In a groundbreaking new television event, 14 diverse strangers, hailing from varied backgrounds, are given the unique challenge of scaling one of New Zealand’s highest peaks within a 14-day window.
Co-produced by Endemol Shine Australia, and Channel 9, the original series, “The Summit,” places a hefty one million dollar prize up for grabs, providing the contestants can reach the zenith on time.
To add a dash of intrigue, the contestants are tethered to each other in a race against time, their pace dictated by the slowest hiker. The choice then becomes a balance of unity versus expediency. Leaving a slower hiker behind may accelerate the group’s progress, but at the cost of their share of the prize money. However, the stakes are high – if the team fails to reach the summit within the allotted time, the entire cash prize is forfeited.
The group’s trek will be narrated by international Australian actor, Jai Courtney. From his vantage point, Courtney will be providing regular updates on the team’s progress and their likelihood of reaching the pinnacle of the perilous New Zealand Alps.
Overcoming the mountain’s obstacles — including formidable gorges and raging waterfalls — will test the group’s teamwork and resilience. Relief comes in the form of Checkpoints, where the group can rest and strategise. Interestingly, these Checkpoints also serve as a battleground where contestants can vote to eliminate one of their own, adding their share of the prize money to the collective pot.
Adding another layer to the thrilling adventure is the mountain’s Keeper. This mysterious figure will assess the contestants’ courage, endurance, and character, ultimately determining who will stand triumphant at the summit.
But the challenge doesn’t end with reaching the top. In an unexpected final twist, the summit holds an epic end game, promising to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
“The Summit” is set to redefine adventure television, bringing together survival, strategy, and human endurance in an unparalleled display of grit and resilience.
MEET THE CONTESTANTS
ALEX: FORMER AFL PLAYER
Alex knows what it takes to win and has the competitive drive to get there, saying: “I’ve got an itch to scratch, which is the competitive side, and I like to push myself.”
After playing for the Fremantle Dockers and Carlton Football Club, Alex admits he never saw himself as a natural footballer and had to work hard to get to the levels he played at. He says he had to work twice as hard as everyone else.
Alex is the father of two girls and his family is the major motivating factor to take on an adventure like The Summit. He says:
“I really want to challenge myself but also set an example for my kids. It’s something they are going to see and I want to do it for them. I don’t want to be seventy and think I should’ve just done it.”
As someone used to playing in a team, he says the challenge of climbing to the top of the summit will mean sometimes letting people go. “I like to help people, but as brutal as it sounds it’s a game, and if it comes to the crunch, then for the greater good I’ll have to leave people behind.”
ANNIKKI: DANCE TEACHER
Darwin-born and now Brisbane-based Annikki is used to sunshine and swimming, so the snow and cold of New Zealand will be a new adventure for her.
Annikki is a dancer, teacher and all round artist, with her speciality being in a male dominated dance style known as, Krump. She says its confrontational nature will help her handle whatever the Summit throws at her.
“If anybody on the mountain tries to psych me out or test me they’re going to have to go hard because I’m used to that stuff. But I’ve never been on a mountain like this before. The highest peak I’ve probably been on would be a ride at Movie World, so that would be the only thing that might scare me.”
She says her mum will be her biggest inspiration to get to the top, and if she wins Annikki wants to give some of the money to her family.
“It would be life-changing. It would help my career and help me give something back to mum because she’s always worked so hard for me. I can’t even fathom that much money!”
BROOKE: SINGLE MUM
With three kids and not much time to spare, Brooke is a psychology student who has spent most of her adult life being a mum, so she’s ready to take some time for herself. She says: “I’ve never had an opportunity to go on an adventure like this. This is my time and I’ll take every moment and do the best job I can.”
Admitting the highest mountain she has climbed is Mount Lofty in Adelaide, Brooke says she might not be the fittest one out there but her positive attitude will get her to the top.
“I’m not a quitter. I do not quit and anyone who knows me will say that. Sometimes I should learn to quit but it’s just not within me.”
Brooke says people might mistake her bubbly personality as being a pushover, but she’s a fighter who will go into any scenario with a positive outlook and isn’t coming to the mountain to mess around.
“In life I have a strong sense of morals, but this is a game and I will play it hard to win the money. I’m spending time away from my children and winning will help us in ways you couldn’t imagine, so I’m not here to walk away with nothing.”
