Alana Blanchard to Star in Fox’s ‘Special Forces’

On By Littum

In 2018, after spending most of her year at home raising her first child, Alana Blanchard won the Surfer Poll Awards.

She ranked ahead of newly crowned seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore and former title holders Carissa Moore and Tyler Wright.

On the men’s side, her husband Jack Freestone – who spent the year competing on the QS – finished second behind John Florence and one place ahead of Kelly Slater. A bit of a rush?

Blanchard began her acceptance speech with, “Thank you so much, I certainly didn’t expect this,” and, looking a little uncomfortable, ended with, “Thank you so much for voting for me.” As she should.

The power surf influencer swayed the vote with the support of a growing online following — now 1.6 million strong on Instagram alone — that eagerly absorbs the former CTer’s every broadcast.

In what may be a natural progression for some modern professional surfing careers, Blanchard trades her one-piece swimsuit for a military uniform at Fox’s Special Forces: The world’s toughest test.

The cast of season three sounds like a “Where are they now?” list, featuring NFL veterans Cam Newton and Golden Tate, Olympians Marion Jones and Nathan Adrian, and Pink’s husband, Carey Hart. Of course, there are the requisite reality TV regulars, including Denise Richards and a few of them The Bachelor alumni — as well as Brody Jenner, husband of popular Internet surfing personality and winner of The ultimate surfer reality series, Tia Blanco.

The show will challenge 16 recruits in grueling environments that simulate the highly classified military selection process, pushing their physical, mental and emotional resilience to the limit. However, other than bragging rights, the winning contestant will not receive any additional prize. The premise promises to reveal the deepest and truest selves of the celebrities – though probably with far better catering than the real military.

Filmed in Wales, the series premieres on Fox on January 8 and will run for five weeks.

Between witnessing a friend’s shark attack, earning her spot in some of Hawaii’s heaviest lineups, and tackling the daily triathlon of raising two kids in two nations, Blanchard might just have more grit than the average reality star.

And like in 2018, don’t rule out a surprise win.