. “I can hang with these guys seven or eight years younger than me. I’ve got a few more years doing it. You don’t see many guys over 35. I expect to do it as long as I feel like my body is able and I’m healthy enough where I can compete with everybody else.”

Merritt is a lifelong bull rider who encourages people to come out and watch the weekly events, featuring some of the best riders in the region.

“This is the real deal setup. When I was a kid this is what I wanted to do. It gets in your blood. We just need more people to come and watch it,” Merritt said.

“Bull riding is a thing that you’ve got to eat, sleep and drink. If you are going to do it, you’ve got to love it, you’ve got to want it. If you try to do it to impress a girl or because you’ve had a little too much to drink, you aren’t going to make it very long.

“The thing about bull riding is every time you get inside that bucking chute, there’s a chance you aren’t coming back alive. If you don’t have all your ducks in a row, it’s just that much more against you. A 180-pound man going against a 2,000 pound animal. We are already whooped before we even nod our head.”

Some of the big names that have appeared in King’s winter series are Robinson as well as Brian Canter and J.B. Mauney, both in the top 25 among the PBR’s all time money earners.

The risks in the sport are very real.

Josh Faircloth, 20, of Randleman won a couple of Challenger events last year and was on the PBR’s minor circuit.

“You’ve got a ton of bull right there. There’s no telling if this guy’s going to killed or this guy’s going to get hurt,” said Faircloth. It’s pretty good to come watch. It isn’t golf...

“It’s very unpredictable. You could do your job and stay on your bull eight seconds but you’ve still got to get off and get away from him. You can win a bull ride and still get hauled off in an ambulance.”

Added Miller: “I look at everything as a risk in life. When it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go. I just really enjoy it. I’m willing to take the risk to pay the price to ride bulls.”

Robinson got his start watching Jerome Davis, who took him to his first PBR event. Many of the bull riders travel all over the country.

Robinson had events in Pennsylvania and Georgia two weeks ago and California prior to that. Following the event in King, he was scheduled to go to Ohio. Miller was planning to make an event in Michigan last week.

“We pretty much go coast to coast on these deals,” said Robinson, who won the Southeastern SEBRA Association.

For these guys, nothing matches the thrill of those eight dangerous seconds.

“Every time the gate opens, something exciting is going to happen,” Miller said.

“Somebody is either going to get stomped, threw off, or they are either going to jump on the panel and cut you a backflip for celebration. You never know what is going to happen. It’s a 140-pound guy versus 1,500-2,000 pounds of something you have no control over whatsoever, All you have to do is stay on him for eight seconds and you make money. It’s exciting, very exciting.”

Faircloth said: “Sometimes (eight seconds) can feel like a long time, other times it can be short ... it’s a pretty good adrenaline rush when you get on the back of a 2,000 pound bull. It gets your motor running pretty good.”