CATHERINE “KITTY”: OUTBACK NURSE
As the oldest competitor heading up the mountain, Kitty is used to putting herself way outside her comfort zone.
A registered nurse in a remote town in the Northern Territory, Kitty can handle the hard work. She says:
“I work in a little town about eight hours from Darwin and it’s fabulous. I went there for six weeks and ended up staying and working with young mums and their newborn babies.”
As a mother to two girls herself, Kitty says her daughters are more nervous about her taking on this adventure than she is.
“One of them is not sure she’s ready to see me on national TV and the other one just keeps sending me messages saying OMFG.”
Kitty is an artist too and hopes to win some money to set up a studio. She is also using the experience to inspire the young women she works with.
GEMMA: ONLINE HEALTH COACH
Gemma is a go-getter who won’t let fear get the better of her and is hoping to use her life skills to get to the top of The Summit. She says her stubbornness will help her to achieve her goals,
Gemma is a fitness coach who will use her coaching skills to help everyone work as a team. She says:
“I want to help people, I want to work with people, but I also want to win. When I set myself a goal I really dig my heels in and don’t let anything stop me.
“I’ve tried to prepare as much as possible for this adventure as I’d rather be over-prepared than under-prepared. I’m very meticulous, probably to a point of annoyance, but I get it done.”
After her father passed away Gemma adopted the attitude of never wasting an opportunity and hopes getting up the mountain will be an experience she never forgets.
INDY: MARINE SCIENTIST
Indy spends her life on the ocean and says it’s her first love, so coming to a snowy mountain top is a new adventure she’s willing to take on.
She says
“I’m calling this a hill because then it’s something I can achieve. By calling it a mountain I’m making it intimidating and scary. A hill is much easier for me to comprehend and if I’ve won the mental battle then I’ll be okay.”
As a marine scientist who grew up fishing, Indy caught a 267kg swordfish when she was 16, which remains the junior female world record.
Using her family as the inspiration to get to the top, Indy also knows the experience will be a once in a lifetime.
“I think I’ll be a different person coming out of this. I think I’ll be more informed about other people’s motives in life and how to take care of myself. There will be things I take out of this that I’ll probably carry with me for the rest of my life. But it’s also a game and I know people are here to win and so am I.”
ISAAC: MUSICIAN
Happy go lucky Isaac is a musician from Dubbo who loves his job, his community, and is always up for a laugh.
Hoping to use his likeability to get him further in the competition, Isaac knows these attributes can be used to his advantage. He says:
“You’re going to need people to trust you and need people to get you to the top. You can’t do it by yourself, and I’m going to bring them in and then when I don’t need them, I’ll throw them away. Haha! That’s so mean!”
Admitting he’s not the fittest person, Isaac is going to use his mental strength to keep going and draw on his survivor spirit.
“I’ve been through a lot – I went through the Taree floods a few years ago, I’ve lost my car, my music equipment. As an Indigenous person I deal with racism and those adversities daily so I’ve developed a hard skin, and mentally I’m able to push through it.
That’s how I’ll get up that mountain. Plus a million dollars would change my life dramatically. I live on nothing now, so a million would buy a lot of two-minute noodles!”
JACQUI: FORMER OLYMPIC AERIAL SKIER
Jacqui, a five-time Olympian, five-time world number one in aerial skiing, says:
“I spent twenty years skiing off a jump faster than a car and at the height of a three story building. Wacky Jacqui is a great name for me.”
With snow and ice a familiar background for Jacqui, it’s not the elements that will faze her but the living conditions. From sleeping with strangers to no bed, it’s her only concern.
Nicknamed “Logistics” by her husband, Jacqui is leaving her children and successful career at home to take on the mountain, but has left them as prepared as possible. She says,
“I run my house like a military operation. To even get here and do this I sent my husband a 28-tab Excel spreadsheet on how to run the family. So it’s unromantic but very true. He calls me Logistics.
JANS: ENTREPRENEUR
As a personal chef, Jans has turned his attention to working for himself, and after years of working for various restaurants, cafes and food trucks, he now creates recipes for fitness apps and brands on social media.
Ambitious and ready for an adventure, Jans says his mum has been his inspiration to always fight harder.
