The weapon of choice for a potential $2 million is crucial, which is why the team roping field for The American Rodeo have picked the best head and heel ropes in 2026.
The American Rodeo kicks off tonight May 22, with the Semifinals where five contender teams will join the five invitees from the 2025 PRCA world standings May 23, in the American Rodeo Finals.
2026 The American head rope choices
- Classic has the most ropes being used with 12.
- Of those 12, six are (for sure) Powerline Lites, four are potentially Tritons, two are GT4s and one is potentially a Spyder.
- Five are using Cactus Ropes with two using Xplosions—including reigning World Champ Andrew Ward—, two using Swaggers and one using the Future.
- Lone Star Ropes brings three headers, all using different ropes.
Qualifying Path | Header | Rope Maker | Rope | Lay |
East | Luke Brown | Classic | Powerline Lite | S |
East | Owen Gillespie | Rattler | GT4 | XS |
East | Clay Smith | Rattler | Triton | S |
East | Coy Rahlmann | Rattler | Triton | XS |
East | Cory Kidd | Classic | Powerline Lite | S |
Central | Coleman Proctor | Lone Star | Fever | S |
Central | Billy Bob Brown | Classic | Spyder or Powerline Lite | S |
Central | Conley Kleinhans | Classic | Powerline Lite or Triton | S |
Central | Chad Masters | Cactus | Xplosion | XS |
Central | JC Yeahquo | Cactus | Swagger | S |
West | Pedro Egurrola | Cactus | Swagger | S |
West | Dustin Egusquiza | Lone Star | Helix | MS |
West | James Arviso | Classic | Powerline Lite | |
West | Trevor Brazile | Cactus | Future | S |
West | Kellan Johnson | Classic | Powerline Lite | |
Invited (Top 5) | Andrew Ward | Cactus | Xplosion | XS/S |
Invited (Top 5) | Kaleb Driggers | Rattler | Triton | MS |
Invited (Top 5) | Clint Summers | Rattler | GT4 | XS |
Invited (Top 5) | Kolton Schmidt | Classic | Powerline Lite | S |
Invited (Top 5) | Tanner Tomlinson | Lone Star | Frio | S/MS |
2026 The American heel rope choices
- Classic is the top choice amongst the heelers at The American with 13 using a Classic or Rattler.
- Nine are using a Powerline while two are using an NV4. Coleby Payne uses a Rattler GT4 Lite.
- Cactus Ropes shows up six times in the field with all men using a different rope. Logan Medlin uses a Future, Michael Calmelat Jr. uses a Kool Kat, JC Flake uses a Peacemaker, Levi Lord uses a Thrilla, Treston Brazile uses a Hooey OG and reigning World Champion Jake Long uses a Mojo.
- Travis Graves is the only Lone Star endorsee in the 2025 NFR heeling field, calling on a Helix Pro.
Qualifying Path | Heeler | Rope Maker | Rope | Lay |
East | Buddy Hawkins | Classic | Powerline Lite | HM |
East | Cole Walker | Classic | NV4 | HM |
East | Coleby Payne | Rattler | GT4 Lite | HM |
East | Logan Medlin | Cactus | Future | MH |
East | Carson Johnson | Classic | Powerline Lite | |
Central | Travis Graves | Lone Star | Helix Pro | HM |
Central | Blaine Vick | Classic | GT4 Lite | |
Central | Kyler Kanady | Classic | Powerline Lite | MH |
Central | Jace Helton | Classic | Powerline Lite | M/HM |
Central | Logan Moore | Classic | Powerline Lite | HM |
West | Michael Calmelat Jr. | Cactus | Kool Kat | HM |
West | JC Flake | Cactus | Peacemaker | MH |
West | Levi Lord | Cactus | Thrilla | HM |
West | Treston Brazile | Cactus | Hooey OG | HM |
West | Trae Smith | Classic | NV4 | HM |
Invited (Top 5) | Jake Long | Cactus | Mojo | HM |
Invited (Top 5) | Junior Nogueira | Classic | Powerline Lite | HM |
Invited (Top 5) | Jade Corkill | Classic | Powerline Lite | HM |
Invited (Top 5) | Jonathan Torres | Classic | Powerline Lite | M |
Invited (Top 5) | Kaden Profili | Classic | Powerline Lite | HM |
And what about the horsepower?
