Topic: The Amazing Race 14 Speculation on Spoilers

[Mrs Shrek]

I have been trying to find out more about the wooden backpacks they are using here


I haven't been able to find a really close match yet, but it seems that they are a traditional Swiss German Räf defined here as
"A frame for carrying objects on one’s back, with which one can balance cumbersome and heavy loads over the centre line of the body, thus making them easier to carry."
The picture on this page here has been removed, but I think the comment is referring to the same piece of apparatus
"The wooden backpack is also used for carrying the large cheeses down into the valley."

The closest image match I have been able to find is on ebay

Link

[Belle Book]

Olympic-sized challenge that leaves Teams gasping for air shouts swimming challenge to me, hopefully at the Olympic pool site:  the "Water Cube".

Maybe as a possible task, teams have to swim and complete all eight Olympic races that Phelps won gold in.

That would be an Olympic-sized task -- and one that would leave teams gasping for air -- literally!

Belle Book

[Glamazon Racer]

This was based on a press release and NOT an interview, and all of the press releases should be the same, and no one else's (including ours) says Serbia.

So really, I think it is a mis-hearing/understanding of Siberia.

But since you never know, I am working on follow up.

Just guessing here, but if they did want to stick to the Olympic-theme in this season, Serbia competed for the first time as an independant nation in the 2008 Olympics. That could explain why they would want to go there in this season in particular. Just speculating, though.

[mjriches2005]

Since theres only eight out of nine countries listed (USA, Switzerland, Austria, Romania, Russia, India, Thailand, and China) so the only thing that's missing is the last country since Siberia is technically a region in the Asian part of Russia.  The only countries that would fit the missing locale would be either Germany part of the Salzburg-Romania leg but doubt it since Salzburg has an airport with connections to Germany.  Liechtenstein between Switzerland and Austria count it as part of Leg 2 on the way to Salzburg.  Also Phil being sighted in Delhi doesn't really mean Delhi will be visited again, he might be in transit to another city in India and the only places that haven't got any attention in India on the Amazing Race are Triviandrum (on the very southern tip of the India peninisula mainland), Hyderabad, and Bangalore.  Also maybe the TAR producers and creators need some public input on what they should do for the next season (15) if it gets a greenlight despite the economic downturn.   

[anon1akacolby]

Someone over at SurvivorSucks pointed out that the woman in the Phuket picture could be Margie (the mom from the mother/son team).  I'm leaning toward that as well.  Look at the facial structure and the small pony tail.  In the cab ride in the other pictures below, she is wearing her hair in the little pony tail and the chin and nose to me, match up.   What do you guys think?

[Mrs Shrek]

I have been trying to find out more about the wooden backpacks they are using here


I haven't been able to find a really close match yet, but it seems that they are a traditional Swiss German Räf defined here as
"A frame for carrying objects on one’s back, with which one can balance cumbersome and heavy loads over the centre line of the body, thus making them easier to carry."
The picture on this page here has been removed, but I think the comment is referring to the same piece of apparatus
"The wooden backpack is also used for carrying the large cheeses down into the valley."

  Found the missing pic. I think it's a match

http://photo.net/general-comments/image-attachment?comment_id=13919536

[TARAsia Fan]

I love the Detectives!

[gingerman28]

That's a very strange combination: umpah band, beer, and tortes (cakes) all in one location.  Is there a choice of tasks?  Guzzle x number of steins of beer or smash x number of cakes?  In any case, what a waste.  And look at all the cakes, a heck of a lot more than one per team.

[anon1akacolby]

That's a very strange combination: umpah band, beer, and tortes (cakes) all in one location.  Is there a choice of tasks?  Guzzle x number of steins of beer or smash x number of cakes?  In any case, what a waste.  And look at all the cakes, a heck of a lot more than one per team.

I know!!  Who would choose cakes over beer?!!! I wouldn't.   

 

[TARAsia Fan]

Remember Gus loving the German beer in TAR6? "This beer is gooooood!"

[Neobie]

A rough estimate, using Delhi as the Indian location, gives us 22225 miles. (All predicted flight connections, through Frankfurt, Munich and Moscow for example, HAVE been included.) Novosibirsk, which has direct flights to Delhi, has been placed after Krasnojarsk, which doesn't.