“Once I set my mind on something, that’s it. My mum always taught me that once you have a goal, you work out the steps to get to the end. If you make a mistake you’ll learn, so just get back up and keep moving.”
While the physical side will be a test, it’s the mental side that Jans is most looking forward to. He’s not planning to show all his cards to his fellow hikers and jokes that if he has a falling out with anyone, he knows how to win them back.
“Cooking is always the key to someone’s heart. I can get them back onside with a mouthful of cookie.”
JOSH: GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Born in London and Melbourne-based, Josh says friends would describe him as a little kooky, a little zany, but loyal with a fun nature.
With some climbing experience – he has ascended peaks like Mt Kilimanjaro – Josh is ready for the constant changes the mountain may bring.
“I love hiking, it really takes us away from all the things that prop us up in life. You know, when you’re thirsty, you go to a tap. If you’re uncomfortable, you sit on a couch, so in this environment that’s all gone. You feel alive because you have to adapt.”
As a father of two, Josh has his eye on the prize.
“I’m motivated to make sure my children have the happiest life and the best start in life they can have, so winning this will help me give them a big boost.”
LULU “BANG BANG”: BOXER
A mum, a boxer and a pocket rocket, Lulu jokes that “My ring name is Bang Bang Lulu. I become a smiling assassin because I’m still smiling at you while punching you in the face.”
A two-time world champion boxer, Lulu is used to people’s misconceptions of her, saying:
“I’m little, I smile big and I’m pretty friendly, but they don’t know that I could beat their ass.”
Lulu loves adrenaline adventures and is hoping her time on the mountain will be a great combination of her love of thrills and her ability to overcome challenges.
“This is going to be a challenge for me and I enjoy that. I want to do this for my kids so they can see me do this and overcome the hardships of the moment. I think it will be powerful for them to see and take into their own lives as well.”
PHILLIP: DONUT BAKERY OWNER
Working hard is in his family’s blood, but so is taking risks and that’s what Phillip hopes will be his strength facing the mountain.
He says his fellow hikers might get the wrong first impression of him, thinking he’s quiet and shy. But after working in retail since he was fifteen he’ll soon win them over and gain their trust easily.
During COVID Phillip encouraged his parents to start experimenting in their bakery, and says the risk was worth it.
“We started making some risqué donuts and overnight the business blew up. My greatest fear is losing everything because I grew up poor and my parents have worked so hard to get to this point, so I need to keep working and keep pushing. I didn’t know how to bake bread but I started a bakery, so I know how to adapt and expect the unexpected.”
Although he admits the idea of heights terrifies him, Phillip says his mental strength will help him get through the hard times.
“I am so determined. I am willing to put in the work to get to where I need to be.”
SAM: PERSONAL TRAINER
Not one to let life pass him by, Sam is a strength and conditioning coach from Sydney who likes to push himself to the limit.
He’s jumped out of planes at least 15 times, he’s hiked through countries like Sri Lanka and South Africa, and he says he won’t leave anything behind.
“I’m going to get to the top of that mountain and know that I did the best I could possibly do. If you say I can’t do something or say other people are going to beat you to something, you best believe that I will be showing up all guns blazing to prove you wrong.”
Sam grew up camping with his family in Queensland so the outdoors doesn’t bother him. He believes it’ll be the mental game that pushes him further.
“At the end of the day, it’s you against you. I get competitive against other people but I’m always competing against myself and wanting to do the absolute best that I know I can, and if I haven’t done that, I’m not happy.”
STEPHEN: SOCK DESIGNER
Happy go lucky and funny, Stephen thinks he’ll be underestimated, and that will be his goal.
On meeting his fellow hikers, he says: “I think they’ll say ‘I hope this bloke has a lot of sunscreen!’ Beyond that, I think they’ll say he doesn’t stop talking. There will be songs, there will be stories, so they’ll know I’m there.”
A dad from Brisbane, Stephen jokes that his physical side is probably not his main asset.
“Why have abs when you can have kebabs?”
But he hopes to play an honourable role within the team.
“You don’t want to win at all costs. I mean, you don’t want to cheat to win, but you’d like to think when you walk away that you could still shake everyone’s hand and say well played. That’s how I’d like to treat the game.”
