Who will win the Ranch?

Toughest Cowboy™ features twelve daring, real-life cowboys in an epic struggle of man vs. beast on a quest for the ultimate prize—a spectacular ranch in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming.

This is intense action as these fearless cowboys ride in the three most dangerous disciplines—bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. This is unprecedented in recent rodeo history, and these are the only twelve cowboys in the world daring enough to do it.

Each week, one competitor will be sent home in a head-to-head, knock out bull riding match. What’s unique is—you get it to hear it from the voices of the cowboys themselves. No commentators calling the action, this is first-hand grit, sweat and blood. No other program takes you right where the action is and documents right from the Competitors. Who will prevail to become the 2009 Toughest Cowboy Champion and win The Ranch?

General Format

• Three rides – Competitors must compete in all 3 disciplines (bareback bronc, saddle bronc and bull riding) in each Tournament.
• Total Points Competition – Aggregate points on three head will determine tournament placing.
• Highest aggregate point total on three disciplines will be the winner of Tournament. 300 Points available.
• Two Competitors with the lowest total aggregate points in the current Tournament will be required to ride one bull each in a sudden elimination match.
• The loser of each elimination match will be eliminated from the TV competition and will be placed in a separate non-qualifying competition for the balance of the season.
• The winner of the Tournament will be granted immunity from sudden elimination match in the next Tournament. (Immunity applies to regular season Tournaments only).

Scoring

• 8-second clock – Clock will runs down from 8 to 0 seconds.
• Points will be awarded same as traditional rodeo except each ride will be awarded a score, less possible penalties.
• Penalties – There will be no disqualifications, rather a penalty will be assessed equal to the number of tenths of a second left on the clock at the time of the infraction.
• Example: if 3.2 is left on the clock when the Competitor is separated from the animal, then a 32 point penalty would be imposed against the judges’ total score.

Elimination

• One Competitor will be eliminated in each of the regular season Tournaments (Tournaments1-4).
• Two of the eight Competitors in the Quarter-Finals (Tournament 5) will be eliminated.
• Two of the six Competitors in the Semi-Finals (Tournament 6) will be eliminated.
• The only way back into the tournament for an eliminated Competitor will be if one of the qualified Competitors gets injured and cannot compete.
• Four Competitors will compete in the Finals (Tournament 7) and the winner will be declared the 2009 Toughest Cowboy Champion and win The Ranch.

Alternates

• Once a Competitor has been eliminated from the televised competition they he will become an “Alternate”.
• Alternates will continue to compete in prize money competitions in live events (only four will compete in the non-qualifying competition at the Finals) but they are will not be part of the televised competition to win The Ranch.
• Alternate with highest aggregate points in Toughest Cowboy qualification competition will be the first to return the televised competition upon an injury to a non-alternate Competitor. Any points collected while competing in a televised match will count towards playoff seeding.

Quarter-Finals: Tournament 5

• Highest aggregate point total in three disciplines will be the winner of the Tournament. 300 Points available.
• Three of the eight Competitors in the Quarter Finals with the lowest total aggregate points in the Quarter-Finals will be required to ride one (1) bull each in a sudden elimination match.
• The two Competitors with the lowest points in the sudden elimination match are will be eliminated from the televised competition and will be placed in non-qualifying competition for the balance of the season.
• Tiebreaker – will be determined by highest point single ride in the Quarter-Finals.
• No immunity from elimination.
• The top six (6) players will advance to the Semi-Finals.

Semi-Finals: Tournament 6

• Highest aggregate point total in three disciplines is will be the winner of the Tournament. 300 Points available.
• Three of the six Competitors with the lowest total aggregate points in the Semi-Finals will be required to ride one bull each in a sudden elimination match.
• The two Competitors with the lowest points in the sudden elimination match are will be eliminated from the televised competition and will be placed in non-qualifying for the balance of the season.
• Tie-breaker – will be determined by highest point single ride in the Semi-Finals.
• No immunity from elimination.
• The top four (4) Competitors will advance to the Finals.

Finals: Tournament 7

• Format: Six (6) rides, two in each discipline (bareback Bronc, saddle bronc and bull riding).
• Highest total aggregate points of six rides will determine the 2009 Toughest Cowboy Champion. 600 Points available.
• Tiebreaker – In the case of a tie, there will be a sudden elimination bull ride between the Competitors with tied scores.
• There will be NO replacements of injured Competitors in the Finals.