PBR Canada Cup Series returns to Lethbridge

The VisitLethbridge.com Arena will look a bit different the next couple nights, as the PBR Canada Cup Series returns to showcase the world's best bull riders.

It’s been a quick turnaround to get the VisitLethrbidge.com Arena ready for the bulls.

The dirt only went into the arena on Thursday.

Now, a day later, they’re ready to go for the PBR South Country Co-op Showdown.

“We feel excited. It’s just another day at the office for this team here at PBR Canada, and we’ve been doing this event in this venue here now for over two decades. So this is just like playing in our backyard,” said PBR Canada general manager Jason Davidson.

This is the second stop of the season for the Canada Cup tour.

It’s a chance for cowboys to get some much-needed points early in the season.

“Canada’s been pretty good to me, and these cool events like this and these venues like this, you can hardly beat it. So, I’m just happy to be here,” said bull rider and Oklahoma native Wacey Schalla.

PBR has been holding events in Lethbridge for 23 years.

That makes it one of the Canadian tours’ longest-standing stops.

It’s a favourite stop not only for competitors but for the production crew as well.

“Now, we go right across the country from Ottawa to Kelowna, but there’s always a special spot or a place for Lethbridge. It’s been one of the original events that we started and built to sell out. You don’t take that for granted,” said Davidson.

Lethbridge has also garnered a reputation for being one of the loudest stops on the Canada Cup tour.

It gives bull riders the extra little jolt they need to go for the eight-second ride.

“Competition’s top tier, bulls are top tier. The crowd, they’ll always get you going, and you can expect that here today in Lethbridge,” said Schalla.

The South Country Showdown is Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.