Adding a flight back to Moscow before heading to India pumps the figure up to 24797 miles. Adding another return trip from Delhi to the bottom of the subcontinent makes it 27255.

Previous CBS estimates have been generous, but we're still far from 40000 miles. What could account for those missing frequent flier points? A finish line that comes AFTER Hawaii in the Continental US?

[puddin]

The blogger never got back to us Neobie .... maybe Phil was fliming final stand ups in Hawaii? And why would Phil give out that info or any of his crew?

Sadly, no on could be bothered to listen as we sprinted between two terminals (sent from one to the other and then back via a 10 minute shuttle bus each way). Three airlines, twelve “customer service” representatives and multiple people yelling at each other in Mandarin later we found ourselves on an Air China flight back to Tokyo.  We’re still not sure why or what they were screaming but it seemed to be the norm for the airport.  That said, it was a lovely airport.

During this ordeal we couldn’t help but notice two groups of travelers flashing American passports being flanked by their own teams of cameramen looking a little too giddy to be at the airport in Beijing at 8am. Oddly enough, it seems that we found ourselves in the middle of  CBS’ “Amazing Race” with two teams on our flight.  Without giving too much away, I can assure you that all of the panic and suspense of the actual show comes from some really great editing.  On this particular day we found ourselves watching the double mint twins in matching sweatshirts, bleached teeth and badly dyed red hair preen the entire time for the cameras.

Still we had quite a ways to go and even bumped into the host Phil Keoghan as he waited for his flight to film the finale in Hawaii.  It’s important to note that the running, fighting and begging for seats that you see on TV didn’t really happen and oh yeah, Phil flies business class.

[apskip]

A rough estimate, using Delhi as the Indian location, gives us 22225 miles. (All predicted flight connections, through Frankfurt, Munich and Moscow for example, HAVE been included.) Novosibirsk, which has direct flights to Delhi, has been placed after Krasnojarsk, which doesn't.

Adding a flight back to Moscow before heading to India pumps the figure up to 24797 miles. Adding another return trip from Delhi to the bottom of the subcontinent makes it 27255.

Previous CBS estimates have been generous, but we're still far from 40000 miles. What could account for those missing frequent flier points? A finish line that comes AFTER Hawaii in the Continental US?

First of all, there is not time for another leg and there is supposedly not a 13th leg. On Nov. 22, when teams should reach Hawaii, it was the 23rd day of the race. The race cannot continue on the mainland.

The best answer I can give you is a question of whether you used statute miles (always the way airlines report them) or regular miles. The difference is about 15% if you used air miles and World Race Productions used regular miles (which I would do if I were producing the Amazing Race).

[selkie]

Olympic-sized challenge that leaves Teams gasping for air shouts swimming challenge to me, hopefully at the Olympic pool site:  the "Water Cube".

Maybe as a possible task, teams have to swim and complete all eight Olympic races that Phelps won gold in.

That would be an Olympic-sized task -- and one that would leave teams gasping for air -- literally!

Belle Book

Considering how many competitive swimmers would struggle to complete a long coures 400 IM or 200 fly, my guess for a swimming-based task would be some short relay like they did with the kids running in Arfica in TAR 6, or else something like doing  800 meters of freestyle, which is far more doable for a casual swimmer if they take their time and rest on the walls or lane lines as needed. That one could not only really separate out the field because ability levels can vary so much, but you can also make the other racer hold the lap cards and that makes for a fun visual.

[gingerman28]

The blogger never got back to us Neobie .... maybe Phil was fliming final stand ups in Hawaii? And why would Phil give out that info or any of his crew?

Sadly, no on could be bothered to listen as we sprinted between two terminals (sent from one to the other and then back via a 10 minute shuttle bus each way). Three airlines, twelve “customer service” representatives and multiple people yelling at each other in Mandarin later we found ourselves on an Air China flight back to Tokyo.  We’re still not sure why or what they were screaming but it seemed to be the norm for the airport.  That said, it was a lovely airport.

