'Survivor' meets 'Amazing Race' in 'Nevada Passage'

RENO - It's being billed as a combination of the reality TV shows "Survivor" and "Amazing Race," but Nevada officials are hoping the winner will be the state's tourism industry.

Tourism leaders announced plans Tuesday for "Nevada Passage" - a made-for-TV competition next spring intended to display the state's natural beauty and many varied opportunities for outdoor adventure.

From rock-climbing in Red Rock Canyon to mountain-biking in the Ruby Mountains, sandboarding on Sand Mountain and whitewater kayaking in Reno, teams of 20 competitors will make their way through a series of challenges May 19-24.

The events will be videotaped for an hour-long, syndicated television show that the producers predict will be seen next fall by at least 2 million viewers across the country.

"Viewers will see Nevada as we have never shown it before - a rugged adventure landscape that's also very beautiful," said Bruce Bommarito, executive director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

"Nevada Passage" will take the racers from Las Vegas through several rural communities before ending in Reno.

"The performance will be like a combination of the 'Amazing Race' and 'Survivor,"' Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt said Tuesday at the 20th Governor's Conference on Tourism.

"It will enable adventure seekers to clearly visualize the thrill of kayaking the Truckee River or mountain biking in the Ruby Mountains near Elko," she said. "We think it is going to get us a lot of publicity."

The Honolulu-based TEAM Unlimited is producing the event and intends to syndicate the TV show in more than 80 markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Sacramento, Seattle and Portland, Ore.

"It will be entertainment oriented. The true goal is to reach those people who travel for the sake of adventure," TEAM Unlimited's Janet Clark said.

Based on the company's experience, 2 million viewers would be the minimum expected, she said.