Sam Woodall and Aaron Kleier prepare for Dittmann Bucking Bull Bash

Broken collarbones, torn MCLs, dislocated wrists, a broken hand and a ‘heap’ of knock-outs are just part and parcel of being a professional bull rider. WATCH.

The atmosphere of any rodeo is a buzz for spectators, but for riders it’s electric.

Riders and spectators will be descending on Midge Point for the grand opening of the Dittmann Bull Pit with a good old-fashioned rodeo on Saturday.

Growing up as the son of Australian bull riding champion Gavin Woodall, rider Sam Woodall has been on bulls since he was just three years old.

Sam Woodall said he had been ‘knocked out a heap’. Picture: Contributed

Since competing professionally at age 15, Woodall said he had broken his collarbone, torn his MCL, torn his groin, dislocated his wrist and broken a scaphoid in his hand.

“And I’ve been knocked out a heap,” Woodall said with a laugh.

But he still lives for the energy of the high-intensity sport.

“I always get a buzz whenever I walk in there,” Woodall said.

“I’m always high energy anyway, just bouncing around.”

Growing up in Victoria, the younger Woodall made the trip to Queensland to continue his career in the sport in the difficult Covid-19 climate.

“The quality of competition is way higher up here,” he said.

“There’s good prize money which always makes it a bit better and the opportunity to get on good quality stock to test yourself on those better bulls.”

Woodall said he was currently living near Midge Point and training at Dittmann Bucking Bull Pit weekly.

“It’s just the place to be.”

The Midge Point competition on Saturday would be the finale in a trio of rodeos Woodall would compete in on the weekend.

Fellow PBR competitor Aaron Kleier is taking a different attitude into the Midge Point competition.

“I’m just doing the one this weekend, I try and focus on one a weekend so I’m not rushing around,” Clermont’s Kleier said.

“I don’t get too hyped up, don’t think about it too much.

“I go there to ride my bull and stay focused.”

‘You try and get into the rhythm with the bull it’s like a dance, you’re not trying to overpower it’. Picture: Contributed

But like Woodall, Kleier said he loved the thrill of the sport.

“ The biggest challenge is you have to stay on eight seconds or you don’t get paid,” he said.

But when he manages to make it to the bell — he said it was the best feeling in the world.

“You try and get into the rhythm with the bull it‘s like a dance, you’re not trying to overpower it.”

“When you make it, the hair on the back of your neck stands up, this feeling when you get, it’s awesome”

Kleier said his training for the sport consisted of farmwork.

“I don’t go to the gym or anything like that, I don’t want to turn [bull riding] into a job, I don’t want to go sour on it.”

Instead, he stays fit working on a cattle property “fixing fences and riding horses”.

Owner and organiser Jason Dittmann said the inaugural rodeo was a dream come true, a vision he had been working on for 14 years. Picture: Lillian Watkins

The Dittmann Bull Bash will be opening its gates at 2pm on Saturday with the competition to kick off at 5.30pm.

Owner and organiser Jason Dittmann said the inaugural rodeo was a dream come true, a vision he had been working on for 14 years.

The event has sold out of its 2500 tickets and is expecting 150 caravans to camp in the vicinity.

“It’s not just a come down, have a beer and get drunk,” Mr Dittmann said.

“It’s a family thing, we’ve made it so the little ones can get to bed and parents can get out for the music after.”

Mackay band G Force will take to the stage from 9.30pm after the bull riding finals.

“It‘s been a big dream coming, and its finally going to happen on Saturday,” Mr Dittmann said.