During this ordeal we couldn’t help but notice two groups of travelers flashing American passports being flanked by their own teams of cameramen looking a little too giddy to be at the airport in Beijing at 8am. Oddly enough, it seems that we found ourselves in the middle of  CBS’ “Amazing Race” with two teams on our flight.  Without giving too much away, I can assure you that all of the panic and suspense of the actual show comes from some really great editing.  On this particular day we found ourselves watching the double mint twins in matching sweatshirts, bleached teeth and badly dyed red hair preen the entire time for the cameras.

[

Does this point a finger at the "double mint twins" as being one of the final 3 teams on the way to Hawaii?  Or are have they been eliminated and just travelling along with the final three?  Two teams and Phil? This almost seems more like two eliminated teams rather than final three teams.

[apskip]

Gman, I see it the way you do. Any teams traveling with Phil are likely to be eliminated teams that did not fit into the Sequesterville. The final 3 teams would be travelliing together, almost always on the same plane, and well behind Phil. He gets a 12 to 36 hour head start after the penultimate leg.

[Belle Book]

Olympic-sized challenge that leaves Teams gasping for air shouts swimming challenge to me, hopefully at the Olympic pool site:  the "Water Cube".

Maybe as a possible task, teams have to swim and complete all eight Olympic races that Phelps won gold in.

That would be an Olympic-sized task -- and one that would leave teams gasping for air -- literally!

Belle Book

Considering how many competitive swimmers would struggle to complete a long coures 400 IM or 200 fly, my guess for a swimming-based task would be some short relay like they did with the kids running in Arfica in TAR 6, or else something like doing  800 meters of freestyle, which is far more doable for a casual swimmer if they take their time and rest on the walls or lane lines as needed. That one could not only really separate out the field because ability levels can vary so much, but you can also make the other racer hold the lap cards and that makes for a fun visual.

Yeah, that's probably the best possibility but the idea of having teams swim and compete in all eight races would be funny!

Belle Book

[apskip]

password, the countries in AR14 are Switzerland, Austria, Romania, Russia's Siberia macro-region, India, Thailand, China and the United States. I count 8. The article saying 9 included Serbia, which is almost certainly not true.

[puddin]

My first HD commercial! Its pretty intense!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlOMj2b0N6w#


 <<HD toggle

[georgiapeach]

apskip, i believe the original press release also said 9, not just that article. Puddin and I were talking about this, remember how BVM said they will visit 2 countries in Africa? and what they did was visit Burkino Faso wice? I think it is something like that, maybe the two Siberian legs, or else they count Russia and Siberia maybe?

Just thoughts, there could still be somewhere out there, I want Burma!!

[spontaneousss]

The blogger never got back to us Neobie .... maybe Phil was fliming final stand ups in Hawaii? And why would Phil give out that info or any of his crew?

Sadly, no on could be bothered to listen as we sprinted between two terminals (sent from one to the other and then back via a 10 minute shuttle bus each way). Three airlines, twelve “customer service” representatives and multiple people yelling at each other in Mandarin later we found ourselves on an Air China flight back to Tokyo.  We’re still not sure why or what they were screaming but it seemed to be the norm for the airport.  That said, it was a lovely airport.

During this ordeal we couldn’t help but notice two groups of travelers flashing American passports being flanked by their own teams of cameramen looking a little too giddy to be at the airport in Beijing at 8am. Oddly enough, it seems that we found ourselves in the middle of  CBS’ “Amazing Race” with two teams on our flight.  Without giving too much away, I can assure you that all of the panic and suspense of the actual show comes from some really great editing.  On this particular day we found ourselves watching the double mint twins in matching sweatshirts, bleached teeth and badly dyed red hair preen the entire time for the cameras.

