Two of Canada’s previous bull riding champions will compete for the 2024 title this weekend in Edmonton.
The championship will be a contest between Cody Coverchuk from Meadow Lake, Sask., and Nick Tetz from Calgary.
They are ranked hundreds of points ahead of their peers, but separated by a mere 21.75 points.
Coverchuk is after what would be a record third championship title, having won in 2018 and 2021.
Tetz, the 2022 champion, has had a record season, according to PBR Canada, and caught up to Coverchuk in the standings after he sustained a groin injury.
The champion will win $100,000.
Coverchuk and Tetz are two of 20 national finals qualifiers. After three rounds of bull riding at Rogers Place, the 12 top-scoring riders will advance to a fourth and the final round on Saturday, where they can also earn points toward their championship effort.
Tyler Craig, 2023’s finals winner, will be trying to win the event in consecutive seasons for only the second time in PBR Canada’s history.
The finals winner will be awarded a minimum of $50,000.
The finals qualifiers consist of seven athletes from Alberta, six from Saskatchewan, one from B.C., one from Texas, four from Australia and one from Brazil.