PBR Canada’s Elite Cup Series Returns to Grande Prairie, Alberta September 27-28

By: Kacie Albert

GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. – For the fifth time in history, PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Canada’s elite Cup Series will return to Grande Prairie, Alberta, holding the PBR Peace Country Invitational at Bonnetts Energy Centre on September 27-28, 2024.

PBR Canada’s Cup Series regularly features Canada’s best riders alongside some of the organization’s top international athletes, squaring off against the rankest bucking bulls from across the nation.

For two nights only, fans will witness exhilarating 8-second rides and wrecks throughout the unpredictable, action-packed event as the PBR’s courageous bull-riding athletes face off against their 2,000-pound opponents born to buck.

The PBR Peace Country Invitational will mark the seventh event of the nine-event regular season for PBR Canada’s premier Cup Series in 2024.

When the Cup Series last travelled to Grande Prairie in October 2023, Dakota Buttar (Eatonia, Saskatchewan) delivered a performance which would significantly impact his quest for his second national title.

Going a perfect 3-for-3, Buttar won the PBR Peace Country Invitational, vaulting to the No. 1 position in the 2023 PBR Canada Championship race. The win came at a painful price as Buttar sustained a sidelining injury when exiting his winning ride in the championship round.

Buttar first put points on the board in Round 1 when he covered War Boy (X6 Ranch Bucking Cattle/Legend Rodeo Stock) for 84 points. In the second round, the Saskatchewan man then elected to go head-to-head with Hanna Motors Broken Halo (Skori Bucking Bulls). Remaining in perfect time with the powerful animal athlete, Buttar reached the whistle, awarded 87 points to punch his ticket to the championship round third on the overall event leaderboard.

With an early pick in the championship round bull draft, Buttar architected a showdown with Chico (Vold Rodeo). Bursting from the chutes, Buttar made the whistle event-best 89.5 points to clinch the victory. Buttars event win, and second place finish in the accompanying 5/5 Bucking Battle, netted him a combined 158 national points. He surged from No. 3 to No. 1 in the nation, propelled 10.84 points ahead of No. 2 Cody Coverchuk (Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan).

Despite the celebration, Buttar’s season was immediately put on pause. During his dismount from Chico, Buttar broke his collarbone, ultimately unable to compete until the 2023 National Finals.

While Buttar missed the final month of the regular season, slipping to No. 3 in the standings, he showed no rust at the 2023 PBR Canada National Finals. Going a perfect 4-for-4, tying for second at the year-end event, Buttar made a come-from-behind surge for the record books, crowned the 2023 PBR Canada Champion, earning the first-ever $100,000 Champions bonus.

Buttar concluded the campaign 38.84 points ahead of 2022 PBR Canada Champion and this season’s No. 2 Nick Tetz (Calgary, Alberta). Buttar is now just the fourth rider in history to win the PBR Canada Championship multiple times.

The bull riding action for PBR Canada Cup Series’ Peace Country Invitational, begins at 7:00 p.m. MT on Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28, 2024.

Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, January 19 at 10:00 a.m. MST, and start at $20, standard ticketing fees may apply, and can be purchased online at BonnettsEnergyCentre.com, and by phone at (780) 538-0387.

For more information, stay tuned to PBRCanada.com and follow the tour on Facebook (PBR Canada), Twitter (@PBRCanada), and Instagram (@PBRCanada) for the latest results.

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

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