Amazing Race 11 Tidbits -- Thoughts and Outlook

Amazing Race Tidbits

CBS' The Amazing Race 11th Edition -- All Stars

Thoughts on Episode 10 and Outlook for Episode 11

Thoughts on Episode Ten--Macau, China

Episode Ten was also a non-elimination leg. The start was fairly quiet at teams departed at roughly two hour intervals, and each took their own ferry ride from Hong Kong to Macau.

Teams had to find the Macau Tower, but being an entertainment and shoppong center, it opened late, at 10 AM. That is when it got interesting as Danny and Oswald, desperate for cash, and aware that other teams wanted to Yield the queens, approached the beauty queens to make a deal. The two teams agreed that the queens would pay them $45, and Danny and Oswald would Yield Eric and Danielle.

Roadblock

One team member, attached to a harness, had to take Skywalk X around the observation level of Macau Tower, then suit up again and strap into another harness to jump off the building on the Skyjump thrill ride, the world's highest permanent descender at roughly seven hundred feet. Now for the real skinny on the Skyjump: "Challengers in specially tailored suits are connected to three cables with a strain capacity of 3000kg for absolute safety. The side cables maintain trajectory and stability to ensure a smooth and steady flight even in windy conditions. No human intervention or motor mechanics are involved throughout the descent. At approximately 10 meters above the ground, the cable drum switches down-gear to allow for a soft landing." This detailed information comes from the Asia Travel Tips Web site.

Episode Ten Roadblock
Members	Team Member	Result
Danny and Oswald	Danny	Realized that either one could have done this
Eric and Danielle	Eric	Two in a row for Eric
Dustin and Kandice	Kandice	Thrilled, but concerned because of the strong wind. Practiced her skydive freefall technique on the way down
Charla and Mirna	Charla	Charla was funny as she walked in the wind.

Detour

From the Website:

Noodle: Teams made their way two miles to the second floor of a building to choose a noodle making station. Then they had to use traditional methods to flatten the dough and cut it, making 2 bundles of noodles.

Both the thickness of the dough and the width of the noodles had to be just right. Both the dough and the width of the noodles had to be quite thin.

From the Website:

Dragon: Teams made their way nearly one mile to a nearby warehouse. Once there, they had to choose a dragonhead and a drum and carry these awkward items 3/4 of a mile through the streets of Macau to a dock and find dragon boats. When they attached their dragonhead to the one boat it matched and handed their drum over to the coxswain, they would receive their next clue.

Danny and Oswald recalled a similar challenge in their season, so they jumped at the chance to do this one. They easily proved strong enough to carry both items much further than required, even descending a flight of stairs. But, nagging doubts about the deal made with the queens for the Yield was a total distraction, even though they really did need the money.

Episode Ten Detour
Members	Option	Result
Danny and Oswald	Dragon	It was nothing but trouble for them, starting with the taxi ride there, repeatedly getting lost, and ending with having to try all the boats to match the dragon head.
Eric and Danielle	Noodle	The only team to please the fussy judge on the first try.
Dustin and Kandice	Noodle	It took two tries to please the tough judge. Kandice did the hard part of pressing, having to push harder the second time to get the correct thickness of dough, while Dustin did the cutting, being attentive to the width of the sample noodles.
Charla and Mirna	Noodle	They made a comic duo with Charla rolling in the flour on the table trying to help Mirna with the pressing. It took three tries, including one after Eric and Danielle left, to please the tough judge.

Pit Stop

Teams dreaded driving the Mini-Moke cars, but Mirna crashed their car and lost a bit of time getting it restarted. Teams had to find the Triho de Taipa Pequena 2000 on Taipa island. All teams found the causeway to the island easily. Only the totally frustrated Danny and Oswald had trouble finding the Pit Stop location on the island, causing them to be last and Marked for Elimination.

Outlook for Episode Eleven--Final Three Revealed

Which teams have what it takes to make the final cut, and which team will finish in fourth place? In last place by a whisker, but a strong team all the way up to the last episode, Danny and Oswald had chosen to communicate effectively early on. They have on each other's nerves more as the Race progresses. Danny is struggling with tasks in the heat and becoming dehydrated. Dustin and Kandice are doing very well for the most part, though they have been challenged at times to pay attention to details.

WIll Charla's weaknesses catch up with her and cause Charla and Mirna to be eliminated, or will Mirna be able to keep the surprise team afloat into the finals? Eric and Danielle have been on each other's nerves, though they responded to the pressure of the 30 minute penalty very well in Macau. But, will Danielle's poor sense of direction cause them to be eliminated in crunch time?

Comparison of Teams in AMAZING RACE 11
Members	Strengths	Weaknesses
Charla and Mirna	Communication, determination, and excellent at research. Mirna has worked miracles keeping the team afloat in spite of mini-disasters. Mirna is very intelligent and surprisingly athletic. Charla has exceeded expectations.	Short in stature, slow at tasks, Charla is not as strong, slow in footraces, falls easily, and cannot drive a stick shift. Mirna forced to overcome Charla's shortcomings, bossy, and abrupt.
Dustin and Kandice	Competitive, college educated, athletic. Dustin has emerged as good leader, and has a music background. Kandice, with a dance background, is strong and effective at whatever she does. They do well at artistic challenges.	Not paying attention to details of clues--or even preservation of clues, try to push ahead of others, not fastest in foot races, emotional. Dustin is bossy and domineering.
Danny and Oswald	Athletic, fast enough in footraces, good at tasks, with navigation, and in airports. Both are highly motivated and determined. Oswald has taken over leadership.	They have had friction between them, and can be a bit hot tempered. Danny easily becomes dehydrated.
Eric and Danielle	Eric is highly athletic, both are intelligent enough. Both are highly motivated and determined.	Danielle has had trouble getting lost and losing things. can be emotional. Both can be geographically and directionally challenged, poor navigation at times. Eric can be stubborn and insensitive.

It is fascinating that the producers chose to do back to back non-elimination legs. This time, it worked out as different teams were Marked for Elimination. But, what would have happened if Eric and Danielle's penalty had not expired before Danny and Oswald arrived? Would they have been eliminated, or given a reprieve and again be Marked for Elimination?

What will the next episode reveal about the racers? It is the most important elimination leg, as the final three teams are revealed, while the fourth place team is dispatched to the Elimination Station. Watch the exciting eleventh episode of Amazing Race All Stars Sunday, April 29 at 8 PM Eastern/Pacific.