Inside the Life-or-Death World of Competitive Bull Riding

As a third-generation Native American bull rider, Bo Tyler Vocu faces risk of serious injury and death each time he enters the arena. At just 16 years old, Vocu has already broken his hip twice pursuing his dream of becoming a world champion bull rider—a dream that's been passed down from his grandfather to his father and is now his.

On this episode of Rites of Passage, VICE caught up with Vocu and his family ahead of a major bull-riding competition in Oklahoma to talk about the serious risks riders face to compete in one of the most dangerous sports on Earth. Vocu talks about his grueling practice schedule and his pre-competition rituals, and his dad weighs in on what it's like to watch his son compete as a parent, and as a bull rider himself.

At 16, Vocu isn't typically allowed to ride against pros who are over 18, but the all-ages Indian National Finals Rodeo competition gives him a chance to show the world—and his father—he can take on the men.