| Kirsten Gum | |
| Birth Date: | 1972 12, mf=yes |
| Birth Place: | Alaska, United States |
| Website: | http://www.kirstengum.com |
Kirsten Gum (born December 8, 1972), is an adventure traveler, sports commentator, and raw food chef.[1] She was also the host of the reality television series Cash & Treasures and Treasure Hunter: Kirsten Gum on the Travel Channel.
Kirsten was born in Alaska but raised on an apple orchard in Okanogan, Washington,[2] and attended the University of Washington,[3] where she graduated from the Broadcast Journalism and Political Science schools.[4]
After working as one-woman broadcast team in Jefferson City, Missouri,[4] Gum landed her first on-air jobs as a news reporter and sportscaster in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Fox 18 WCCB in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was a news anchor and was voted "Sexiest Woman in Charlotte."[2] [4] She then went on to host the following television shows over a period that lasted nearly two decades: Fox Sports Net's Totally NASCAR,[5] ESPN’s Outdoor Block, Outdoor Living Network’s Tour de France studio show (where she was the first-ever female host for the event),[4] Travel Channel's Treasure Hunter: Kirsten Gum,[6] and Discovery HD Theater's What's My Car Worth?[2] At one time, Gum was considered the most recognizable woman in sports commenting.[7]
Gum currently works as a raw food chef, having received her certification from Living Light Raw Foods Culinary Institute in Fort Bragg, California.[8] She has taught raw food instruction at the Japan Living Beauty Association, where she also sits on the board of directors.[2]
In addition to covering sports, Gum has led an active life, coming in as part of the second-place team in Virginia's 400-mile adventure race the "Beast of the East" in October 2005.[7] She went on to compete in Primal Quest, an expedition-length adventure race that has been called one of the most difficult athletic events in the world and was cited as the most prestigious expedition event in North America.[9] Gum is also an avid environmentalist.[4]