Amazing Race Canada season two: Exit interviews
The team consisting of Shahla Kara and Nabeela Barday was the first to be eliminated from the second season of The Amazing Race Canada Tuesday night. The best friends from Markham, ON had hoped to use their winnings to help secure their parents’ retirement but were the last team to arrive at the race’s first pit stop, the Fisgard Lighthouse at Fort Rodd Hill in Victoria, BC. The young Muslim-Canadians got off to a rocky start, being amongst the teams to take the third flight from Calgary to Victoria, putting them at an early disadvantage. Their fate was sealed during the first leg’s final challenge when they dropped a key piece of equipment into freezing cold water twice while trying to stop leaks in a simulated damaged ship at CFB Esquimalt. Foiled by the cold, they decided to take a penalty, by which time their nearest competitors Jen and Shawn were already on their way to the finish line to have host Jon Montgomery give them the good news that they had not been eliminated. MSN Canada caught up with Shahla and Nabeela to discuss their brief but intense time on the show.
Why did you want to be part of The Amazing Race Canada?
Shahla: It’s been a dream of mine since the first season ever aired. And Nabeela and I recently travelled together, and I thought what better a partner than someone you know you get along with and that is well-travelled? So I approached her and it was kind of like a perfect match.
What sort of preparation did you do for the race, either physically or in terms of strategy?
Nabeela: There were multiple components. From a physical perspective I definitely trained at the gym: running; all that kind of good stuff so we could run through an airport with a backpack.
And then from a strategy perspective we just looked at our values from an Islamic and Muslim perspective and said are there certain things that we will not do or eat or consume? And we knew and relied on the fact that any non-halal meat or pork that went against our religious faith, we would not partake in that challenge and we would have to take a penalty.
How did you feel as you were about to race for your first clue?
Shahla: It was almost a surreal experience. You watch the show on television, but to actually be there, see Jon and the other teams, it’s really indescribable until you’re there. It’s anxiousness and nervousness and excitement all into one.
Regarding the ship repair, how did you feel?
Shahla: I think at that point we knew we were at the back of the pack. We were bottom two. So apart from the fact that the water is cold and we were dehydrated from the firefighter task and your muscles are cramping up, we knew we were in the bottom two.
So when Shawn and Jen were out of there, it was kind of a dispiriting feeling where you’re like ‘oh my gosh, we’re last.’ And it’s rare that it’s been a non-elimination round on the first leg. So I think at that point we knew we were out.
Talk about your decision to take a penalty.
Shahla: At that point I was losing feeling in both my legs, and I work in healthcare [as an occupational therapist], so at that point there really was no trade-off. It wasn’t like ‘let’s try to win this race, but let’s have our health take a hit.’
So at that point for me there is no option. But it’s always a team decision. And as you saw yesterday, Nabeela was super-supportive of that, and that’s what you really look for in a team member.
Were you sad when you were eliminated?
Nabeela: I think we were definitely sad. You go onto this show, you give your all. You know there’s strong competitors out there, but you put so much into it. And when you’re in that last challenge, it was really, really tough. And it was tough knowing you were eliminated after putting so much into it.
But at the same time we felt happy that we had been part of this experience. And certainly we did do our best so we know that feeling of we did give it our all.
How did you feel about seeing the episode?
Nabeela: We watched the show yesterday [Tuesday] with our friends and families, and we had to be very tight-lipped about what would happen. So it was very exciting to see their reactions and expressions, and most of all to see their pride and say, ‘Oh my God! Look! There you are!’ It was an exciting moment to finally be able to open up, no more secrets, and share this experience with those who are close to us.
Would you recommend the Amazing Race Canada to other people?
Shahla: Of course. One hundred percent. If you’re up for adventure, if you’re up for the unexpected, 100% it’s the best way to experience Canada. Neither of us have any regrets about doing it. We would have rather been on the show and off first than not on the show. It’s all been positive for us.
Source:http://entertainment.ca.msn.com/tv/amazing-race-canada-season-two-exit-interviews