Eco-Challenge Fiji just appeared on Amazon Prime Video last Friday, but fans of the show-and adventure racing in general-already have something new to look forward to. Over the weekend, registration opened for the next edition of the event, with an entirely new location set to entice racers and viewers alike.
Because of executive producer Mark Burnett's relationship with Fiji-his show Survivor is permanently filmed there these days-there was some speculation that Eco-Challenge would set up shop on the island as well. But as it turns out, Fiji won't be the only locale to host this revived version of the adventure race, as the 2021 event is set to take place in Patagonia. The rugged and remote region of South America will present an entirely different challenge from the one we've seen unfold in the jungles of Fiji, where heat, dehydration, and tropical storms have presented unique obstacles for the racers to overcome.
With the announcement of the new location, team registration has opened for those interested in applying. It will be interesting to see who returns for this go around, as clearly there are some racers who took part in Fiji who were there out of the love for the original Eco-Challenge, mixed in with a number of younger teams who were witnessing the race for the first time. Hopefully, the show will be a big enough success to lure entirely new teams who may not have ever heard of EC before, but are witnessing it for the first time on Amazon Prime.
I had a chance to start watching over the weekend and I'm not about halfway through the race. As someone who loved watching the original Eco-Challenge back in the day, it was a lot of fun to see it back in action. It was also fun to see some very familiar faces competing in the event, some of which I now call friends. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how everything turns out, although even a few episodes in I can almost guess who the podium teams will be already. There is still a lot of racing to go however, so I'm looking forward to some surprises. I also have a few new favorites that I'm cheering for too.
It is probably too soon to know if Eco-Challenge has been a success for Burnett and Amazon, but hopefully it is finding an audience. Personally, I think it is the best television coverage we've ever had of an adventure race, so I'm extremely happy to hear that we're getting more in the near future. That said, it might be some time before Eco-Challenge Patagonia takes place. The producers are committed to making sure it is safe for everyone to travel and interact with one another, which may or may not be possible in 2021. With a little luck however, the pandemic may be more under control and a vaccine may be found, allowing all of us to travel more freely by then. Until that happens, I'm pretty happy on the couch watching adventure racing at its highest level.
