Auditions for second cast member of Riaan Manser’s The Odyssey
M-Net channel 101 is adding a new reality adventure documentary series to its strong Sunday line-up.
In The Odyssey, which premieres on the channel at 5pm on Sunday, world-renowned explorer Riaan Manser – the epitome of tenacity and courage – is ready to embark on another bewildering expedition.
Manser, who has tackled several treacherous undertakings on his own, is gearing up for a 5 500-km, two-month row across the Atlantic Ocean, from The Canary Islands to Barbados. But he won’t be doing it alone. Instead, he will be signing up a complete stranger – a South African with enough guts, drive and sheer determination to survive such a strenuous venture.
To find his rowing partner, Manser called on adventurous South Africans to join him, with more than 15 000 adrenaline junkies jumping at the opportunity to embark on the experience of a lifetime.
Unfortunately, the first person to circumnavigate the coast of Africa and the first person to kayak 5 000km around Madagascar, only had one spot on offer.
So, the entries had to be whittled down to 10 finalists, who will battle it out in a gruelling test of courage through an intense fiveday ocean boot camp.
The extreme challenges were created to reveal the power of the ocean to the finalists and push them to their limits, physically, emotionally and mentally, Manser says.
“You’ll never win the fight against the sea; the sea is stronger than you and never tires. It will always beat you.”
Manser’s sidekick will be chosen by a panel of judges comprising Olympic gold medallist rower Sizwe Ndlovu, psychologist Nicole Badenhorst, ocean expert Chris Roberts and Manser’s wife, experienced ocean rower Vasti.
They are not only looking for athletic ability, but mental tenacity, self-belief and staying calm under pressure.
The ultimate explorer, who has the necessary guts and grit, will join him in a tiny boat that they will row, unsupported, across the Atlantic Ocean.
The pair will go through a journey of self-discovery and throughout the final two episodes, we follow the pair’s trials and tribulations on their brave attempt to cross the second-largest ocean on the planet. – Citizen reporter