'The Amazing Race' Sneak Peek: Free Fall Flashback
The Amazing Race typically prides itself on not having its globetrotting contestants take on the same challenge twice. But some challenges are just too good to not repeat. That’s why, on the Oct. 23 episode, teams will once again face a task that occupies a special place in TAR history: a 200-foot free fall over Zimbabwe’s Zambezi River — the very first challenge performed on the show’s very first season, way back in 2001. Talk about going back to the future…
In the modern-day clip above, you can watch Texas buddies Tanner and Josh prepare to take the plunge, with Josh being the guy who ultimately leaps into the Batoka Gorge. And below, check out Season 1 contestant Drew Feinberg — one-half of the fan favorite Kevin and Drew team — doing his (very vocal) free fall. While the jump is the same, you’ll notice some immediate differences.
Fourteen years ago, for example, the camera crew weren’t able to get a close-up look at Kevin’s dive, whereas Josh has a GoPro-esque device in his face recording every elated “Oh my god!” all the way down. “I think my heart stopped twice, but that was amazing,” he says, when he reaches the bottom. Nice sentiment, but we prefer Kevin’s classic 2001 line: “Swing you fat bastard, swing!”
The Amazing Race airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on CBS.
