CBS has announced the 11 teams for the 13th installment of “The Amazing Race” premiering September 28:
It’s an All New Season of Firsts for the Five-Time Emmy Award-Winning Series, Which Kicks Off from the Famed Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – the Only Stadium in the World to Host the Olympics Twice (1932, 1984)
The 11 Teams set to compete in THE AMAZING RACE 13 will travel over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents in 23 days, all starting from the world famous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. THE AMAZING RACE 13 premieres Sunday, Sept. 28 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Phil Keoghan is the host.
The 13th installment of THE AMAZING RACE will feature a variety of firsts, including: Teams traveling to a real-life water world where its inhabitants live upon a floating city; first time visits for the Race to locations such as Cambodia and Kazakhstan; and one Team makes an unprecedented mistake on the road that ultimately prohibits them from joining their fellow Racers at the finish line.
The cast also features couples in various stages of their lives – married beekeepers who have been together for years, a married but separated couple looking to rebuild their marriage, a newly dating couple still getting to know each other and best friends who are comic book aficionados and describe the Race as “the ultimate game on the biggest game board you can imagine.”
THE AMAZING RACE was just nominated for its sixth straight Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, which the globe-trotting series has taken home five years in a row.
Following are the 11 teams, listed in no particular order:
Name: TERENCE GERCHBERG
Occupation: Running Coach
Age: 35
Hometown: New York
Name: SARAH LESHNER
Occupation: Wall Street Investment Analyst
Age: 31
Hometown: New York
Relationship: NEWLY DATING
This Team is determined to prove to themselves they belong together. They are well traveled and both enjoy physical activities and pushing each other to succeed. Either way, this adventure will definitely be a journey that could make or break them.
Name: MARISA AXELROD
Occupation: Student
Age: 22
Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C.
Name: BROOKE JACKSON
Occupation: Graphic Designer
Age: 24
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Relationship: SOUTHERN BELLES
These charming southern belles are best friends and are up for any challenge. They want to prove to the world that they’re not just cute blondes and that they can be athletic and fierce competitors.
Name: ANDREW LAPPITT
Occupation: Student
Age: 22
Hometown: Tucson, Ariz.
Name: DAN HONIG
Occupation: Hotel Manager Trainee
Age: 23
Hometown: Wilmington, Del.
Relationship: FRATERNITY BROTHERS
Life couldn’t be any better for these fraternity brothers. Andrew and Dan met while attending Arizona State University and the last four years have been filled with good times. Some of the Teams have referred to them as “Team Superbad.” These two say they can talk their way in or out of anything by cracking jokes and keeping the mood light. Look for them to always keep things entertaining in their own special way.
Name: AJA BENTON
Occupation: Aspiring Actress
Age: 25
Hometown: Los Angeles
Name: TY WHITE
Occupation: Banker
Age: 25
Hometown: West Bloomfield, Mich.
Relationship: DATING LONG DISTANCE
This long distance dating couple is looking for an opportunity to be together for an extended period of time. They’ve been dating for nine months, living in two separate cities and the longest time they’ve spent together was last Christmas for two weeks. They feel that the Race will help them determine if they can truly handle living together on a daily basis.
Name: MARK YTURRALDE
Occupation: Treasurer of Comic-Con
Age: 41
Hometown: San Diego
Name: BILL KAHLER
Occupation: Student Aid Administrator
Age: 42
Hometown: San Diego
Relationship: BEST FRIENDS
These comic book aficionados are determined to be the most strategic team ever to compete in the Race. Mark and Bill, friends for over 23 years, first met at a science fiction club and have been bonding over their love for comics and games ever since. Mark says that he “wears geek like a badge of honor.”
Name: TONI IMBIMBO
Occupation: Accounting Consultant
Age: 51
Hometown: Woodside, Calif.
Name: DALLAS IMBIMBO
Occupation: Student
Age: 22
Hometown: Woodside, Calif.
Relationship: MOTHER/SON
Toni and Dallas have always been there for each other and will let nothing come between them. These two are hoping the Race will provide them with some quality family time they’ve been missing out on since Dallas has been away at college – and maybe they can win a million dollars along the way.
Name: NICK SPANGLER
Occupation: Actor
Age: 22
Hometown: New York
Name: STARR SPANGLER
Occupation: Former NFL Cheerleader
Age: 21
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Relationship: BROTHER/SISTER
This brother/sister team will stop at nothing to win the Race. Both are extremely driven and competitive, especially with one another. They admit to being over-zealous when a prize is involved – even if it’s only bragging rights. They’re excited to use this to their advantage on the race.
Name: ANITA JONES
Occupation: Retired Paralegal
Age: 63
Hometown: Eugene, Ore.
Name: ARTHUR JONES
Occupation: Playground Maintenance
Age: 61
Hometown: Eugene, Ore.
Relationship: MARRIED BEEKEEPERS
Anita and Arthur can’t wait to make the Race their next big adventure. This energetic couple is open hearted and free spirited. They make and sell their own honey and recently purchased an organic blueberry farm. They have known each other for over 26 years and have been married for almost 14 years. Their blended family and children are the most important part of their lives.
Name: KELLY CRABB
Occupation: Sales Representative
Age: 26
Hometown: Houston
Name: CHRISTY COOK
Occupation: Business Development
Age: 26
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Relationship: DIVORCEES
Kelly and Christy are best friends that will never settle for second best. These two go-getters have been through a lot in the last year and want to prove that they can overcome anything. Kelly, having been a collegiate dancer; and Christy, a collegiate cheerleader, are physically fit and are up for the challenges the Race will bring
Name: KEN GREENE
Occupation: Home Builder/Ex-NFL Player
Age: 51
Hometown: Tampa, Fla.
Name: TINA GREENE
Occupation: President BioPharmMed
Age: 48
Hometown: San Diego
Relationship: SEPARATED
This married couple is looking to reconnect on the Race. They’ve been separated and living on different coasts for several months and are ready to put their marriage back together. Ken, an ex-NFL star who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Chargers, was also a college football assistant coach. He is currently a home builder. He is competitive, athletic and says his problem-solving skills will help them win the race. He thinks Tina is too controlling and should relax a bit more, but anticipates the Race will help them learn to appreciate their differences.
Name: ANTHONY MAROTTA
Occupation: Mortgage Broker
Age: 32
Hometown: Los Angeles
Name: STEPHANIE KACANDES
Occupation: Financial Saleswoman
Age: 32
Hometown: Los Angeles
Relationship: DATING
Back together again after a year-long break-up, Anthony says he will propose to Stephanie if they make it through the Race. Even though they’ve overcome many of their differences, their constant bickering would suggest otherwise.
THE AMAZING RACE 13 will send 11 teams – each comprised of two people who have a pre-existing relationship with one another – on a trek around the world for approximately 30 days. At every destination, each couple will have to compete in a series of challenges – some mental and some physical – and only when the tasks have been completed will they learn their next destination. Couples who are farthest behind will gradually be eliminated as the contest progresses, with the first team to arrive at the final destination winning $1 million.
Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman and Hayma Screech Washington are the executive producers for Bruckheimer Television and Earthview Inc. in association with ABC Studios and Amazing Race Productions. THE AMAZING RACE was created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri.
For more information on THE AMAZING RACE 13 and the new 11 couples, log on to http://www.cbs.com/.
