It is a huge week for Bareback riders with the Riggin’ Rally kicking off in Weatherford, Texas. Seven-time NFR qualifier Tilden Hooper and 2020 Resistol Rookie of the Year Cole Reiner were in studio to talk about the opportunity the Riggin’ Rally presents.
Hooper said, “I am super excited, we have added an extra day this year and it gives every PRCA Bareback rider a chance to ride. We opened it up to everyone, we are having 43 maybe 47 guys out in the qualifying round tomorrow.”
The Riggin’ Rally added a Friday qualifier this year, which differs from a year ago.
“For Saturday night’s performance, we took the top-24 from last year’s World Standings. We wanted to open it up to everyone for a chance. If you’re a Bareback rider and you want to come out there and duke it out we want to give you a chance. Six of (the riders from Friday’s qualifier) them are going to come to ride Saturday night at the Riggin’ Rally,” Hooper said.
The chance to qualify into this big of an event is huge for that outside of last year’s top-24 says Cole Reiner.
“There is not a lot of events that let you qualify into this much money added at a rodeo... Getting into San Antonio is hard, Fort Worth is hard. This is a big event early in the year that can kind of boost your World Standings if you’re a young guy.”