The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Monster Energy Tour has been announced for its third visit to Abbotsford.
The tour hits Abbotsford Centre on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., with tickets now on sale.
The Monster Energy Tour regularly features Canada’s elite, alongside some of the league’s top international athletes, squaring off against the rankest bucking bulls from the nation.
Fans will witness exhilarating eight-second rides and wrecks throughout the action-packed event as the PBR’s courageous riders face off against their 2,000-pound opponents.
In 2017, young-gun Lonnie West (Cadogan, Alta.) went a perfect two-for-two in the Fraser Valley to capture his first PBR event win.
The victory propelled West from No. 10 to No. 5 in the national standings, where he concluded the year ranked No. 4 in one of the tightest races for the PBR Canada title in recent history.
Top contenders for the 2018 national title, Zane Lambert (Ponoka, Alta.) and Jared Parsonage (Maple Creek, Sask.), tied for second.
Currently ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, both riders went a flawless two-for-two at the event, which once again will mark the tour’s last regular-season stop prior to the PBR’s Monster Energy Canadian Finals.
Presently ranked No. 1 in the nation, Brock Radford (De Winton, Alta.), who made history in 2017 and finished just short of capturing his first national title, was ninth last season in Abbotsford.
While this year’s event will be the Monster Energy Tour’s third trip to the city, the stop will be marked with added significance as the league that brings fans the toughest sport on dirt celebrates its 25th anniversary.
As part of the Monster Energy Tour, riders have the opportunity to earn added prize money, with the stop collectively awarding $20,000 and increased points, with the event winner netting 120 world points.
All riders will attempt one bull each in Round 1. The top 10 will then advance to the championship round for one more out and a chance at the event title.
In addition to competing for points towards the Canadian national standings, riders will also have the opportunity to earn world points in an effort to earn a berth onto the elite 25th PBR: Unleash The Beast.
The Abbotsford stop will be the seventh and final regular-season event on the 2018 Monster Energy Tour schedule.
Other stops on the tour include: Ottawa (May 12), Quebec City (May 19), Halifax (May 26), Moncton (June 2) and Kelowna (July 7).
The 2018 finals take place Nov. 23 and 24 in Saskatoon, Sask.
The rider who finishes with the most points after the Abbotsford stop, which is the final regular-season event, also qualifies to go to the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas in early November.
Last year’s event in Abbotsford, which also took place in October, saw Alberta’s Lonnie West edge Saskatchewan native Jared Parsonage and Alberta’s Zane Lambert to take home first place and over $4,500.
West had a top ride score of 173 to best Parsonage and Lambert, who both scored a 169.5.
The PBR’s 2016 stop in Abbotsford, which was the tour’s first-ever local visit, saw the late Ty Pozzobon from Merritt earn top spot.
Tickets for the Abbotsford event range from $25 to $80 and are available online at ticketmaster.ca, at the venue box office or by phone at 1-855-985-5000.
For more information on the tour, visit pbrcanada.com.
