Nash Loewen turns heads in PBR Canada Debut

AIRDRIE, Alta. – Every year, a new class of rookies arrives and begins their PBR journey right here in Canada. This country draws riders from across the world — some looking to earn a living on Canadian soil, others using the experience gained within the PBR Canada ranks to springboard onto the elite PBR Unleash The Beast tour or PBR Teams league.

This season is no different, and at the PBR Canada Cup Series season opener in Red Deer, Alberta, in late January the bull riders came ready, going 16-for-28 in Round 1, a strong indicator of the talent on hand.

One rookie was making his first-ever PBR Canada appearance: Winfield, British Columbia’s Nash Loewen. Matched up with Up Roar, Loewen won the duel with a score of 83.4 points, earning a spot in the championship round.

While he came up short against After Glow in the final round, bucked off in 4.68 seconds, Loewen’s debut outing on home soil was still a success.

"First event in Canada for me is a little more nerve-wracking for being the first one, but it went well," Loewen said.

"It felt really good. Like you said, a guy knows he can go do good, but just to prove it to myself and then that's when I realized I can be here and hang with everyone else here."

The young rider isn't short on experience. With a father who rode bulls, and a successful run through the skill-building events of steer riding and junior bull riding, Loewen chose to chase bull riding because it's in his blood.

"I just fell in love with it after just doing good at a young age in the steer riding and I always wanted to do it. I also watched a lot of videos of my dad doing it," he said.

Loewen is currently attending Montana State University, while also competing in his share of PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour events during the school year.

And when it comes to the atmosphere at a PBR Canada Cup Series stop, Loewen says it's hard to match.

"That's probably the most electric bull riding I've ever been at," Loewen explained. "The production is so good, fans must love it, it was packed. It is different from what I am used to."

Stepping into the professional level of bull riding, Loewen says there are several riders he's looked up to the past few years, especially those who have used success in Canada as a launch point.

"Jordan Hansen and Jared Parsonage, just because I've watched them do really good in Canada here for so many years and then also take it and go to the 'States, make the NFR and have success there and that’s something I'd like to do," Loewen said.

"Tanner Eno and Nick Tetz have been good. They've treated me like a friend. Just awesome and they help you with anything you might need."

Loewen also had a taste of the Cup Series stage last season. He competed at the 2025 PBR Canada Cup Series event in Lethbridge, but in the junior bull riding, and took home the win. He accepted his prize alongside Tetz, who won the PBR event that same weekend.

As for what's next, Loewen is keeping it simple: get on bucking bulls anywhere he can, learn fast, and chase a spot at the PBR Canada National Finals. With opportunities in both pro rodeo and PBR Canada, the summer will be a busy one for the 18-year-old.

"I've been getting on lots of practice bulls and working out every day and I was just ready to go. There's not much going so you have to go to the PBRs. PBR Canada events are really cool because I've been watching them for a long time on TSN. I don't want to get too spread out at this 18," Loewen said.

"There's so much stuff a guy can go to. I kind of want to focus on those CPRAs and try to make CFR and set my sights on that too."

With the South Country Co-op Showdown right around the corner, Loewen says he's excited to return to a building where he's already found success.

"I am feeling good and expect to go stick it on whatever bull they run under me. I think it'd be really cool winning as a junior bull rider and then as one of the stars."