Hunter Zigler of Kalispell said he started riding bulls about a year- and-a-half ago after he got out of the Marine Corps.

He said he does it for the adrenaline rush.

“I got out and thought I should do some thing fun,” Zigler said.

Zigler got that rush Friday night, as well as $1,390 of prize money, as he held on for eight seconds and a 70-point ride in the opening night of a Rocky Mountain Extreme Bulls and Broncs event at Majestic Valley Arena.

The bulls were tough.

Zigler posted the only ride of the night among more than a dozen bull riders who turned out for the regional competition.

Cody Brewer, also of Kalispell, hung on for a wild 6.5-second bull ride and drew some hearty cheers from the crowd but fell off short of the eight-second mark.

Brent Vigen, of Bismarck, N.D., posted the only bronc ride in the first round of competition, scoring 70. With the ride he took home $1,130 of prize money and gave a good show on the first horse out of the chute.

The event featured a half-dozen bronc riders, including Rob McGilvray, of Havre, who scored an 82-point ride in the second round of competition and headed home with $1,130.

“We added the bronc riding to try to give something different to the event,” said Shane Gunderson, who organized the event through the Badlands Professional Bull Riders Association.

Gunderson also is owner of C’N Stars Bull Company in Baldwin, N.D., and helped supply stock for the event, including some “really good bulls” and colts from Lights Out, a world champion futurity horse that he sold last year.

The Rocky Mountain Extreme Bulls and Broncs resumes at 7 tonight at Majestic Valley Arena. Doors open at 6.

Pat Triplett, of Columbia Falls, another stock contractor, predicted plenty more tough match ups to come for riders.

“We didn’t bring out stuff so rank it would kill these guys, but they have enough juice to have a good time,” he said.

Friday’s Results

Bronc Riding

Brent Vigen, Bismarck, N.D., 70

Rob McGilvray, Havre, 82

Bull Riding

Hunter Zigler, Kalispell, 70