PBR Canada’s Elite Cup Series Bucks Back to Kelowna, British Columbia July 20th
For the second consecutive season, and third time in history, PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Canada’s elite Cup Series, presented by Wrangler, will buck into Kelowna, British Columbia, holding the PBR Okanagan Challenge at Prospera Place on July 20th, 2023.
PBR Canada’s Cup Series regularly features Canada’s best riders alongside some of the sport’s top international athletes, squaring off against the rankest bucking bulls from across the nation.
For one night only, fans will witness exhilarating 8-second rides and wrecks throughout the action-packed event as the PBR’s courageous bull-riding athletes face off against their 2,000-pound opponents bred to buck.
The Kelowna event will mark the sixth event of the 10-event 2023 season for the PBR Canada Cup Series, presented by Wrangler. Prior to travelling to the British Columbia city, the Cup Series will visit five towns across the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.
When the elite Canadian Cup Series last travelled to Kelowna in July 2022, Brock Radford (De Winton, Alberta) went a perfect 2-for-2 to win the tour stop and catapult to the No. 1 rank in the feverish race for the PBR Canada Championship.
Radford, who won the first-ever PBR Canada event in Kelowna in 2017, traveled to British Columbia amidst a hot streak, registering three consecutive Top 10 finishes in his most recent outings.
Continuing his momentum, Radford first struck in Round 1 when he delivered the second-best score, marked 85.5 points atop Trapped (Vold Rodeo/Prescott).
With the second pick in the Round 2 bull draft, Radford used his early selection to architect a matchup with Irish Rebel (Wilson Rodeo), a decision which would prove dividends when he recorded an event-best 88.5 points to clinch the victory.
Radford’s golden finish garnered him a crucial 77 national points. After beginning the tour stop No. 4 in Canada, Radford surged to the No. 1 position, rising 12.67 points ahead of then No. 2 Blake Smith (Abbey, Saskatchewan).
Last season’s event in Kelowna contributed to one of the most intense national title races in PBR Canada’s history. Following a riveting regular season, nine riders traveled to the 2022 PBR Canada National Finals in contention to win the championship and accompanying $50,000 bonus.
Mounting a come-from-behind surge, Nick Tetz (Calgary, Alberta) emerged the 2022 PBR Canada Champion, surpassing regular-season No. 1 Dakota Buttar (Kindersley, Saskatchewan) and holding off a hard-charging Radford in the final outs of the season.
When the dust settled, Tetz finished 26.5 points ahead of runner-up Radford.
Thus far in 2023, Tetz is on pace to make history as the first rider to win the PBR Canada Championship in consecutive seasons. Courtesy of an event win at the second tour stop of the season in Lethbridge, Alberta, Tetz is No. 2 in Canada, 8 points behind the top position.
Jared Parsonage (Maple Creek, Saskatchewan) currently holds the No. 1 rank in the nation, a position largely earned via his Cup Series event win in Red Deer, Alberta, and a second-place result at the latest tour stop in Lethbridge.
The bull riding action for PBR Canada Cup Series’ Okanagan Challenge, begins at 7:00 p.m. PDT on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
Tickets start at $30, taxes and fees not included, and can be purchased at the Prospera Place Box Office, online at SelectYourTickets.com and by phone at (250) 762-5050.
Before the bucking begins the PBR Boots N’ Brews Pre-Party will be held outside Prospera Place.
From 4:00 p.m. PDT – 6:00 p.m. PDT, those who purchase a pre-party ticket will enjoy live entertainment, southern barbeque, a beer garden and more.
Tickets for the PBR Boots N’ Brews Pre-Party are limited and can be added to any main event ticket purchase for an additional $35.
Stay tuned to PBRCanada.com and follow the tour on Facebook (PBR Canada), Twitter (@PBRCanada), and Instagram (@PBRCanada) for the latest event and broadcast schedule, results, news, stats and more.
About PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Canada:
PBR (Professional Bull Riders), which has events in five countries, has competed in Canada since 1996 where it operates two tours. Joining the Touring Pro Division (TPD), the Cup Series, presented by Wrangler, debuted in 2016 as the nation’s first cross-country, nationally televised series. For more information on PBR Canada, go to www.pbrcanada.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pbrcanada and Twitter at http://twitter.com/PBRCanada.
