CrossFit Meets the Wild West at Red Bull Rancher Strong

In an action-packed, ranch-inspired showdown at Fort Worth’s iconic Cowtown Coliseum, Red Bull made headlines with the launch of its new fitness competition: Red Bull Rancher Strong. The event gathered top athletes from around the world, testing their strength, speed, and determination on a specially designed obstacle course that captured the essence of ranch life.

Coming out on top after the day-long battle were South African obstacle course wizard and official Red Bull athlete Thomas van Tonder and Texas-based CrossFit star Arielle Loewen. Representing their countries and sporting disciplines, both athletes claimed victory as the inaugural Red Bull Rancher Strong champions.

“The semifinals is almost the toughest race – as in, you’ve got to push so hard to make sure you get into that top spot. And then after that, you’ve got to perform the best you can to nail the final. It’s really a strategically tough race to do – being able to pull it off. Oh man, what a feeling! You know in South Africa, we are a very sportive country and we’re really proud about it. So being able to rep my country, repping my sport, I couldn’t be more proud,” shared van Tonder.

Loewen added, “It’s kind of cool because if you were to ask me this morning at 10am, I was extremely nervous because I didn’t know any of these competitors. Some are good at obstacles, some are good at ranching stuff, and I’m good at CrossFit. So I was thinking, ‘how will it all mix?’ It’s really cool that it’s like, ‘Oh, I got it like that.’ And I guess I can do a little bit of ranch, a bit of CrossFit, a bit of ninja. It’s pretty cool.”

Fans packed the Fort Worth Stockyards while spectators tuned in via The Cowboy Channel and Atmosphere TV. The event featured 70 athletes from nine countries and 20 U.S. states. The seven-part obstacle course, inspired by real-life ranch tasks such as hauling hay bales, dragging bull sleds, and climbing into barn lofts, was designed by Lance Pekus, a former competitor on American Ninja Warrior. The tournament unfolded in a bracket-style head-to-head format, keeping fans on their feet from start to finish.

This high-energy event was co-hosted by Noah Ohlsen, Amanda Nigg, and Pat Spinosa, offering excitement and insights from across the fitness world.

Both champions received custom-made championship buckles and prizes from Polaris and American Hat. They also got a VIP trip to the Red Bull Flugtag in DFW this September, where they’ll be officially recognized as the first-ever Red Bull Rancher Strong champions.

Red Bull extends its gratitude to all the athletes, fans, and partners who made the event happen, including The Cowboy Channel, Atmosphere TV, BFGoodrich Tires, AG-Gear, American Hat, Rogue, F45, and the Fort Worth Sports Commission.

With its blend of athleticism, innovation, and Western style, Red Bull Rancher Strong is set to become a standout event on the global fitness calendar.

Puerto Rican Ivan Emilio Tries Rancher-Inspired Obstacle Course:

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