By Justin Goulet (@JustinGoulet21)

Milk River bull rider excited to wow crowd at ENMAX Centre next month

Feb 25, 2019 | 5:15 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – To a lot of people, riding a bull sounds scary.

But to Dayton Johnston, and many others, it’s become a career.

The 22-year-old Milk River native will be at Lethbridge’s ENMAX Centre for the Bridge City Chrysler/LA Towing PBR Challenge next month, a two-day event.

It will see some of the best professional bull riders from Canada and beyond compete against each other as part of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Canada’s elite Monster Energy Tour.

“They’re super exciting events and fans always seem to love them,” Johnston said.

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“The bull riding is definitely the major headline (of the weekend) but the music and the atmosphere is unreal. It’s really tough to explain how good it is. You honestly have to go to find out.”

Johnston said he considers Lethbridge a hometown, as he grew up in Milk River, about 40 minutes outside of the city. This will be his third year in a row competing in Lethbridge, but he said it never gets old performing in front of the hometown crowd.

“Nothing gets you more pumped up and ready to go like your hometown crowd,” he said.

Johnston said throughout the PBR season, riders make stops in different communities across the country. He said the sponsorship by Monster Energy for next month’s event will result in more points in the PBR standings. Riders are competing for points towards the Canadian national standings to be crowned the 2019 PBR Canada Champion at the end of the season.

“The finals are usually in November or December. It depends how many events you get, and it seems like every year it (the finals) gets pushed down because we end up getting more events on the schedule, which is perfect if you’re a bull rider.”

He said the league has grown over the years and has expanded past Western Canada.

“We actually went out East to Halifax and Moncton last year. Even out there, the fans were insane. It’s definitely growing,” he noted.

Johnston became a professional bull rider three years ago, but said he grew up around the radio. From a young age, he knew he wanted to hit the professional circuit.

“It’s definitely always been a dream of mine, to be a professional bull rider.”

LIFE AS A BULL RIDER

The 22-year-old said being a professional bull rider is something that not just anyone can do, as life on the road can be taxing.

“You have to, kind of, have been around it forever because you’re on the road all the time and you’re away from family, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Johnston explained.

“You get to see so much of the country and even part of the U.S. It’s pretty crazy.”

Johnston said bull riders can find themselves in tricky situations. He’s suffered multiple concussions and broken bones, but he said the adrenaline during a competition helps push him forward.

“You definitely have to have a passion for it. Otherwise, you’re best off to just stay at home.”

Johnston said there are bull riding schools out there for people who want to get involved in the sport.

“They break down the basics and actually put you on live bulls at the end,” he explained.

“Those (schools) are definitely the best way to go about it because you’re getting some knowledge from someone who knows what they’re doing, so it’s as safe as possible, too.”

Fans can follow Dayton on Instagram @djohnston9.

The Bridge City Chrysler/LA Towing PBR Challenge is at the ENMAX Centre on March 1st and 2nd.

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