AUSTIN GAMBLERS PRESENT THIRD ANNUAL ‘THE NEXT GAMBLER’ COMPETITION WITH NEW WOMEN’S BULL RIDING CHALLENGE
Bull Riding
Thirty riders compete for a roster spot on the Austin Gamblers; Event expands with the OptiWize Women’s Bull Riding Challenge
Taylor, Texas (June 17, 2026) — PBR Team’s Austin Gamblers have partnered with the Taylor Rodeo Association to present the third annual ‘The Next Gambler’ competition, a high-stakes event where one rider will earn a chance at joining the elite Gamblers roster. The event will take place on Saturday, June 27, at 6 p.m. at the Wilco Events Center in Taylor, Texas. New this year, the Austin Gamblers will also host the OptiWize Women’s Bull Riding Challenge, an all-women competition spotlighting elite female talent in the sport. The event will be led by four-time women’s bull riding world champion Jorden Halvorsen, with Jonnie Jonckowski widely recognised as the first woman to compete against men in a national bull riding championship, serving as honorary coach.
The Next Gambler
- Date: June 27
- Gates Open: 4:00 PM
- Bull Riding Starts: 6:00 PM
- Live Music: Dylan Wheeler
- Location: Williamson County Expo Center, 5350 Bill Pickett Trail, Taylor, TX 76574
The Next Gambler event will feature 30 of the sport’s rising bull riding talents competing for a life-changing opportunity. Riders will be drafted onto six teams and mentored by current Austin Gamblers athletes before facing off in a five-on-five, tournament-style competition modeled after the fast-paced PBR Teams format. Following the long round, the top 12 scoring riders will advance to the championship round, where one standout competitor will earn a provisional spot on the Austin Gamblers roster and the chance to ride alongside some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Sage Steele Kimzey and Dalton Kasel.
The OptiWize Women’s Bull Riding Challenge will be led by Jorden Halvorsen, a four-time world champion bull rider, founder of Elite Lady Bull Riders (ELBR), and one of the most influential figures in women’s rodeo today. Originally from North Carolina and now based in Texas, Halvorsen has spent her career breaking barriers in one of the sport’s most physically demanding disciplines, competing alongside men and helping create new opportunities for women bull riders nationwide. She currently stars in the Freeform and Hulu docuseries Not Her First Rodeo, which follows the women of ELBR as they pursue championship dreams while continuing to elevate the visibility of women’s bull riding on a national stage.
Joining Halvorsen as honorary coach is Jonnie Jonckowski.Often referred to as the “Billie Jean King of Bull Riding”, Jonckowski broke barriers long before women’s participation in extreme sports became commonplace. After a back injury ended her hopes of competing in track & field in the 1976 Olympics, she turned to bull riding and became the first woman to compete against men in a national bull riding championship. Her trailblazing career, chronicled in the Montana PBS documentary Jonnie, includes two Women’s National Finals Rodeo championships and remarkable displays of perseverance, including winning a championship while on crutches and competing through a life-threatening blood clot, cementing her legacy as one of rodeo’s most influential pioneers.
“I rode for 23 years, the last 10 were to promote the lady roughstock riders and to give them a platform that would last,” Jonckowski said. “We rode in Cheyenne and Pendleton and it still didn’t stick. Now 26 years later from my last ride, the Gamblers have given the ladies a platform to show their salt, and that they have the stuff. To say I am grateful is not strong enough. My heart is so happy and I look forward to sharing with these ladies everything I learned along the way.”
OptiWize is a Texas-based wellness company headquartered in Buda, Texas, specializing in multi-species joint health supplementation for humans, horses, livestock, and pets. Known for its science-informed, performance-driven supplement line, OptiWize is widely used across equine and bovine performance animal communities.
“At OptiWize, we believe the future of rodeo depends on investing in both the athletes and the livestock that make this sport possible,” said Jaime Collins, CEO & founder of OptiWize, Inc. “As a company founded by a woman and built on improving animal health and performance, we are especially proud to support opportunities that elevate women in roughstock events and showcase the talent, determination, and leadership they bring to our industry. This event reflects many of the values we care deeply about: excellence, opportunity, and the continued growth of Western sports. We are honored to be involved and excited to help celebrate the competitors, the livestock, and the people who are shaping the future of rodeo.”
Beyond the arena action, fans can enjoy a full evening of entertainment, including a live performance by country music artist Dylan Wheeler following the competition. Families are encouraged to arrive early for the popular Mutton Bustin’ competition, where young cowboys and cowgirls will have the opportunity to compete for the title of Taylor Rodeo Association’s Next Gambler Mutton Bustin’ Champion.
Guests can also explore a variety of vendors offering western apparel, boots, hats, and other rodeo-inspired merchandise, making the event a full day of competition, live music, family fun, and Texas-sized entertainment. For more information and to purchase tickets for The Next Gambler event, visit taylorrodeo.org/Gambler.
Mark Your Calendars
The Austin Gamblers will host their fifth-annual homestand, PBR Gambler Days, presented by Tecovas, in Austin, Texas, at Moody Center on August 21-23, 2026. Tickets are available now. For more information on the Austin Gamblers, visit austingamblers.com,@AustinGamblers on Facebook,@Austin_Gamblers on X,@austin_gamblers on Instagram,@austin_gamblers on TikTok and@austin_gamblers on YouTube.
Last Updated on 06/18/2026 by Peter Varlet
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