The Amazing Race -- All-Purpose Thread

A good memory and someone relatively lacking in a fear of heights would be good, too. Someone with a generally calm, sunny disposition who could make the whole experience as pleasant and positive as possible would be ideal. I've been impressed with Korey and Tyler in that respect during this race, and I always thought it also helped teams like Chip and Kim, BJ and Tyler, Adam and Betheny, and Kelsey and Joey in their seasons, as well. Their approach was good and I believe it helps people get the most out of the race, whether they wind up winning -- as they often do -- or not.

Besides physical training in a gym or otherwise for general fitness, strength and balance, the must-have skills not to go into the race without are at least basic swimming, stick-shift driving, and map-reading capabilities. I've always thought a certain comfort level with compass-reading/orienteering would be helpful, too. You might not need it in every race, but there are times when I've thought it could come in handy, and there have been a few instances where it, or elements of it, specifically got used as part of a task.

 

I don't get the people on this Race who start acting like it's awful and they're going to be awful to everyone. It says a lot about the teams that are happy on the Race and always trying their best, no matter how exhausted/jet-lagged/disgusting they are at the moment.

Those teams also tend to be U-Turned less, I bet. People don't want to U-Turn and possibly eliminate the people who are actually pleasant to be around, no matter how strong they are. They've got downtime in airports, on trains, while waiting to do challenges to spend with these people.

 

Now THAT'S how you play the game. Sorry, Huggy. But this has suddenly turned into a very interesting game because I think any one of these four teams can have an outstanding final leg and win it all.

Love Indonesia. Such great views and fun culture.

Just like that, SpeedTchr looks in excellent position to win the pool!

Pool update:
*Huggy - Kurt and Brodie 105
SpeedTchr - Tyler and Korey 105
WolvEagle - Dana and Matt 66
Wenders - Burnie and Ashley 58
*WriteThinking - Zach and Rachel 52
WCIBN - Sheri and Cole 28
*TigerVols - Erin and Joslyn 18
*Iron_chet - Scott and Blair 18
*MTM - Jessica and Brittany 17
*bumpy mcgee - Cameron and Darius 11
*Marty and Hagan 5

 

I can't believe Brodie and Kurt are out, but it's funny, I've thought all along that Tyler and Korey might win the race.

As made obvious by last night, though, we'll have to see.

 

Great play by Burnie and Ashley to make sure the biggest threat would be out.

It was funny how the rest of the teams were confused at the double U-Turn, but just happy their picture wasn't posted.

 

I just watched the latest episode. I would gladly trade away my successful team. Not very interested in this season, and especially not this pair of goofs.

Go Dana!

 

That was a good episode tonight.

I wasn't rooting against Burnie and Ashley, but it was really good to see Sheri and Cole take the third spot among the final three teams over them. I even choked up a little over it, almost. Likewise, it was nice to see the other two final teams be so genuinely happy for Sheri and Cole when they saw them coming up the steps, just as I was.

You could tell it was going to be really close for Burnie and Ashley and Sheri and Cole, and it showed what an impact just taking a wrong path can have when it's around a really large building/landmark.

 

I don't know, though, if they're happy for Sheri and Cole because they want them on the Race with them and like them as a team or whether it's because they're cannon fodder. Clearly, they made up some major time somewhere or Sheri didn't leave the Road Block as late as the editing made it seem.

Also, major props to Sheri because I would have definitely fallen on my ass while trying to do that unicycle thing.

Pool update:
SpeedTchr - Tyler and Korey 119
*Huggy - Kurt and Brodie 105
WolvEagle - Dana and Matt 69
*Wenders - Burnie and Ashley 58
*WriteThinking - Zach and Rachel 52
WCIBN - Sheri and Cole 30
*TigerVols - Erin and Joslyn 18
*Iron_chet - Scott and Blair 18
*MTM - Jessica and Brittany 17
*bumpy mcgee - Cameron and Darius 11
*Marty and Hagan 5

 

Woohoo Dana!

 

I liked the season more than I thought I would. I was expecting a bunch of annoying social media "stars," but everyone was likeable and the Internet stuff wasn't pushed too much, like Phil trying to force a love connection on the blind date season.

The finale was kind of boring because there was no drama as to who would win once Dana and Matt got out first.

 

Same. Once Tyler and Korey couldn't find the first clue and then took three tries jumping off the building, it was over.

Was I the only one who thought the final challenge was really tame compared to some of the last ones? Like, as long as you could spell the cities, you could blast through that challenge like it was nothing. A lot of times, the final leg is very mental but this seemed to be one where the really physical team could blast through it and leave everyone else in the dust.

FINAL POOL TALLY:
SpeedTchr - Tyler and Korey 120
*Huggy - Kurt and Brodie 105
WolvEagle - Dana and Matt 82
*Wenders - Burnie and Ashley 58
*WriteThinking - Zach and Rachel 52
WCIBN - Sheri and Cole 32
*TigerVols - Erin and Joslyn 18
*Iron_chet - Scott and Blair 18
*MTM - Jessica and Brittany 17
*bumpy mcgee - Cameron and Darius 11
*Marty and Hagan 5

CONGRATS SPEEDTCHR!!!!!

Next Race looks like its set to premiere in September, with the rumor being that they're going to do another Race with single Racers paired with a total stranger at the starting line. Oh yay. Can't we go back to just the original format?!

 

I never seemed to get into the season. I thought the social media aspect was going to be irritating but never really noticed it.

Just did not find this season that compelling for whatever reason.

Most of the teams were likable with the exception of the mama's boy and enjoyed that they didn't have to create any "villains".

Looking forward to Amazing Race Canada which was filming in my city earlier this month.