Race to Survive: New Zealand Announces Premiere Date, Cast & Extreme New Stakes

The first season of USA Network's Race to Survive saw daring duos take on the wild Alaskan landscape. For Season 2, Race to Survive: New Zealand, nine new teams will tackle New Zealand's unforgiving wilderness for a chance to win $500,000.

The high-stakes adventure series Race to Survive returns on Monday, May 20 at 11 p.m. ET/PT with a 75-minute supersized episode in a new perilous arena: New Zealand.  

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In the most harrowing outdoor adventure competition yet, challengers must rely on a combination of endurance racing, survival skills, and intuition as they navigate 150 miles of New Zealand’s harshest terrain. From the depths of ancient caves to frigid alpine summits, every step and every calorie is hard-earned. However, strength and speed alone won’t be enough to win $500,000. Rather, only those with the strongest will to survive can claim this life-changing prize. 

Nine teams of two will navigate the deceptively beautiful New Zealand landscape, tasked not only with sourcing their own food and water, but beating their counterparts in a race to the finish as well. The duos must brave the foreign land and elements while realizing the fastest route might not always be the safest. In each leg of the race, the last team to reach the finish line will be eliminated from the competition. If the teams can endure physical pain, an unforgiving environment, and each other, for long enough, they just might be able to claim the $500,000 grand prize. 

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The nine teams participating include mountain climbers, smoke jumpers, river guides, and recent divorcees among others. The full list of contestants willing to test their limits are:

Meet the Race to Survive: New Zealand Competitors

Fierce endurance athletes and mothers: Rhandi Orme (40) from Kaysville, UT, and Ashley Paulson (42) from St. George, UT. 

Ashley Paulson and Rhandi Orme pose for Race to Survive New Zealand promotional images. Photo: USA Network

Climbing kings from New York: Mikhail Martin (33) and Steffen Jean-Pierre (35)

Mikhail Martin and Steffen Jean Pierre pose for Race to Survive New Zealand promotional images. Photo: USA Network

Divorced daredevils from Salt Lake City: Creighton Baird (34), and Paulina Peña (31). 

Creighton Baird and Paulina Pena pose for Race to Survive New Zealand promotional images. Photo: USA Network

A son and father-in-law from Hurricane, UT: Bronsen Iverson (20) and Ryan Stewart (43). 

Bronsen Iverson and Ryan Stewart pose for Race to Survive New Zealand promotional images. Photo: USA Network

White water river guides from Jackson, WY: Oliver Dev (29) and Spencer “Corry” Jones (26). 

Corry Jones and Oliver Dev pose for Race to Survive New Zealand promotional images. Photo: USA Network

Ultramarathoning friends: Donald “Jeff” Watterson Jr. (46) from Newcastle, IN and Coree Woltering (33) from Chattanooga, TN. 

Jeff Watterson and Coree Woltering pose for Race to Survive New Zealand promotional images. Photo: USA Network

Elite airborne firefighters: Ethan Greenberg (32) from Boston, MA and Tyrie Mann Merrill (28) from Reno, NV. 

Ethan Greenberg and Tyrie Mann Merrill pose for Race to Survive New Zealand promotional images. Photo: USA Network

Rhode Island racers: Emilio Navarro (56) from Cranston, RI and Heather Sischo (42) from Warwick, RI. 

Heather Sischo and Emilio Navarro pose for Race to Survive New Zealand promotional images. Photo: USA Network

Oil rig workers from Alberta, Canada: Nikola “Nik” Milutinovic (37) and Kennedy Taylor (26) 

Nik Milutinovic and Kennedy Taylor pose for Race to Survive New Zealand promotional images. Photo: USA Network

Race to Survive: New Zealand is produced by Original Productions. Jeff Hasler, Brian Lovett, and Meredith Prunkard executive produce. Jeff Conroy serves as executive producer and showrunner. 

Catch up on Race to Survive: Alaska on Peacock.