We’re all excited to see who will be crowned the 2018 Canadian champions in less than two weeks. Championship Sunday on November 4 will be an exciting day as the numbers are frantically tallied and the coveted titles are handed out to those who were victorious after six grueling rounds of competition.

Watch the Canadian Finals Rodeo LIVE on FloRodeo October 30 to November 4.

But how do they go from qualifier to Canadian champion? Check out our rundown of how to win a Canadian title.

How To Qualify

All Canadian Professional Rodeo Association competitors must compete at a minimum of 15 CPRA rodeos (and 18 in the barrel racing) to be eligible for a Canadian Finals Rodeo qualification. From there, the top 12 money earners (including up to five non-Canadian competitors in each event) will qualify to compete at the Canadian Finals Rodeo.

See the full roster of competitors HERE and join in on our poll asking who you think will win a Canadian title HERE.

The Finals Format

Each contestant will compete in a total of six rounds of competition from Tuesday, October 30, to championship Sunday on November 4. Money is awarded in each round, as well as an aggregate payout.

The Schedule for each round is as follows:

Round One: Tuesday, October 30 - 8:00pm CST (7:00pm Mountain Time)

Round Two: Wednesday, October 31 - 8:00pm CST (7:00pm Mountain Time)

Round Three: Thursday, November 1 - 8:00pm CST (7:00pm Mountain Time)

Round Four: Friday, November 2 - 8:00pm CST (7:00pm Mountain Time)

Round Five: Saturday, November 3 - 8:00pm CST (7:00pm Mountain Time)

Championship: Sunday, November 4 - 2:00pm CST (1:00pm Mountain Time)

The Payout

The huge CFR purse means that virtually any of the top 12 competitors have a shot at a Canadian title. Even the competitors with the lowest earnings entering the finals can win enough to catch up to the season leaders. 

The aggregate also becomes a larger advantage this year for those that are able to make six good rides or solid runs because the payout is 1.5 times that of the go-rounds – making it even more crucial to hang on for eight, get your ties tight, be clean at the barrier, and keep those barrels standing. 

How To Win CFR45

Footage courtesy of Northlands.

A total of 10 Canadian titles are awarded on championship Sunday. Those titles are determined based on the total earnings between a competitor’s regular season, round money, and the aggregate with the highest-earning athlete taking home the coveted title.

Eight Canadian titles are awarded for event winners – bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, tie-down roper, team roping header, team roping heeler, steer wrestling, and ladies barrel racing. An additional two titles are handed out for the high point–the competitor with the most earnings in any two or more events–and the all-around–awarded to a competitor that competes at both ends of the arena. 

There are also three novice Canadian titles for the novice bareback, saddle bronc, and steer riding competitions. 

The Rising Stars - Junior CFR

For the first time ever, there will be a Junior CFR held on the very same dirt that the pros compete on. Young competitors from across the country have been invited to compete where their heroes are battling it out for their very own Canadian titles.

These young cowboys and cowgirls will be competing for $24,000 in scholarships along with the title of Rising Stars Canadian Finals Rodeo Junior Champion. See more details for that event, and how you can sign up to watch the live stream on FloRodeo, HERE.

If you haven’t signed up to watch the Canadian Finals Rodeo LIVE on FloRodeo yet, you can do so by clicking HERE.