The Challenger Series Finals take place in Las Vegas this Wednesday and Thursday, marking one of the most important individual competitions of the PBR in the United States during the second half of the year. However, the fact that some athletes in the Finals have not competed in any previous stages can create confusion among fans and even those who cover the PBR on social media. To clarify, it’s important to differentiate between two concepts: Challenger Series (Championship) and Challenger Global (Ranking).
- Challenger Series:
This is equivalent to the U.S. national championship. In 2024, for instance, there were 53 stages held between May and October, across 18 states. The ranking for this competition is made up solely of points earned in these specific events. During the first half of the year, the Velocity Tour takes place, which operates similarly and concludes in May. - Challenger Global:
This is PBR’s international ranking, which combines points earned from May onwards in events such as PBR Brazil, PBR Australia, PBR Canada, and the U.S. Challenger Series. This system allows riders from other countries the opportunity to move up to PBR’s premier division. Between October and May of the following year, these points are consolidated into the “Velocity Global” ranking, using the same scoring system.
The athletes who qualify for the Las Vegas Finals are ranked through the Challenger Global system. This means that competitors who haven’t yet participated in U.S. events can still earn a spot in the Finals based on points gained from competitions in their home countries.
The Challenger Series title is also determined by the international ranking, which means that any rider present at the Finals can potentially win the season title, even if they haven’t competed in any of the 53 stages of the U.S. national circuit.
In short, the Las Vegas Finals represent the conclusion of the global ranking cycle, crowning the top rider across all participating countries, not just the one who performed best in the U.S. Challenger Series.
