COLCHESTER, Vt. (AP) - Fairfield resident Orla Walsh has been an athlete her entire life and is always hungry for intense physical challenges like those featured on “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge,” a reality television competition.
The show, which is on CMT, features physically demanding obstacle courses and physical confrontations, including grappling, between contestants at the “Broken Skull Ranch” in California. Contestants include Spartan competitors, CrossFit athletes, power lifters, professional athletes, MMA fighters and others.
Walsh, 31, a Spartan Pro Team member, appeared on an episode in late October and made it to the second-to-last challenge before literally eating dirt and losing to another contestant during a grappling match. On Tuesday, Walsh will again appear on the show for a “redemption” round.
“I can’t really give you much detail, whether I get redemption or go home eating dirt again, but I know it’s worth everyone’s while to watch it,” Walsh said on Sunday.
Walsh calls herself the “Vermontster” on the show. She said she was hoping to put on a tough exterior to psych out the competition even though she says she is much more friendly and “goofy” in reality.
“I’m an animal,” she told Austin at the beginning of the October episode. “I’m (expletive) hungry, and I have seven girls I’m going to feast on today.”
After losing the grappling match to a former Marine, Walsh promised during an exit interview that she’d come back and be stronger the next time. However, Walsh said she initially balked at an opportunity to come back to the show since it fell during a planned family vacation to Ireland and because of her experience in the pit.
“My dreams were sort of crushed when I got crushed in the pit,” Walsh recalled Sunday, adding that it was her first time ever grappling.
When show producers kept pursuing her, Walsh said she couldn’t say no. A coach at Mountain Trail CrossFit in Colchester worked with her on grappling skills before she returned to California.
“He just gave me some really basic controls,” Walsh said. She said her endurance training from being a sprinter and soccer player also helped the second time in the pit, but she wouldn’t reveal whether she prevailed.
Walsh said it was really hot during filming and the days were long and exhausting. However, she said she was happy she went back the second time.
“We did get wet in some of the rounds and obstacle stuff which was great,” Walsh said. “You just always had to be sure you were ready to go, you were always trying to drink water, get electrolytes and eat food.”
Walsh said producers focused in on her “I’m hungry” comment from that first show (fittingly titled “How Hungry Are You”). She said it was fun to work with the show staff, who would get her “riled up” by asking her that exact question. Walsh also said Austin was also “super nice” when she met him, even though he puts on a tough persona on the show.
“He cared for all of the athletes,” Walsh said.
On Sunday, Walsh spent her morning at Mountain Trail CrossFit doing strength training in preparation for races in which she will participate in 2018. Her specialty is obstacle races, and she said she has competed in Spartan and Tough Mudder events in the past. Walsh also works as an overnight nurse at the University of Vermont Medical Center and is training to become a flight nurse.
Walsh said that she hopes to inspire people by continuing to do these types of challenges and by facing obstacles head-on. She said she struggled with some depression when she was younger after her mother died of breast cancer, but fitness has become her antidepressant. The memory of her mother cheering her on during sporting events keeps her going, she said.
“I’ve had my own obstacles and I’ve met my own demons, but … I’ve never given up,” Walsh said. She added, “I have dreams and goals, and you’re only going to reach them if you push yourself and follow them.”
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Online: http://bfpne.ws/2z21sLa
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For more information: The Burlington Free Press, www.burlingtonfreepress.com
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Information from: The Burlington Free Press, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com
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