ESPN2 & ABC to Televise Elite Expedition Race Primal Quest Utah Starting October 9
Primal Quest, nothing short of the toughest race on the planet, is coming to ESPN2 and ABC in October. The race tests the stamina, determination of teamwork of 90 teams of four as they hike, climb, bike, swim and paddle their way through the scenic but unforgiving terrain of Southeast Utah. Meet the teams and personalities and go on a Primal Quest of your own when the event comes to ESPN2 for four one-hour episodes starting at 7:30 p.m. each night from Oct. 9-12; capped by a one-hour finale on ABC on Saturday, Oct. 14th.
Bristol, Conn (PRWEB) September 26, 2006 -- ESPN, Inc. will take viewers on a 10-day, 450-mile journey through the Utah desert when Primal Quest debuts Monday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2. A new, one-hour episode of the elite expedition adventure race will be aired for four consecutive nights at 7:30 p.m. until the dramatic conclusion Saturday, Oct. 14 at 2pm (ET) and 4pm (PT) on ABC. One of the most grueling multi-sport competitions in existence, and the only co-ed endurance team sport, 90 teams of four will test their physical and mental limits taking on brutal terrain in an attempt to reach the finish.
Produced by ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE) in conjunction with Primal Quest, LLC and Barrett Productions, Primal Quest Utah will be aired across a variety of ESPN networks including ESPN Deportes, ESPN2HD and ESPN International with additional content on ESPN360.
“Primal Quest captures the highest levels of athleticism, stamina and perseverance displayed by some of the world’s greatest multi-sport athletes," said Joan Lynch, EOE executive producer. "We believe the adventure racing genre is a natural fit for ESPN and are excited about introducing it to our audience."
Sponsors include Nissan (presenting), Gatorade, and the state of Utah. Nissan vehicles, primarily the Xterra, play a supporting role for race teams and staff, while Gatorade’s Endurance Formula and other products literally provide a lifeline for the athletes. The Utah Sports Commission paved the way for Primal Quest to take place in picturesque Southeast Utah, a stunning and expansive location, ideal for the competition’s many challenges.
Utilizing GPS tracking, viewers will be able to not only watch the teams on TV, but also follow their progress at www.ecoprimalquest.com. Each episode will follow teams - armed only with a set of topographic maps and a compass - as they race against the clock and fight off hunger, fatigue, sleep deprivation, pain and the unforgiving forces of nature. During the competition, each team must trek, mountaineer, canyoneer, horseback ride, mountain bike, swim and paddle rapids, and navigate day and night to reach the finish line within the 10 day cut-off.
Primal Quest CEO Rich Brazeau said, “ESPN provides the perfect worldwide stage for these incredible athletes to be showcased. The competition is fierce and the human drama is riveting. ESPN’s multiple media offerings will let viewers get up close and personal with all the trials and tribulations of the athletes.”
Other Facts and Figures:
| | - Primal Quest is the equivalent of 17 non-stop New York City Marathons (on unmarked trails)
- Teams from 20 countries participated including Japan, Guatemala, Ireland, South Africa, Brazil and Sweden
- Temperature variances during the race: 25-110 degrees Fahrenheit
- Total elevation gain in excess of 60,000 feet
- Eight miles of ropes used on the course – canyoneering and mountains
- 200,000+ pounds of Gatorade and water consumed during the race
- Average daily caloric in-take athletes need each day: 6,000
- Average weight lost during race: 5.6 pounds
- Competitors average less than 45 minutes of sleep each day and most suffer waking hallucinations
|
ESPN ORIGINAL ENTERTAINMENT
Launched in 2001, ESPN Original Entertainment is ESPN’s award-winning original programming banner. The EOE brand spans ESPN's sports-themed original movies, scripted and unscripted dramatic series, daily talk and debate series, documentaries, game shows and groundbreaking televised events such as the X Games and The ESPY Awards, and is delivered across multiple media platforms. With theatrical releases such as Through the Fire about basketball phenom Sebastian Telfair and Once in a Lifetime about the 1970’s New York Cosmos, EOE continues to plant itself firmly on the cutting edge of sports and entertainment television and event creation. With many new scripted and unscripted projects in development, EOE serves both the passionate sports fan and the more casual viewer, and strives to expand ESPN's already industry-leading offerings in live events and sports news & information programming.
PRIMAL QUEST
Primal Quest, now in its fourth edition, is widely considered to be the most difficult and arduous challenge in endurance sports. Primal Quest is the world's premier Expedition Adventure Race, attracting the best adventure athletes around the globe; it is held in a remote region of the world each year. For 2006, Primal Quest chose Utah as the 2006 host location for the 10-day, non-stop event due to its raw, rugged and diverse terrain.
Please visit www.ecoprimalquest.com for additional information.
Contact:
Gordon Wright, Outside PR for Primal Quest
415.561.6266
Keri Potts, ESPN
212.515.1122
###
Post Comment:
Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/SG9yci1IYWxmLVByb2YtSG9yci1JbnNlLVplcm8=
Bookmark -
Del.icio.us |
Furl It |
Technorati |
Ask |
MyWeb |
Propeller |
Live Bookmarks |
Newsvine |
TailRank |
Reddit |
Slashdot |
Digg |
Stumbleupon |
Google Bookmarks |
Sphere |
Blink It |
Spurl
|
