Gracie Hammell and Alyssa Gagnon tell Disney XD channel’s ‘Grizzly Cup’ directors they have what it takes to be on the show.
The plaza at Discovery North Bay Museum was a beehive of activity Saturday, as kids from around the area put on their best competitive faces and auditioned for Disney XD channel’s ‘Grizzly Cup’.
Working in teams of two, the kids raced through a timed obstacle course, followed by a post-competition on-camera interview.
“We started the Grizzly Cup last year where kids did their own auditions and sent them in, this year we're taking the auditions to the children,” explains Event Coordinator Jon Holowachuk.
“Each city, every kid gets to do an audition tape and then we pick the cast from there.”
Grizzly Cup is a reality show focused on thrill-chasing, competition-hungry kids from 5 to 15 years of age proving they have what it takes to be called the ultimate competitor.
Holowachuk says along with a winning personality, each cup participant must demonstrate five key characteristics in order to be cast in the show.
“We look for stamina, courage, survival, strength and teamwork.”
He says the premise of the show is team challenges in the great outdoors.
“There's multiple challenges throughout the event from ropes course to zip lining, there’s a nighttime canoe rides.”
“Well I thought the course was really fun and it was a challenge, but it was really awesome,” show hopeful Gracie Hammell tells BayToday.
“I decided to do this because I love the outdoors. I like challenges and I'm very competitive, so I think we have a good chance of making it,” she adds.
“I would never have done it if it wasn't for Gracie,” says Hammell's partner Alyssa Gagnon.
“I think it's really good and I'm up for a challenge and were going to win this!”
North Bay, the only Northern Ontario stop, kicked off the 10-city casting tour and Holowachuk says residents here are exactly what Disney looks for when casting their shows.
“North Bay is this really small pocket community that doesn't necessarily get a lot of attention, but the people are up here are amazing.”
“We've met probably some of the nicest people we've ever met of any program we've ever run across the country,” states Holowachuk.
“Everybody is very friendly and family oriented, which is exactly the idea of Disney XD channel - it's a family channel.
He says the last casting stop takes place in Regina on August 16th and filming starts in early September.
