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Robin and Phil Adkins of Corralitos share a blanket Wednesday night at the Professional... ( SCS )
SALINAS -- The Professional Bull Riding Pro Touring Event held its own Wednesday night at the Salinas Sports Complex as the unofficial kickoff event of the California Rodeo Salinas.

The event filled the stadium as the crowd cheered and country music blared, ushering in the 13th annual PBR event in Salinas.

Mandy Linquist, marketing manager of the California Rodeo Salinas, said the PBR event has always taken place on the Wednesday of Big Week, as rodeo week is known.

"People are already in the Western lifestyle mindset," Linquist said.

"They're busting out their jeans and their cowboys boots and they want to go to as many events as possible this week."

Linquist said about 8,000 people attended last year's PBR event and that ticket sales are slightly up this year.

The event draws cowboys from across the country, as well as some international contestants.

The mood behind the chutes was mixed.

Ryan McConnel, 26, originally from Bloomfield, N.M., was first in line and nervously waited for his chance on Shameless. McConnel was quickly bucked off as his fiancee, Rebekah Zacarias, of Clovis watched from across the arena.

At 26, McConnel said the sport doesn't get any easier with age.

"It gets tough and you don't want to get a lot worse off than you already are," McConnel said.

Sean Willingham, a 32-year-old veteran bull rider from Summerville, Ga., has been a professional in the sport since before the PBR stopped in Salinas and has been riding more than half his life.

"It's a young man's sport, for sure," Willingham said.

Willingham was scheduled to ride a bull named Oops on Wednesday. He waited for his turn at press time for this story.

Early in the program, defending California Rodeo Salinas champion Shane Proctor, 28, of Moorsville, N.C., was in the lead with a score of 86.

Follow Sentinel reporter Ketti Wilhelm on Twitter at Twitter.com/KettiWilhelm

IF YOU GO
California Rodeo Salinas
WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
WHERE: Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 N. Main St., Salinas
COST: $7 to $20
DETAILS: www.carodeo.com