The latest competition, broadcast in the United States on USA Network this weekend, took place on the island of Borneo—the world's third-largest—which Malaysia shares with Indonesia.

Seventy-six four-person teams competed in Eco-Challenge 2000, which covered 320 miles (515 kilometers) of ocean, land, and mountain in under 12 days.

A Tropical Challenge

Eco-Challenge was held once before in a tropical climate—in Australia's North Queensland. Morocco, Argentina, Canada, and the United States also hosted the event in its six-year history, with challenges ranging from navigating fjords in sea kayaks to horseback and camel riding.

"I've tried to break it up and have a desert, alpine, and a tropical year," said Burnett.

Borneo had the challenging and varied terrain required for an Eco-Challenge as well as a tropical climate. "It was perfect timing," said Burnett.

The sea surrounding Borneo provided an ideal locale for two new disciplines: scuba diving and sailing. Contestants were also required to hike through jungle, mountain bike, swim, canoe, and climb fixed ropes.

"Everyone's saying that Borneo's the most difficult," said Burnett, although he said he believes the three different climate zones of the Eco-Challenge are equally challenging. But, he conceded, "Borneo has the biggest fear factor."

The jungle Eco-Challenge presented a challenge to the television crews filming the race, said Burnett. "It's much worse to make a show in the tropics" than in desert or alpine environments, he explained, as the contestants cannot be seen from the air.

Preserving a Pristine Playing Field

While the dense rain forest of Borneo was detrimental to cameramen, it provided contestants with a host of natural entertainment.

The island is home to more than 200 species of birds and 160 species of snakes. Orangutans, pigs, rhinoceros, monkeys, tortoises, and crocodiles all live in Borneo's rain forest.

An elephant stopped contestant Isaac Wilson in his tracks. "Although we were [mountain bike] racing really hard, we literally stopped biking to watch them as they were just cruising around doing their thing," he said.

While competitors who call tropical climates home may seem to have an advantage, Burnett said none of the teams had previously visited the area of Borneo where the competition took place. It was a remote location, he said, a place "that no tourists had even been before."

The land is pristine, and Eco-Challenge rules required that contestants leave it that way. The racers, media, television crews, and staff must follow strict environmental guidelines, including camping at least 300 feet (90 meters) from isolated water sources and carrying out all equipment and trash brought into the forest.

Like all previous Eco-Challenges, the Borneo event included a local service project. For this race's project, all those associated with the race worked with local school children and volunteers to plant 217 tree species on a beach.

"There's enormous coordination with the locals," pointed out Burnett. He explained that residents were hired to work on the show, and they also advised the crew.