'Eco Challenge'
It's a trip to an exotic, faraway land, but this is no cushy Club Med. Teams are racing 500 kilometers non-stop along mountains, through forest, 24 hours a day. It's twelve days and nights of grueling non-stop punishment filled with blood, sweat, and tears. It’s the “Eco Challenge: New Zealand.”
"Survivor" executive producer Mark Burnett is the man behind this tough, 220-mile trek across New Zealand’s South Island, the same spectacular backdrop for "The Lord of the Rings." Mark says, “You have to have great survival skills. Without ‘Eco Challenge’ there wouldn't be “Survivor.’"
The “Eco Challenge” attracts die-hard adventure racers, including top model and Sports Illustrated cover girl Sarah Odell. She says, “It's not what you look like. It's not about gender. It's about four great athletes working together."
Mark Burnett gave "Extra" an exclusive preview of the event airing over four nights on USA network beginning April 21. Every team member has to complete the killer course, so just finishing this human race is cause for great celebration.
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