ONTARIO, Calif. (August 26, 2010) - In the midst of the most trying season of his professional career, Guilherme Marchi is considering switching his riding hand from his right to his left.
Marchi confirmed rumors that he rode with his left hand at a local practice pen on Wednesday, and will get on four more practice bulls Thursday.
“Yes, sir,” said the 2008 World Champion. “I know it’s going to be tough, but yesterday I did pretty good.”
He added that he’s been “fighting with [his] right hand” and that it continues to be sore at Built Ford Tough Series events each week.
However, before seriously considering the switch in competition, he admitted “I need a little more confidence.” Marchi said that the bull he rode with his left hand was relatively easy, and that on Thursday he intended to “get on some bulls that are a little more rank.”
When asked about the likelihood of making the switch this weekend in Ontario, Calif., Marchi said, “I don’t know. … I just want to ride good and do my best.”
Marchi has been battling issues with his riding hand and wrist after being injured in a chute mishap at the fifth BFTS event of the 2010 season in Anaheim, Calif. He underwent surgery in late May.
He is currently ranked sixth in the world and is 2,892 points off Renato Nunes’ lead. Despite the right-hand problems, he has the third-highest riding average in the 40-man draw at 62.1 percent.
Marchi has been working out every day “trying to make the left hand strong.”
