ARI & STAELLA FEEL KARMA’S WRATH
The twelfth edition of THE AMAZING RACE kicked off in spectacular fashion as Teams flew to the lush, green hills of Shannon, Ireland, and rode bicycles across a ravine suspended over the North Atlantic. Siblings Azaria & Hendekea claimed victory, while karma stung best friends Ari & Staella, who stole another Team’s taxi and ended up eliminated when they couldn’t coax their donkey to move.
With Jason & Lorena finishing the leg in fourth place and Nicolas & Donald in fifth, tears flowed freely for Jennifer with a helpless Nathan looking on. Friends Shana & Jennifer, married ministers Kate & Pat, father and daughter Ron & Christina and sisters Mariana & Julia all passed by them. Eventually, Nathan & Jennifer let their frustration go and tried a new tactic of pushing until the donkey finally started to move. As best friends Ari & Staella continued to push and pull to no avail, Nate & Jen finally reached the hitching post en route to a tenth place finish just behind the sisters.
Stepping onto the mat in last place, best friends Ari & Staella became the first Team eliminated from the race. Referring to his taxi stealing antics the day before, Ari quipped, “Karma came back and bit us in the ass.” Staella added, “Ari was great the whole time on this race. He was my rock. He really pushed me to just try my hardest. It was a good feeling, because I know that he really was in it to win it. I think it brought us even closer if that’s possible.”
ELIMINATED