WPRA NEWS

Ladies Breakaway Roping debuts at the iconic Calgary Stampede Rodeo in 2025!

Calgary — Get ready to witness history as Ladies Breakaway Roping makes its debut in the iconic Calgary Stampede Rodeo in 2025, in partnership with the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). This exciting, lightning-fast event, presented by Imperial, is an electrifying addition to The World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo at the Calgary Stampede, July 4-13, 2025.

Breakaway Roping is one of the fastest-growing rodeo events, with winning times clocking in at under two seconds. The event showcases exceptional horsemanship and roping skill, where the goal is simple: rope a calf, stop the horse, break the rope from the saddle horn and record the fastest time. While the concept may be simple, flawless execution takes years of training and precision.

“The Calgary Stampede is proud to introduce Ladies Breakaway Roping to our daily Rodeo,” says Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede. “This event celebrates the incredible talent of female ropers and our dedication to elevating women’s events in rodeo, while also offering another world-class experience for our guests. We can’t wait to see these amazing athletes showcase their skills in front of thousands of rodeo fans at GMC Stadium this July.”

The WPRA has officially sanctioned the event, meaning competitors will earn prize money that counts toward their world standings as they compete at The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

“The WPRA is excited to expand our partnership with the Calgary Stampede by adding Ladies Breakaway Roping as an official event to this iconic rodeo,” says Heidi Schmidt, WPRA President. “Not only taking this step to add Breakaway Roping to their daily rodeo but to include it at equal money is exceptional. Showcasing our members in Barrel Racing and now Breakaway Roping in 2025 and beyond reflects our shared conviction of the importance of providing equal opportunity for women in rodeo.”

With prize money equal to that of the six other major Stampede Rodeo events, Breakaway Roping will see a total of $310,250 awarded over ten days of competition. This brings the total prize money at the Stampede Rodeo to $2,171,750. The addition of Breakaway Roping represents the continued growth of The World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo and demonstrates the Stampede’s commitment to celebrating diversity in Western sport.

Breakaway Roping was first introduced at the Calgary Stampede as part of the Rocky Mountain Cup during the annual 10-day festival in 2023 and 2024 and will now take its place among the Stampede Rodeo’s main events. This marks the first time a new event has been added to the Stampede Rodeo since Ladies Barrel Racing was introduced in 1979.

“The fact that The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is including Breakaway Roping alongside the other major rodeo events is a huge step forward for both the sport and women in rodeo,” says Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, originally of Langdon, Alta., who won the WPRA world title in Breakaway Roping in 2023. “I can only imagine the impact this moment will have on the little girls watching us compete in the Stampede Rodeo for the first time and realizing that one day, they too could be in our place. Knowing they have something to aspire to, to dream about and to work toward is truly amazing.”

Imperial is thrilled to support the debut of Ladies Breakaway Roping at the Stampede Rodeo, adding to its support as the Stampede’s Official Fuel Sponsor through its Esso brand.

“As an energy company with more than a century of innovation in Canada, we are honoured to expand our sponsorship to this exciting new event at such a legendary rodeo,” says Brad Corson, Chairman, President and CEO of Imperial. “We look forward to cheering on these talented athletes as they showcase their skills for audiences that include people from Calgary, across Canada and around the world.”

With 30 spots available in the Stampede Rodeo, 24 competitors will secure their spot through their standing in the previous and current year’s Canadian and WPRA Pro Rodeo rankings, while the six remaining spots are up for grabs via two Breakaway Roping qualifier events. The first event will take place April 10-13, 2025 at the Western Regional Barrels & Breakaway competition in Salina, Utah, followed by the Calgary Stampede Ladies Breakaway Roping Qualifier at the Nutrien Western Event Centre on Stampede Park, June 3-4, 2025.

The Rocky Mountain Cup will now shift to August 2025 and will exclusively feature Team Roping. This change allows the Calgary Stampede to offer an expanded event format with even more prize money on the line, welcoming the Team Roping community to showcase their skills alongside the top Team Ropers in the world at Stampede Park. More details on the Rocky Mountain Cup will be announced soon.

Don’t miss your chance to witness history in the making and experience all the high-energy action of the Stampede Rodeo, featuring the world’s top rodeo athletes competing in seven thrilling events. Tickets purchased in advance include admission to Stampede Park on the valid event day. Be part of the excitement and secure your tickets now for the 2025 Stampede Rodeo and Evening Show: calgarystampede.com/tickets