The ReRACEables Podcast 46: Pre Season Power Rankings
The world has been waiting for this…
On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 12 teams will begin the journey of a lifetime. Long Lost Twins, High School Sweethearts, Former NFL Cheerleaders, Golf Buddies, Military Brothers, married couples, father/daughter superfans, and more will race around the world for the coveted million dollar prize and title of Amazing Race Season 34 Champion!
That means it is time to gear up and get ready because watching “The Amazing Race” is an experience in itself. No other show can bring the viewer into the passenger seat view as we follow our compelling teams (and storylines) across every continent and into the most remote corners of the world. Add to that getting the viewer’s competitive juices flowing because they are literally watching a race for a 1 million dollar prize, and also to tap into our competitive spirit cheering for or against teams. It’s all part of the experience. When you add up all these pieces and more (challenges, ups and downs, Phil, etc.) you get a truly “amazing” experience.
So, if the experience is already amazing, how could it get better? Glad you asked.
Below is my attempt to make this even more fun. But, before I get into explaining my rankings from 12-1, let me first make the case for what it takes to win.
Trait #1 - Competitiveness
People come on The Amazing Race for a lot of reasons. They do it to test their relationship, to see if they are compatible with the person they are dating, to share an experience, to make their dream come true, or to make their children proud. These are only a few but you get the point. And, these are all legitimate reasons to race and part of why we root for or against certain teams. However, there is a difference between the teams who race for those reasons and the teams who are competing to win. Competitiveness is crucial. All you have to do is watch the introductions of the teams or read the short bios and BOOM! you instantly can see who’s in it to compete and win and who’s not. Ultimately, I believe the people who are in it to compete and win the million above everything else, have an advantage.
Trait #2 - A Strong Relationship
The race challenges competitors mentally, physically, psychologically and emotionally. To win, teams have to complete activities that require strength, intelligence, an iron stomach and just flat out how much were you paying attention. The advantage goes to those teams who know who they are, how they operate, and what each others’ strengths and weaknesses are.
Trait #3 - Endurance
The race pushes teams to experience a lifetime worth of traveling in a short period of time. Though that is amazing, it has the ability to wear teams out, especially older teams and teams who maybe should have hit spent more time on the treadmill in preparation for the race. In season 33, Principal Akbar and his wife Sheri, ages 45 & 44, were ousted because Akbar’s size 15+ shoes, soaked wetsuit, and 280+ pound body couldn’t hold off Iron Men Dusty & Ryan during the endurance hike in and out of water Road Block. The reality is, these type of teams, though likeable, never really have the endurance to make it to the finish line other than to clap for the teams who could make it there.
Trait #4 - Know How
The next trait is the brain power/intelligence/social skills/savviness category that I call “know how”. You got to know how to read a map, drive stick, work with your partner, ask for help, navigate foreign places, follow another team, make an alliance, convince a local to come with you and be your tour guide, pay a taxi to drive to a destination so you can follow them, have a little bit of fun, or perhaps most importantly do whatever is necessary to avoid being the last to the mat and hearing Phil end your journey. I know this is a broad category but maybe it has to be. Ultimately, the teams that “know how” the best, like Will and James (season 32 champs) usually find their way to the top 3 and position themselves for a chance at the money.
Trait #5 - Luck
Alright, one more. Really quick. Let’s face it, luck is a factor in this race. Getting on or missing the flight, having the right taxi driver, or catching the subway in the nick of time can make the difference between winning the million and winning nothing. Like the expression says, “it’s better to be lucky than good”, well, that expression may have some merit on The Amazing Race, but if you want to hug Phil at the finish line, or in my case, predict who will hug Phil, best to pick the teams who you think are good instead of the ones who will need the most luck. Last point, this season there are ZERO NON-ELIMINATION LEGS, so one major aspect of the race related to luck (see Arun/Natalia from season 33) has been taken away. Don’t be last is always the name of the game but in this edition, there are no lucky breaks if you are last to check in.
SEASON 34 POWER RANKINGS
Below are my Season 34 rankings. (Note: My rankings are going solely off what I learned from the bios for each team on cbs.com, from videos from @theamazingrace on Instagram, and through the idea of “if the race were run 1,000 times, how likely/how many times would this team win?
Group A - THE NO CHANCERS - If the race was run 1,000 times, they would win 0 times.
12. Marcus (38, Army Tank Commander) and Michael Craig (30, Air Force Fighter Pilot)
Military brothers from Richmond Hill, Ga. and Alamogordo, N.M., respectively.
CREDIT: ROBERTS VOETS/CBS
11. Tim Mann (40, Probation Officer) and Rex Ryan (59, ESPN Analyst)
Golf buddies from Brentwood, Tenn.
CREDIT: ROBERTS VOETS/CBS
10. Linton (50, Assistant Principal) and Sharik Atkinson (23, Masters Student)
Father and daughter from Brooklyn, N.Y.
CREDIT: ROBERTS VOETS/CBS
Group B - THE GOOD EXPERIENCE GROUP - These teams will be in for a few episodes at best and when eliminated they will look at each other and Phil and comment on the experience they had.
9. Glenda (41, Insurance Underwriter) and Lumumba Roberts (41, Middle School Teacher)
Newlyweds from Norcross, Ga.
CREDIT: ROBERTS VOETS/CBS
8. Emily Bushnell (36, Law Firm Admin) and Molly Sinert (36, Healthcare Admin)
Long-lost twins from Ardmore, Pa. and Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., respectively.
CREDIT: ROBERTS VOETS/CBS
7. Quinton Peron (29, Choreographer) and Mattie Lynch (27, Dance Coach)
Former Rams cheerleaders from Pasadena, Calif. and Vista, Calif, respectively.
CREDIT: ROBERT VOETS/CBS
Group C - SLEEPERS - “So you’re telling me there’s a chance…”
6. Rich Kuo (32, Life Coach) and Dom Jones (35, Gym Owner)
Motivational speakers from Huntington Beach, Calif.
5. Aastha Lal (33, VP of Operations) and Nina Duong (34, Director Business Dev.)
Engaged from Marina Del Ray, Calif.
CREDIT: ROBERTS VOETS/CBS
Group D - THE CONTENDERS - We are in it to win it!
4. Derek Xiao (24, Product Manager) and Claire Rehfuss (25, AI Engineer)
Reality romance from Los Angeles, Calif.
CREDIT: ROBERTS VOETS/CBS
3. Aubrey Ares (29, Dance Studio Owner) and David Hernandez (29, Helicopter Mechanic)
Ballroom dancers from Los Angeles, Calif.
CREDIT: ROBERTS VOETS/CBS
2. Luis Colon (34, Firefighter) and Michelle Burgos (34, Dancer)
Married from Miami, Fla.
CREDIT: ROBERTS VOETS/CBS
Group E - THE FAVORITES - See you at the finish line!
1. Abby Garrett (24, Data Scientist) and Will Freeman (25, Accountant)
Childhood sweethearts from Birmingham, Ala.
CREDIT: ROBERTS VOETS/CBS
Until the next time, be sure to outlike, outcomment, and outshare the rest all season long. The ReRACEables Podcast will be covering The Amazing Race 33 all season long. If you like the blog and podcast, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and subscribe to the YouTube channel.
The blog has spoken!
