Eco-challenge Fiji 2002

“The five-hour Eco-Challenge Fiji program will air on USA Network May 5-8. The schedule is as follows (all times are ET/PT):
Monday, May 5 (10-11pm)
Tuesday, May 6 (10-11pm)
Wednesday, May 7 (10-11pm)
Thursday, May 8 (9-11pm)
Program repeats @ 12am each night
Set your VCR’s – we are not sure at this time if a box set will be available for purchase after the airing.”

“Thanks- I have a friend here in Nashville who competed in that thing”

“Sweet!”

“hey bbinkley. did jamie ever finish it? i thought one person on their team got ill and couldn't complete it?”

“what team, binks?

eco challenge web site”

“Hey, Jamie sure is a lame, wussy name. No wonder!

covers mouth with both hands while snickering”

“

He is the guy on the right.

TEAM MITOCHONDRIA

Country Representing:
USA

Team Number: 55
Team Members:
(c) Chris Stark
Tristen Maginn
Mark Cartwright
Jamie Dial”

“He is hiking the AT through the smokies.(about 70+ miles)

He's doing it in a day.”

“Tell us a little more about Tristen, hehe. j/k”

“thanks for the iFno.
I didnt watch last year because I felt the show had been missing something over the last couple of years. eve since "Surivor"(Burnett Productions) hit the airwaves, things just have not been the same. i truly love that show and would wait and not go into website to find out who won. But its lost some of its lack luster. I feel that its turning more into survior then a real challange story.

JMHO”

“You're right Maple, the first year I watched - can't remember where it was, Australia or British Columbia - was the best. The year of the Playboy team was the worst. However I'm glued to the tv no matter what - I've taped some of them and watch them again. :)

I was hoping Survivor was gonna be like a mini eco-challenge, boy was I disappointed!”

“wow, i need to get cable by then. that, or come over to your-all's houses and watch it. moooaahaahaahaa!!”

“I'd be on Team Salmonella and give food poisoning to all the other teams!

Lyra, no cable? That's barbaric!”

“I agree with Maple. The last good year was the Morocoan episode. From then on the telecast has been pure Survivor. The contest itself is still great, but the presentation sucks.”

“NO CABLE is barbaric, mr. Salmonella? LOL! that's brilliant, by the way...

know what makes me cringe about that show? they always show people's gross hamburger-feet with nasty blisters and huge gaping sores. eeeeeewww!”

“They don't actually seem to spend much time on the racing any more.”

“On one of the eco-challenges they drilled a woman's toenail. I couldn't get over the idea that her toenails were painted red.”

“I was actually impressed with the Playboy team for fixing thier own boat. Those four women did not just fall down and start crying when it got tough. Of course that is just what I saw on TV. There might be a real story.”

“That Everest challenge show (don't recall the actual title) on Outdoor Life Network is pretty interesting. I too, am cable deficient, so I only catch it occasionally at the parents' house.”

“BigPoppa the Playboy girls did NOT fix their boat, even on the show. And they did cry (not that there's anything wrong with that, lol). They were also allowed to continue on a different course than the rest of the teams. The team was three women and one man, as all teams must have one member of the opposite sex.

What irritated me was that one of them kept saying how they were proving that women could do things like that. Who said women couldn't?? I'm sorry she felt like she had to prove something, but I wanted to stuff a sock in her big stupid mouth. :)”

“Thanks for the info, I will tape it for sure.

To those who scoff at Mark Burnett and his motivation in Eco-challenge. Read the book Surviving the Toughest Race on Earth. Its about the race called the Raid Galousies. Burnett competed in it twice (i believe) losing both times. It makes the eco-challenge look like a dayhike. He setup the eco challenge as a money-making venture first and foremost. The 5 year plan he and his people set up was extremely agressive and they surpased the goals they had set. As much as people want to bad mouth Mark and eco and survivor he has done more to bring adventure/multisport racing to the forefront. It used to be relegated to virtual non-existence like ultra-marathons, and solo global circumnavigations in sailboats.

Eco has its fluff and editing for the viewers for ratings and money, BUT that doesnt take away fromm the hardship,motivation,dedication,teamwork and fortitude required by eco athletes.”

“oh Birch, please don't get me wrong. I LOVE the show. I truly do! I just feel that over the last couple of years, it has taken a dumb turn, And it is truly a shame. But I do find mysself peeking in every once in a while. Mark is a very cool guy!!”

“i never even heard of the show until last year!”

“I agree with birch's last statement (except for one year, lol). It'll be interesteing to see the show this year, see what the focus of the show is. All the racers are incredible, but I do have my favorites!
I see the Playboy team raced again.”

“My favorite is the tough Bird on the NZ team. You all know the lady I'm talking about(the one who looks like she spends all her time in the outdoors, a bit older than most contestants). She rocks.”

“My favorites are Robin Benincasa and the team that has the two that used to be a couple. I liked that tough old bird too, but I don't think she's been in the eco-challenge for a couple of years - or she hasn't been on the show anyway.”