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Former Grand Coulee resident Shane Proctor, ranked 11th in the world of Professional Bull Riders, will compete in the Tacoma Dome this weekend at the Tacoma Invitational.

“There’s a lot of points up for grabs and this is about our halfway mark for the season,” said Proctor, who is hoping to move up in the rankings. “It’s the top bull riders in the world… definitely a good show.”

Proctor comes from a rodeo background, and got his start competing at local junior rodeos in Nespelem, Keller, Omak, Okanogan and more.

“I love the rush that you get,” Proctor said about riding bucking bulls. “It’s not so much about the money, it’s about conquering something that should not be conquered. Some guys jump out of planes for it, some guys play football, some guys snowboard off of cliffs for it; I just happen to ride bulls for it. It’s addicting, you know, and you’re competing at the top level … the roaring crowd, the rush of getting on one of the best bulls in the world.”

Proctor explained that since he competes in a professional sport he stays in shape. “I try to keep my game at the peak of its level,” he said. And to do so “we mainly just get on bulls at competitions, work out, ride horses and do a bunch of stuff on the farm.”

The farm is in Mooresville, North Carolina where Proctor raises animals, including rodeo horses.

Proctor has been to the PBR World Finals eight times, and is the 2011 National Rodeo Cowboys Association’s world champion bull rider.

The Tacoma Invitational is being held in Tacoma, in the Tacoma Dome, on Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23, starting at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:45 p.m. on Sunday.

Tacoma will also feature a 15/15 Bucking Battle on Saturday night in which the top 15 bull riders in the world will ride the 15 best bulls and will be broadcast on CBS national television Sunday at 11 p.m.