Press Release:
History in the making: Ladies Breakaway Roping debuts at the iconic Calgary Stampede Rodeo in 2025!
CALGARY — The Calgary Stampede, in partnership with the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), announces the addition of Ladies Breakaway Roping to the Calgary Stampede Rodeo lineup for 2025. This event, presented by Imperial, will be featured at The World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo from July 4-13, 2025.
Breakaway Roping, one of rodeo’s fastest-growing events with winning times under two seconds, will become the first new event added to the Stampede Rodeo since Ladies Barrel Racing in 1979. Competitors must rope a calf, stop their horse, and break the rope from the saddle horn in the shortest possible time.
”This event celebrates the incredible talent of female ropers and our dedication to elevating women’s events in rodeo,” says Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede.
The WPRA has officially sanctioned the event, with competitors earning prize money that counts toward world standings. With equal prize money to the six other major Stampede Rodeo events, Breakaway Roping will award $310,250 over ten days, bringing total Stampede Rodeo prize money to $2,171,750.
”Not only taking this step to add Breakaway Roping to their daily rodeo but to include it at equal money is exceptional,” says Heidi Schmidt, WPRA President.
Breakaway Roping was previously featured at the Stampede as part of the Rocky Mountain Cup in 2023 and 2024. For 2025, 30 competitors will participate, with 24 securing spots through Canadian and WPRA Pro Rodeo rankings and six qualifying through events in Utah (April 2025) and Calgary (June 2025).
Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 2023 WPRA world champion in Breakaway Roping, commented: “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.” The Rocky Mountain Cup will shift to August 2025, exclusively featuring Team Roping.
Tickets for the 2025 Stampede Rodeo and Evening Show are available at calgarystampede.com/tickets.
About the Calgary Stampede: A volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and celebrates western heritage, cultures, and community spirit. All revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities.
About the WPRA: The oldest women’s sports organization in the United States, founded in 1948, providing opportunities for women to compete in timed rodeo events including barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping, and tie-down roping.
