The Amazing Race will return for its 22nd season next month and today, CBS unveiled the list of the eleven teams lined up to compete, along with a video that gives us a better idea of what these contestants are all about before the race kicks off next month.
The added "twist" this season offers the first team to arrive at the first pit stop two "Express Passes," one of which they can keep and one they must give to another team but the end of the fourth leg of the race. Among the tasks ahead, skydiving in Bora Bora, participating in the Shemozzie race in new Zealand, hunting for scorpions (yuck!) with the Bushmen of Botswana and scaling the treacherous north face of the Eiger Mountain in Switzerland. I'm not much of a climber, but that last task sounds amazing (and less horrifying than scorpions).
Among the contestants this season, a couple of surfers, a couple of hockey players, a couple of twin doctors, a couple of cancer survivors, a couple of YouTube hosts, and two people who are the descendants of some very famous people (John Wayne and Daniel Boone!). The video below introduces us to each of the teams and then gives us a quick peek at the start of the race as Phil Keoghan reminds us that a new season is coming up.
Name: Idries Abdur-Rahman
Age: 36
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Current occupation: OB/GYN Physician Name: Jamil Abdur-Rahman
Age: 36
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Current occupation: OB/GYN Physician
Connection: Twin Doctors
Name: Max Bichler
Age: 30
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.
Current occupation: Cigar Sales Name: Katie Bichler
Age: 24
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.
Current occupation: Pharmacist
Connection: Newlyweds
Name: Mona Egender
Age: 33
Hometown: Castle Pines, Colo.
Current occupation: Captioner/Roller Derby Player Name: Beth Bandimere
Age: 36
Hometown: Arvada, Colo.
Current occupation: Tech Support/Roller Derby Player
Connection: Roller Derby Moms
Name: Bates Battaglia
Age: 36
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Current occupation: Former Professional Hockey Player
(Played for the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs) Name: Anthony Battaglia
Age: 33
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Current occupation: Professional Hockey Player
(Currently plays for the Huntsville Havoc)
Connection: Hockey Brothers
Name: Chuck McCall
Age: 46
Hometown: Daphne, Ala.
Current occupation: Retail Manager/Taxidermist Name: Wynona McCall
Age: 49
Hometown: Daphne, Ala.
Current occupation: Cosmetologist/Hairstylist
Connection: Married
Name: David O’Leary
Age: 58
Hometown: Salt Lake City
Current occupation: Investment Properties Name: Connor O’Leary
Age: 21
Hometown: Salt Lake City
Current occupation: Professional Cyclist
Connection: Father/Son (Both Cancer Survivors)
Name: Caroline Cutbirth
Age: 29
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Current occupation: Singer/Songwriter (Band Member of “Stealing Angels”)
*Caroline is a direct descendant of Daniel Boone Name: Jennifer Kuhle
Age: 30
Hometown: Nashville
Current occupation: Songwriter (Band Member of “Stealing Angels”)
*Jennifer is the granddaughter of John Wayne
Connection: Friends/Country Singers
Name: Joey Graceffa
Age: 21
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: YouTube Host
Internet Personality Joey's YouTube Channel Name: Meghan Camarena
Age: 25
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: YouTube Host
Internet Personality Meghan's YouTube Channel
Connection: Friends/YouTube Hosts
Name: Pamela Chien
Age: 29
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: Art Director and Fitness Instructor Name: Winnie Sung
Age: 29
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: Senior Project Manager
Connection: Best Friends
Name: Jessica Hoel
Age: 26
Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Current occupation: Account Manager Name: John Erck
Age: 27
Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Current Occupation: Entrepreneur/Computer Programmer
Connection: Dating
Name: Matthew Davis
Age: 25
Hometown: Gaffney, S.C.
Current occupation: Firefighter Name: Daniel Moss
Age: 24
Hometown: Gaffney, S.C.
Current occupation: Firefighter
Connection: Best Friends/Firefighters
Here's a photo of the cast together.
The Amazing Race 22 premieres Sunday, Feb. 17 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS.
