PBR Formalizes and Extends Partnership with Michael Johnson Performance

PUEBLO, Colo. – The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) has extended its partnership with Michael Johnson Performance (MJP) for the 2015 season.

Last year was MJP’s first season working with the PBR, spending more than 150 hours with the PBR’s top bull riders to develop new training methods and techniques for the athletes who compete in the sport. While MJP’s goal for any athlete is to improve their athleticism, making them stronger, faster and better athletes for their sport, with the bull riders MJP also concentrated on extending riders’ longevity and addressing known weaknesses to prevent injuries.

A handful of PBR bull riders, including current No. 1 rider in the PBR world standings Matt Triplett, spent the last year working with the trainers at MJP. After finishing third overall in 2014, his first full season on the Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS), Triplett is proof of how much MJP can, and has helped, these athletes.

“MJP has been so gracious and helpful this past year,” Triplett said. “Most people don’t look at bull riders as professional athletes, so going into a facility where they treat you as such, makes all the difference. They included the science behind bull riding – the kind of hits we take, how we use our core a lot, etc. – and tailored out workouts to build lean muscle and help us succeed.”

In the initial stages, the MJP staff spent up to two hours with each individual rider, testing and evaluating their capabilities. This included using a movement screen to check asymmetries and uncover areas on their bodies that could be improved.

After a year of training and rider success, the PBR and MJP look forward to extending their partnership.

“A PBR World Championship is decided by only a few seconds across an entire season,” PBR Chief Operating Officer Sean Gleason said.  “MJP has developed a comprehensive training program that goes well beyond traditional fitness to include micro-level training specific to the sport.  Their ability to fine tune athletes will provide the bull riders who participate in the program with the edge, perhaps ever so slight, that will deliver those precious seconds of exceptional performance.”

Olympic legend and founder Michael Johnson said, “We are honored to be partnered with the PBR.  Bull riders are some of the most gifted athletes in the world and while we were pleased to be able to help these athletes improve their athleticism last year, we also gained tremendous knowledge from our work with athletes from a unique sport requiring a different athleticism. We look forward to another exciting season supporting the PBR and these great athletes.”

With this partnership, PBR is also looking to add a summer camp at MJP for 14- to 18-year-olds this year, as well as having MJP assist the PBR riders during the Last Cowboy Standing event in Las Vegas on May 22-23.

For more information and past articles on the PBR/MJP collaboration, visit www.pbr.com.