News
RENO - A ranch-hand rodeo in Winnemucca and railroad car races in Virginia City will be part of this year's reality television show intended to help expose the country to Nevada's rugged beauty.
"The Nevada Passage," a six-day, made-for-TV competition sponsored by the Nevada Commission on Tourism, is set for May 8-13.
The defending champions - firefighters Brian Rothell of Richmond, Va., and Erin Price of Greensboro, N.C. - will join accountants, developers, entrepreneurs, financiers, medics, personal trainers, sheriffs and teachers in the competition.
Nine of the 10 pairs of participants have been confirmed for the event, which began last year. The last team, a pair of journalists, will be announced this month.
State tourism officials estimate the show will be seen by at least as many as the 2 million viewers that saw it last year.
"The Nevada Passage plays a key role in our efforts to build Nevada's reputation as a premier adventure destination," Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt said.
"It takes our ruggedly beautiful landscapes and opportunities for adventure right into the homes of millions of television viewers and Internet users."
In addition to the events at Winnemucca and Virginia City, this year's event will show teams competing in mountain biking near Austin, autocross tracing in Pahrump, Jet-skiing on the Colorado River in Laughlin and recumbent bicycling, in which the rider is reclining, near Battle Mountain.
Four Nevadans are competing this year: Brian Atkinson, Lynn Henderson and Nate Simonson of Reno; and Tim Sprague of Las Vegas. Other participants hail from Alabama, California, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Henderson, a 46-year-old personal trainer, said she is honored to be selected. After 15 years of doing triathlons, she is excited for a new challenge and an opportunity to dispel some myths about Nevada.
"Before moving here, I thought Reno was a dirty, gambling town," the California native said. "But I have lived here for 25 years and, as an athlete, it is a wonderful area."
"The Nevada Passage," a six-day, made-for-TV competition sponsored by the Nevada Commission on Tourism, is set for May 8-13.
The defending champions - firefighters Brian Rothell of Richmond, Va., and Erin Price of Greensboro, N.C. - will join accountants, developers, entrepreneurs, financiers, medics, personal trainers, sheriffs and teachers in the competition.
Nine of the 10 pairs of participants have been confirmed for the event, which began last year. The last team, a pair of journalists, will be announced this month.
State tourism officials estimate the show will be seen by at least as many as the 2 million viewers that saw it last year.
"The Nevada Passage plays a key role in our efforts to build Nevada's reputation as a premier adventure destination," Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt said.
"It takes our ruggedly beautiful landscapes and opportunities for adventure right into the homes of millions of television viewers and Internet users."
In addition to the events at Winnemucca and Virginia City, this year's event will show teams competing in mountain biking near Austin, autocross tracing in Pahrump, Jet-skiing on the Colorado River in Laughlin and recumbent bicycling, in which the rider is reclining, near Battle Mountain.
Four Nevadans are competing this year: Brian Atkinson, Lynn Henderson and Nate Simonson of Reno; and Tim Sprague of Las Vegas. Other participants hail from Alabama, California, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Henderson, a 46-year-old personal trainer, said she is honored to be selected. After 15 years of doing triathlons, she is excited for a new challenge and an opportunity to dispel some myths about Nevada.
"Before moving here, I thought Reno was a dirty, gambling town," the California native said. "But I have lived here for 25 years and, as an athlete, it is a wonderful area."
