On Tuesday, Oct.3, the second episode of season five of “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge” aired with Point Loma resident Stephanie Siraco as one of the participants. Siraco, a former nuclear engineer in the Navy, is used to taking on plenty of challenges. She is a wellness expert and fitness coach and is also the founder of two companies: TheAteElite and SKFitLife. Plus, she writes a blog, hosts two podcasts and teaches classes. Her competitive background includes running, triathlons, duathlons, physique competitions and obstacle course racing. Siraco has also participated in season nine of “Ninja Warrior” and in season one of “Spartan.” “A few years ago, I said to myself that I wanted to be as strong as I look, and I thought competing in the ‘Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge’ was the ultimate test,” Siraco said.
Siraco made it to second round in the program and thinks that it was a good challenge for her. She said the program’s staff was really professional to work with and that it was a really good experience to compete against some of the top athletes in the world. “If I could do anything different, I would have done some more strength training,” said Siraco. To prepare herself, Siraco did her daily workout as she normally does and added more obstacle course racing and high intensity training. She also hiked in the desert a week before the show was filmed to prepare for the heat at the location where the program is filmed. She thought working out in the desert would give her some benefits doing the challenges. At the location where this episode was filmed, it was 104 degrees that day. A casting director from “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge” found Siraco through social media and asked her to participate in the program. At first, she was a little skeptical about participating because she had never done any hand-to-hand combat stuff, but eventually she decided to compete in the program. “It was just a very good experience and a challenge to be a part of the program,” said Siraco.
“Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge” is a reality television competition show that is created and hosted by former professional wrestler Steve Austin. Each episode of the program brings a group of eight contestants, either all men or all women, to the “Broken Skull Ranch” to compete in a series of physical challenges. The series features world-renowned athletic contenders including spartan, crossfit, power lifters, professional athletes, MMA fighters and everyday heroes who face off against each other and the desert heat in a series of intense challenges.