Orlando-based team competes on Amazon Prime adventure race show
“World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji” will premiere Aug. 14 on Amazon Prime Video. This 10-episode adventure series hosted by Bear Grylls follows 66 teams — including one mostly from Orlando — from 30 countries as they race nonstop for 24 hours a day, 11 days straight across more than 400 miles of Fijian terrain.
The teams consist of five competitors (four racers and an assistant crew member). For mostly Orlandobased Team Canyoneros, the racers are team captain Hien Nguyen, Greg Watson, Nathan Whitaker and Lena McKnight with
Steven Geer as their assistant crew.
McKnight serves as director of Natchez Adams County Humane Society in Mississippi, but the remaining four teammates work highly technical jobs in front of computer or TV screens at Electronic Arts in Maitland, a contrast to racing.
“The adventure races we do are out in the wilderness, with no GPS or electronics,” Nguyen said in an email. “All we have is a paper map and compass. It’s almost the complete opposite of our day jobs and we love how it brings us back to the simplest things in nature.”
To get on the show, the team filled out an application and created a video.
“We jokingly discussed doing it for weeks, making the submission video. However, I was kinda serious. Then a few days before the due date we just went for it,” Watson said in an email.
The team has participated in adventure races for years, but there were a lot of firsts experienced during this eco-challenge.
“This was the first race that was longer than 3 days for me. A first out of the country. A first with more than four sports,” said 37-year-old Orlando resident Nguyen. “It appeared daunting on paper, but it was a challenge my team and I were very excited to overcome. All of us were highly motivated by the thought of pushing as hard as we can to simply cross the finish line in a race where a substantial amount of teams do not finish.”
They underwent rigorous training to prepare for “World’s Toughest Race.”
The group put together a seven-month camp that included endurance training (adventure racing, running, biking and canoeing), weekly skills training (climbing, rappelling, whitewater rafting, sailing, stand up paddleboarding and outrigger paddling) and studying (wilderness survival, first aid and land and ocean navigation).
Most of the physical training took place in Central Florida.
“Fortunately, the heat and humidity training in Florida helped,” Watson noted. “What was a challenge however was training for all the disciplines called out and some of those required certifications from professionals.”
The race involved a variety of sports and took teams across jungles, oceans, highlands, rivers and mountains.
One of the biggest obstacles, according to Watson, was keeping the team member’s health and more intact. That’s where Geer came into play.
During the race, he pitched camp, prepped food, performed medical checks, addressed minor injuries, repaired bikes and more.
“The TAC wears many hats while supporting the team but, in the end, you want to be the best support, … chef, technician, mom or dad for them so they can keep going,” 44-year-old Orlando resident Geer said in an email.
The race had its difficulties, from washed-out bridges to livestock sleeping on dirt roads and rain, according to Geer.
“I feel that one of the biggest challenges was waiting to find out where your team was and when they would be coming into camp,” he said. “For the TAC there was a lot of hurry up and wait moments as sometimes your team would come in and race back out or come in and rest.”
But all three said being a part of the show was incredible.
“To sum it up, it was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life,” Nguyen said.
Watson echoed that sentiment.
“It truly was an amazing adventure,” the 39-year-old Orlando resident said. “Show or no show, I encourage everyone to get out into nature and explore!”
The race lived up to its name, but was well worth the pain and suffering, Geer said.
This will be one of those checks off my bucket list and I will forever have amazing memories and stories to tell as well as friendships and bonds that will last forever,” he said. “We are grateful for having this experience and look forward to more adventures … ”
Watch “World’s Toughest Race” starting Aug. 14 on Amazon Prime Video.