We’re going to assume you’ve heard of Bear Grylls.
He’s famous for his TV show Man vs. Wild, which prominently featured him braving the great outdoors, finding his way back to civilisation, and occasionally drinking his own urine.
Grylls is coming back to TV with a new show – World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji – where he’ll be hosting as other people do their best not to die in the wild.
60 teams will be competing in the competition, including a team from Ireland.
The official description of the show makes it sound more than just a little bit intense.
“Teams will race non-stop, 24 hours a day, across hundreds of miles of rugged backcountry terrain complete with mountains, jungles and oceans. Each race team is comprised of four competitors, including at least one member of the opposite sex, and one assistant crew-member that will be helping their team from base camp.
“Each team will race under a single country flag while making their way through some of the most impenetrable terrain Fiji has to offer.”
These are the details on Team Ireland: “A team of endurance athletes from Ireland and the United States who came together after they heard the legend of Eco-Challenge Fiji 2019 was back. Competitors: Rob Heffernan (TC), Jason Black, Mark Lattanzi, Rachel Nolan, Ivan Park (TAC).”
Kilkenny-man Heffernan, the Team Captain, is a member of the Irish Mountain Running Association.
According to Amazon, the race will encompass a variety of non-motorised forms of transportation and other various challenges, including outrigger paddling, mountain biking, rappelling, climbing, whitewater rafting, paddle boarding, and canyoneering, which teams must pass assessment tests in.
While the action itself will be taking place later this year, the 10-episode show will come to Amazon Prime streaming service in 2020.
Given the recent success of Greg on Love Island, we’re crossing our fingers that there’s even more glory on the horizon for Team Ireland.
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