The top bull riders in Canada are coming to Abbotsford this fall.
Professional Bull Riders announced on Tuesday that Abbotsford is one of seven stops on the brand new PBR Monster Energy Canada Tour.
The two-day local stop runs on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Abbotsford Centre. PBR involves a rider getting on a bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal attempts to buck off the rider. In the American tradition the rider must stay atop the bucking bull for eight full seconds to count as a qualified ride.
While PBR has hosted events in Canada since 1996, the new tour marks the first unified competitive PBR series travelling across the country and televised throughout the season.
The series will award a total purse of $25,000 in prize money per event, including a $25,000 bonus for the top point earner at the 2016 World Championship Qualifier in Saskatoon, SK.
Points earned at all PBR Monster Energy Canada Tour events count toward qualifying for the prestigious PBR Built Ford Tough Series and PBR World Finals in Las Vegas.
The PBR Monster Energy Canada Tour will be showcased on TSN/RDS with weekly coverage of each tour event.
"PBR fans in Canada are among the world's most passionate and informed," said Sean Gleason, CEO of PBR. "These fans, along with riders, stock contractors and other stakeholders in our sport, deserve a cohesive national series. The PBR Monster Energy Canada Tour is an important part of our global growth strategy for a sport now producing 300 annual events in five countries with broadcasts available in nearly half a billion homes worldwide."
The two days of action include bullriding, bullfighting, calf riding and steer riding. The event also features the Monster Energy Challenge, where one champion rider can earn $5,000 with a qualified eight-second ride.
For more information on the tour, visit pbrcanada.com.