Xtreme Bulls, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's bull riding series that debuted in 2003, was an unqualified success and will return in 2004, PRCA Commissioner Steve Hatchell said this week.

"By any indication, it's been a terrific success," Hatchell said Wednesday from his office in Colorado Springs, Colo. "We've got a number of things to work on, but overall, it's been great."

The inaugural 10-city series included stops in San Antonio, Texas; Houston; Austin, Texas; Reno, Nev.; Salt Lake City; Caldwell, Idaho; Ellensburg, Wash; Omaha, Neb.; Waco, Texas and Kissimmee, Fla. The Xtreme Bulls events, held in conjunction with the PRCA rodeos in each of the cities, were telecast on ESPN and ESPN2.

Hatchell was in Reno on Oct. 28 and gave a broad overview of the series to members of the Reno Rodeo Association. He said the 2004 series will be 10 to 12 stops, which are still to be determined.

ESPN, which also airs the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, will once again be the television partner.

The success of Xtreme Bulls didn't go unnoticed in the rodeo community.

"We've had the places that hosted events tell us they want them back and we've had a lot of places contact us and say they want to be a part of the series," Hatchell said.

Bull riders also enjoyed the series, with the winner in each event collecting more than $25,000 that counts in the Jack Daniel's World Standings and the race for the world championship.

Seven of the nine event winners (Mike Moore of Kankanee, Ill., won two events) are in the top 15 of the world standings and are likely to have spots in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December. The regular season wraps up this week and the top 15 money winners in each event earn NFR berths.

"I think it's a great deal," said 1996 world champion Terry Don West, who leads the world standings with $148,418. "There's good money, you get to get on good bulls and it makes it so you don't have to go to as many rodeos and still have a chance to go to the NFR."

Moore's victories in Omaha, Neb., and Kissimmee, Fla., (he earned $68,590 overall in Xtreme Bulls) helped vault him into second place in the world standings and within striking distance of West, who has led the world standings all season.

"I'm going into the NFR healthy and with a lot of confidence," Moore said after his victory in Kissimmee. "This helps pull me closer to Terry Don West. I got a rough start [to the season] and this has made a difference.

"I didn't expect to win two of these when the season started. But, I knew if they gave me the bulls I can win on, this could happen."

Hatchell said the inaugural season of Xtreme Bulls was a learning experience for all parties involved.

"We're going to learn from it and just keep getting better," he said.

He said further announcements about the 2004 season likely will be made during the NFR.

Guy Clifton covers rodeo for the Reno Gazette-Journal. He can be reached at 775.788.6337 or gclifton@rgj.com.