Recently-Announced Winners of the Eco-Challenge Underwent
Extensive Scientific Tests Throughout the Discovery Channel Race,
To Determine Adventure Racing's Impact on the Human Body
BETHESDA, Md., April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- When people watch the extreme
punishment that adventure racers place on their bodies and minds, they often
ask, HOW do they do it? And, exactly what IS the impact on an athlete's body
and mind?
To explore the answers to those questions, the Discovery Channel wired,
monitored and analyzed the bodily responses of a team of the world's best
adventure racers during the November 2000 DISCOVERY CHANNEL ADVENTURE RACE --
a Southern Traverse Partnership. Airing April 22-23, from 9-11 p.m. (ET/PT)
each night, the four-hour DISCOVERY CHANNEL ADVENTURE RACE: NEW ZEALAND will
provide a new twist to adventure race coverage, attempting to explain exactly
what extreme physical activity and sleep deprivation does to a person's body
and mind.
Three members of team Eco-Internet (the U.S. team that won the Eco-
Challenge), raced for Discovery Channel as the "Science Team," allowing
themselves to be completely wired and monitored 24/7 by scientists and
physiologists. Ian Adamson, Robyn Benincasa, Mike Kloser and John Jacoby
carried five additional pounds of scientific equipment, and were forced to
stop at transition areas to download data, pose for photos (to illustrate
their body's physical changes during the race), and have various measurements
taken. Results of the tests will be shown and explained throughout the April
22-23 documentary.
In its 10th year, the Southern Traverse is the second-oldest adventure
race in the world, and is recognized worldwide as one of the sport's most
prestigious and respected races. In addition to the Eco-Internet/Science Team
coverage, the DISCOVERY CHANNEL ADVENTURE RACE: NEW ZEALAND will put viewers
in the center of the ups, downs, trials and tribulations of teams around the
world, as they mountain trek, bike, raft, kayak and rappel through one of the
most arduous courses ever seen on the adventure racing circuit. Of the 57
teams from around the world that began the race, only 11 finished.
Discovery Channel is one of the United States' two largest cable
television networks, serving 82.2 million households across the nation with
the finest in informative entertainment. Discovery Networks, a division of
Discovery Communications, Inc., operates and manages Discovery Channel, TLC,
Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids
Channel, Discovery Science Channel, Discovery Home & Leisure Channel,
Discovery Civilization Channel, Discovery Wings Channel, and Discovery en
Espanol. The unit also markets and distributes BBC America.
Review tapes and interviews available upon request.
SOURCE Discovery Channel
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Related links:
http://www.discovery.com
CONTACT:
David Schaefer, 301-771-3215 or Katherine
Nelson, 301-771-5808, both of the Discovery Channel
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