AIRDRIE, Alta. – With only one Touring Pro Division and three elite Cup Series events remaining before the 2025 PBR Canada National Finals in Edmonton, Alberta, on Nov. 14-15 at Rogers Place, the race to be crowned the season’s Canadian Championship is more fierce than ever.

The stars of PBR Canada are officially in the homestretch, and one rider in particular is ensuring this year's title race comes down to the final bull.

Winning back-to-back Canadian Touring Pro Division events in Armstrong, British Columbia, and Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Jake Gardner is surging toward the top of the standings.

Despite suffering a knee injury in late July that briefly slowed him, Gardner has shaved more than 200 points off No. 1 Dakota Buttar's mid-season lead. Now, he's just 1.5 points shy of the top spot.

“I tore my PCL at the end of July, so the next two weeks were tough, but we pushed through, got some scores, and came out healthy,” Gardner said.

Visibly frustrated during those weeks, the British Columbia cowboy relied on his roots.

"My parents always said, 'When the going gets tough, the tough get going.' I try to live by that."

Ask any top rider about standings and you'll likely get a shrug, Gardner included. For them, it's about the job at hand.

"I'm trying not to think about all that. I've got a bull to ride. If I ride my bull and post scores, it'll work out," he said. 

"Everyone's riding well right now, which is great. It's exciting when things heat up like this. I'm just looking forward to the next events, having fun, and riding."

Gardner's Armstrong win was especially sweet. While he wasn't thrilled with bucking off his championship round bull, it marked a milestone.

"That's a bucket-lister for sure. I don't think I've ever won anything in my home province. It's very special," he said.

"I had a bull I could've been 90 on and I bucked off, so I was pissed. But every score counts in this race. I just don't want it to happen again."

And he didn't let it happen again.

Gardner went 3-for-3 in Kindersley at the Dakota Buttar Invitational, outpacing a field that included a strong second-day showing from Buttar himself.

When asked to reflect on his late season surge, Gardner pointed to a recent highlight, one that had little to do with points and everything to do with camaraderie.

"I've had time to decompress and think about the last couple weeks. I got to travel with Garrett [Green] and Ashton [Sahli]. We started with fishing, rodeoed all week, and finished with more fishing. We came home with a cooler full of fish. Garrett won Langley, and we all had a blast," Gardner said.

"That weekend with Ashton and Garrett, definitely my favorite memory of the year."

Photo courtesy of Covy Moore