Man vs. Wild's Bear Grylls will host the World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji, an epic racing competition that requires contestants to have fortitude and an arsenal of survival skills. Teams will race across Fiji in what’s been dubbed the ultimate expedition challenge.
Grylls, who climbed Mount Everest at the ripe age of 23, is a world-renowned adventurer and an unstoppable force. He is a British former SAS serviceman, survival instructor, and honorary lieutenant-colonel. Outside his military career, he's a world-renowned adventurer, writer, television presenter, and Guinness world record holder. In July 2009, Grylls was appointed the youngest-ever Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories at age 35. As a man who tackles challenges head-on, he has made a career of it starring on his own television show Man vs. Wild, which aired for 7 seasons in the US, as well as bringing celebrities along with him on expeditions on Running Wild with Bear Grylls. This fearless adventurer is now taking on hosting one of the biggest and most intense races on the planet.
According to RadioTimes, the original Eco-Challenge series aired from 1995 to 2002, taking place in the deserts of Utah. This time around, World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji will be a 10-part series that follows 60 teams made up of four members from 30 countries from all over the world. A huge twist in the race is if any team member quits or is unable to complete the race, their entire crew will be disqualified from the race. Grylls spoke of the importance of teamwork on the series, saying, "Only the teams that work together can ever hope of making it to the finish line."
The series will be taking place in Fiji - a conglomeration of islands in the South Pacific, famed for its rugged landscapes of mountains, jungle beaches, and clear lagoons. The teams will have to show off their endurance and adaptability as the course will contain challenges such as biking, rappelling, climbing, and whitewater rafting. Another twist: the teams' only navigation is a map and compass, and the teams will race non-stop across the 417 miles of rugged terrain. Grylls also spoke about the landscape the teams will face, saying:
"The Fiji course is truly epic. It’s incredibly demanding and will force our competitors far out of their comfort zone as they race against themselves, their competitors, and the fiercest elements of mother nature.”
Eco-Challange, which originally aired nearly 25 years ago, is all about challenging the human body and spirit in the great outdoors, which is just as relevant today as it was in 1995. The race is an ultimate test of the human spirit and the importance of teamwork combined with the theme of honoring the planet. It was a no-brainer for explorer and trailblazer Grylls to be the host. World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji is set to launch on Amazon Prime in 2020.
Source: RadioTimes