Amazing Race Canada S7 – Episode 1 Recap

I’m just an Aussie who loves Canadian shows…

PRIZE: A Chevy Blazer each, a trip for two around the world, $250,000 and the title of AMAZING RACE CANADA!

START LOCATION: Toronto, Ontario
END LOCATION: Kamloops, British Columbia

Nothing like starting the Amazing Race Canada in good ol’ Toronto! We’re introduced to the 10 teams, including couples, sisters and of course, no reality TV show is safe from Olympians!! This episode gave us an epic Lion King Roadblock, an even epic-er zipline mine drop, a team from my fave Canadian city, Regina and the rise and fall of “Canada’s Choice”. Two Express Passes were up for grabs, and major kudos again to the producers/casting of TARC – always bringing the most diverse cast to any reality TV show in the world, in my opinion! My predictions for Top 3 will come in the next few weeks… I need some time 😉

Team #1 – Dave & Irina

ROADBLOCK 1: Who Can Hear the Lion Roar? – Irina
ROADBLOCK 2: Zipline the Mine – Dave

Dave is not just a fighter, he’s a Burmese BAREKNUCKLE boxer, WHAT THE EFF! Will be interesting to see if there’s any boxing challenges along the way. Irina is a model/housewife/writer and they both currently live in UAE. The couple were strong off the blocks and both smashed their Roadblocks ultimately resulting in first place! I couldn’t really fault them other than their personalities being potentially grating on me as the season rolls on, haha. They also scored two Express Passes, one to keep and the other to give to another team… Unsure who they will give it to, but I’ll take a stab and say the mums (being less threatening).

Team #2 – Sarah & Sam

ROADBLOCK 1: Who Can Hear the Lion Roar? – Sam
ROADBLOCK 2: Zipline the Mine – Sarah

Awimbawe, awimbawe… Sam, already having a panic attack on episode 1! I’m sure I wouldn’t read clues properly either. The poor guy was trying to memorise all the Lion King lines then realised he would be given them in the studio. Total fail. Anyone else notice he had the funniest voice-over as well? Hehe. Other than the hiccup of leaving Roadblock 1 in last place and catching the second flight to Kamloops, the Olympians had a good run with driving, directions and everything else thrown at them! Bloody hell, they ended up Team #2, just ahead of the sister teams! I think Sarah and Sam’s TARC journey has only just begun and there’s way more to come. I look forward to seeing them dominate this Race! Possibly my fave team… Early, I know 😉

Team #3 – Meaghan & Marie

ROADBLOCK 1: Who Can Hear the Lion Roar? – Twinnie 1
ROADBLOCK 2: Zipline the Mine – Twinnie 2

I can’t tell them apart yet, but who cares!! My queer queens are here! If you don’t know me I love my gay ladies, and TARC just gave us queer twin sisters. <3 So, obviously they were my faves heading into the season, but Sarah and Sam are intensely battling for my love right now! Meaghan and Marie weren’t shown all that much, but at the same time didn’t do much wrong. I’ll forgive them for finishing the Lion King fourth and ending up on the second flight to Kamloops. That aside, a strong team with 3rd-5th placings upside (see Adam and Andrea from S5) who may never come first. I hope this isn’t the case! I need them on my screens each week, thanks ladies.

Team #4 – Lauren & Joanne

ROADBLOCK 1: Who Can Hear the Lion Roar? – Joanne
ROADBLOCK 2: Zipline the Mine – Lauren

Honestly, I’m loving the strong all female teams Canada produces. Lauren and Joanne are just another example! And I know we’re only one episode in, but c’mon! Sister power! Not much to report here as they weren’t shown all that much (too many other louder teams), but I look forward to seeing them do well this season! Such a shame they lost Jet and Dave as I could see a possible alliance between them… They are massive fans after all! 😛 #TEAMREGINA

Team #5 – Trish & Amy

ROADBLOCK 1: Who Can Hear the Lion Roar? – Trish
ROADBLOCK 2: Zipline the Mine – Amy

The TARC mums of the season… There’s always one. Trish and Amy seem fit and rearing to go! You’d think they’d be better at reading paper maps though, eh? Oops! Sure, they lost their first flight advantage, but they still came in fifth! No mean feat, especially with the competition they have. Unfortunately, I can’t see them lasting too long. As a new mum myself I should be rooting for them right? I just don’t see them going the distance. Prove me wrong, ladies!