[

Does this point a finger at the "double mint twins" as being one of the final 3 teams on the way to Hawaii?  Or are have they been eliminated and just travelling along with the final three?  Two teams and Phil? This almost seems more like two eliminated teams rather than final three teams.

hey guys i've been following you up for spoilers & i have to say i'm impressed, keep it up . in regards to cara & jamie being on the flight to hawaii, imo i think they are on the final 3, cause pointed out they were being tagged by the cameras the whole time..wouldn't that be a little off if the camera were focused on them if they have been eliminated already...just a thought

[puddin]

hey guys i've been following you up for spoilers & i have to say i'm impressed, keep it up . in regards to cara & jamie being on the flight to hawaii, imo i think they are on the final 3, cause pointed out they were being tagged by the cameras the whole time..wouldn't that be a little off if the camera were focused on them if they have been eliminated already...just a thought

Welcome to the forum spont ... 

[TARAsia Fan]

Spont,

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for the that tidbit, but as we have seen, decoy teams have had camera crews follow them especially when TAR gets to the final five or so. The eliminated teams do not go to Sequesterville and basically follow the remaining teams to the finish line. And the decoys go through the route to throw off any people (like the Detectives) from finding out the final three.

Last season, one of the remaining teams played the decoys in Portland. This we know from the Detectives' great work and from our talk with the teams during the lunch before the season finale.

[DrRox]

Well we are having a bad ice storm here in the Big D, so I have nothing else to do and came up with this. You guys shoot it down all you like, it will only help.




Possible opening scenario of TAR14.

Oct 31, 2008—Leave Los Alamitos JRTB and make way to LAX for flights to Europe. Nov 1, 2008--  Possible  
                        termination points of trans-Atlantic flights at Zurich and Milan.
                        Teams make their way by train to Locarno, Switzerland and arrive at                  
                        overnight sleep over point and leave the next morning at designated time.
                        This is not a pit stop, but a continuation leg which is common on first leg
                        of TAR
Nov 2, 2008—Teams make their way to the Verzasca Dam and do the bungy jump roadblock.
                        After the roadblock, teams are told to go to Interlaken, Switzerland by
                        train. Depending on arrival at train station in Locarno, there are two routes
                        to Interlaken, either through the Gotthard Tunnel or Simplon Tunnel.
                        Teams would have to determine which routing would get them to
                        Interlaken soonest.  On arrival in Interlaken, teams encounter a detour. I
                        think the detour would be snow related (we had the company of the guy
                        that specializes in filming snowboarding). So detour is maybe
                        snowboarding or segway  After completing detour, teams make their way
                        to the Pit Stop around Interlaken. It is presumed that some teams will
                        arrive at the Pit Stop before dark, meaning that they will leave the next
                        morning before sunup.
Nov 3, 2008—Leave pit stop and drive to Obermaiselstein. Along the way teams will
                        have to go through Lucerne. This city has similar waterfront as Interlaken
                        and could be site for Segway task to get clue to go to Obermaiselstein. The
                       cheese deal looks like a roadblock to me. All pics are of a single team
                       member that I can tell. So somewhere along the way, they should do the
                       cheese task in Switzerland to me. I mean we order Swiss cheese, not
                       Austrian cheese or German cheese….lol…..but that is just a guess. After
                       completion of roadblock, proceed to Obermaiselstein for detour,
                       paragliding or pie throwing. After completion of detour, drive to Schloss
                      Hellbrum in Salzburg for pit stop.
Nov 4, 2008--(Possible moved Pit Stop mat from night before like in Moscow) Teams
                      leave Salzburg Pit Stop for tasks in Salzburg then make their way to    
                      Bucherest and Translvania arriving early morning of Nov 5th. This comes
                      from the fact that the lady jogged by the Schloss Hellbrum the next moring
                      and nothing was happening. All the cars were still parked there and nothing
                      where the Pit Stop mat had been the night before.
Nov 5, 2008--Teams make their way by trains to Translvania and either tasks or 36 hour
                      pit stop.

[spontaneousss]

Spont,

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for the that tidbit, but as we have seen, decoy teams have had camera crews follow them especially when TAR gets to the final five or so. The eliminated teams do not go to Sequesterville and basically follow the remaining teams to the finish line. And the decoys go through the route to throw off any people (like the Detectives) from finding out the final three.

Last season, one of the remaining teams played the decoys in Portland. This we know from the Detectives' great work and from our talk with the teams during the lunch before the season finale.

yeah, maybe. .. i'd just like to think the fact that another female team made it to the final 3. hehe... oh well