The equipment list is short: spurs, helmet and a vest.

Bismarck resident Jeff Lund pointed out the items he wore like a shopping list.

Behind him in a pen were the bulls. That afternoon it would be a contest between man and beast, to see if Lund could last 8 seconds on the back of one of those bulls.

"I don't know, for the thrill of it Iguess,"he said, by way of explaining his reasoning.

Lund was the first of six fantasy bull riders at the third annual Chance Sauers Memorial Bull Riding event at Dakotah Speedway. Until Saturday, the only bulls these six people had ridden were of the mechanical sort.

"Way different," Lund said, when he compared the mechanical bull to the live kind.

Also riding for the first time were Tim Silliman of Wilton, Steve Sedler of Jamestown, and Darin Schock, John Larson and Ashley Gustin, all of Bismarck.

"I got two boys in it, that do it, so Ifigure I'll give it a try," Silliman said before the event.

Silliman's children, Garrett and Wyatt Silliman, participated in the peewee and junior bull riding competitions.

Prior to the event, the riders were getting ready by strapping on helmets and vests, along with some free advice.

"There's lots of free advice," Silliman said.

"I'm trying to keep it all straight," Lund added.

Ropes and vest hung on fences and other equipment lain in bags in the dirt. A few shirts flapped in the breeze.

A stiff wind is more like it. The stars and stripes flapped straight out over the chutes. After the national anthem, the first timers had their chance.

One-by-one, they were out of the gate. Almost as quickly as they were out, they were on the ground and then the buzzer would sound.

It was a short ride, with a big rush.

"It's was amazing," Lund said. "It was fun. I don't really remember much, though."

The fantasy bull riding event was new to the event. The Chance Sauers Memorial Bull Riding is in memory of 19-year-old Mandan bull rider Chance Sauers, son of Stephanie and Terry Sauers. He committed suicide in 2005. Proceeds from the event support youth bull riding.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@bismarcktribune.com.)