Team #6 – Anthony & James

ROADBLOCK 1: Who Can Hear the Lion Roar? – Anthony
ROADBLOCK 2: Zipline the Mine – James

Married couple Anthony and James are sooooo adoooraabllle!!!! Go Team Ahkameyimok! I totally spelt that wrong 5 times, damn autocorrect 😉 Middle of the road finish for the boys, and I’m finding them hard to read in how they’ll go on the Race, but they seem highly intelligent PLUS Anthony is a huge dude and will for sure come in handy for any physical challenges. Oh, they are just too cute! That’s all I got…

Team #7 – Aarthy & Thinesh

ROADBLOCK 1: Who Can Hear the Lion Roar? – Thinesh
ROADBLOCK 2: Zipline the Mine – Aarthy

Sooo, I wanna know how Thinesh wooed Aarthy into dating him 😉 Sweet couple who struggled a bit on the Race. Thinesh had a rough go with timing at the Lion King Roadblock, finally completing it in 8 attempts. The couple remained at the back of the pack, but at least not alone. You never want to be alone! Fortunately for them, other teams got lost or made silly decisions. Can they bounce back from this? Will they form an alliance with their mat buddies, Anthony and James? I hope so!

Team #8 – Nicki & Aisha

ROADBLOCK 1: Who Can Hear the Lion Roar? – Aisha
ROADBLOCK 2: Zipline the Mine – Nicki

Get it, get it girls! *sashay away* OMG I feel like I’m watching That’s So Raven with these two. These girls are so funny! Nicki and Aisha; strong, independent, sassy women… but any good on the Race? We’ll see. Even so, they were entertaining to watch. Aisha and her acting career… Not a great sign after that Lion King challenge! And then their biggest boo-boo, walking DOWN the mountain to find Monty’s Pit Stop (was he staring down at them?! Haha). Oh Lordy, did that cost them. Lucky for them Jet and Dave were on the other side of the country! PHEW. I’m not ready to see these ladies go!

Team #9 – Gilles & Sean

ROADBLOCK 1: Who Can Hear the Lion Roar? – Sean
ROADBLOCK 2: Zipline the Mine – Gilles

Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but we haven’t seen a Grandfather/Grandson duo on the Amazing Race since Nicolas and Donald from US Season 12?! This team is truly AMAZING!! I love them already. Nothing like seeing an old men have a go, and before anyone counts these guys out, Nic and Donald made it to the finale and scored 3rd place 😉 In saying that, Sean and Gilles do have an uphill battle already starting on the outer and I bet Sean was kicking himself when Pops had to zipline…! Other than Sean’s hairdo choice, I can’t wait to see more of them on the Race.

Team #10 – Jet & Dave

ROADBLOCK 1: Who Can Hear the Lion Roar? – Jet
ROADBLOCK 2: Zipline the Mine – Dave

Ohhh Canadaaaaa… Well, you chose them! I admit I never watched the first season so had no idea who they were, but they are so frick’n funny!! Way less annoying than I though and wayyy more fun. I’m actually sad to see them go and they were doing really well until they got completely lost. You can’t deny they were a little dumb in not asking for a map at the servo when they asked for directions. O_O But Dave even admitted they should’ve at the end of the episode, so they are not completely up themselves haha. Plus they’ve raced before so a tad shocking. Ah well, they had their shot. Onwards and upwards! But the big question, would they be cast for an All Stars? :O

Blog by Lynda Olson.

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