LAS VEGAS (October 20, 2010) - Las Vegas is where the lights are the brightest, and that’s just the way Austin Meier likes it.
The 23-year-old world leader said, “The lights, the camera, the action, the intro ... it just revs me up and makes me want to ride bulls so great.”
He covered RMEF Elk Country for 85.5 points in the opening round of the 2010 PBR World Finals.
Arena announcer Clint Adkins described the ride well: “Talk about guts.”
Although Meier finished 16th in the average for the round, he increased his lead over J.B. Mauney, and is now 326.75 points ahead in the race for this year’s world title.
Mauney had what Meier called a “close call” when Train Wreck rattled in the bucking chute as the gate was pulled open. Mauney came down in 2.9 seconds, and another split-second later, the bull was on top of him.
After catching his breath, he walked out of the arena without any assistance.
“That really was a close call,” Meier said. “I’m really glad to see him not get hurt. I’m sure he’s going to be a little sore, but when’s J.B. not a little sore?”
Meier said he also got a good look at Renato Nunes’ ride.
Nunes covered Pit Boss for 89 points to finish second in the average. He garnered a total of 449 points and is now within 937.25 points of Meier.
“He had a good hold and made a good ride,” Meier said.
After the round was over, Meier said he felt great, and added, “If you can start out and get your first score down, it makes you feel good.”
There’s also something about competing at the Thomas & Mack Center that inspires greatness.
“It brings something out inside of me that I don’t feel anywhere else but here,” he explained. “I was happy to be able to do my job good enough to be able to be in the No. 1 spot coming in, and hopefully the No. 1 spot going out.”
The round win went to Nebraska's Dustin Elliott, whose 89.25-point score on Hee Bee Gee Bee places him in the lead for the Finals average title.
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