Amazing Race 2013, season 22 - Premiere Feb. 17

[Natalka]

Teams this season will travel over 30,000 miles through nine countries on five different continents. Along the way they will, according to CBS, “skydive from 10,000 feet in Bora Bora, participate in a Shemozzle race in New Zealand, hunt for scorpions with the Bushmen of Botswana and scale the treacherous north face of the Eiger Mountain in Switzerland.”


They also will have a new twist thrown at them. While in the past the first team to arrive at the initial Pit Stop has earned an Express Pass that allows them to skip any task of their choosing, the team that arrives before all others at this season’s first Pit Stop will receive two Express Passes — one to keep for themselves and another one that must be given to another team of their choosing before the end of the fourth leg. It has the power of making one other team very happy, and several others unhappy over not receiving it.

[Natalka]

• Idries Abdur-Rahman (36, OB/GYN physician from Chicago)
• and Jamil Abdur-Rahman (36, OB/GYN physician from Chicago)
  Connection: Twin doctors
• 

• Max Bichler (30, cigar sales from Buffalo)
• and Katie Bichler (24, pharmacist from Buffalo)
  Connection: Newlyweds
• 

• Mona Egender (33, captioner and roller derby player from Castle Pines, Colo.)
• and Beth Bandimere (36, tech support and roller derby player from Arvada, Colo.)
  Connection: Roller derby moms
• 

• Bates Battaglia (36, former professional hockey player from Raleigh, NC)
• and Anthony Battaglia (33, professional hockey player from Raleigh, NC)
  Connection: Hockey brothers
• 

• Chuck McCall (46, retail manager and taxidermist from Daphne, Ala)
• and Wynona McCall (49, cosmetologist and hairstylist from Daphne, Ala)
  Connection: Married
• 

• David O'Leary (58, investment properties from Salt Lake City)
• and Connor O'Leary (21, professional cyclist from Salt Lake City)
  Connection: Father and son (both cancer survivors)
• 

• Caroline Cutbirth (29, singer/songwriter with Stealing Angels from Austin, Texas)
• and Jennifer Kuhle (30, songwriter with Stealing Angels from Nashville)
  Connection: Friends and country singers
• 

• Joey Graceffa (21, YouTube host from Los Angeles)
• and Meghan Camarena (25, YouTube host from Los Angeles)
  Connection: Friends and YouTube hosts
• 

• Pamela Chien (29, art director and fitness instructor from Los Angeles)
• and Winnie Sung (29, senior project manager from Los Angeles)
  Connection: Best friends
• 

• Jessica Hoel (26, account manager from Huntington Beach, Calif)
• and John Erck (27, entrepreneur and computer programmer from Huntington Beach, Calif)
  Connection: Dating
• 

• Matthew Davis (25, firefighter from Gaffney, SC)
• and Daniel Moss (24, firefighter from Gaffney, SC)
  Connection: Best friends and firefighters
• 

[smileyKT]

excited for the new season! Some interesting connections and I'm glad they have a parent-son team again

[Natalka]

Seems like an interesting bunch this year!
Too bad the firefighters got axed...

Now it will be interesting to see if the first place team keeps the deal with the express pass - to give it to the father/son team.

Was not impressed that those three teams took the penalty -

[bluerose]

Fell asleep half way ,hope thats not a signal on how this season will be.

[smileyKT]

If I was in the first team's position, I would definitely keep the express pass as a bargaining tool until the 4th leg. There are only 3 teams from the secret alliance they could give the pass to (whereas the other teams from the second flight think they have a 1/9 shot in getting it).

I was surprised and a bit disappointed that the doctor seemed to whine and give up so easily :S

[GoJays]

totally agree!! ^^

sorry to see the ff gone in the first round, would have preferred to see that yt host go away - omg annoying

[electric_viking]

Max and Kate can be eliminated anytime.

Cheering for the Hockey Players (that Bates is a Master)
or
The Father & Son team.

[gracesmommy]

i really like the father/son team, alabama (i like them!). i think there will be some major drama from max and katie.

[smileyKT]

It looks like David and Connor will have it rough with the injury.... that's too bad, I think they're a pretty strong team.

I hope this season doesn't shape up with a lot of quitters. I almost thought the doctors would quit and take a SIX HOUR penalty! And they didn't even try the treasure chest/table option yet when they were talking about quitting

[Natalka]

^ I feel the same!

Crazy that they were even thinking of taking that penalty without barely trying!

Not sad to see them go, however.

Gosh, hope the dad isn't really badly hurt.

[smileyKT]

Episode was okay - hope the challenges will be harder.

Can't wait to see what the father/son team will decide to do but I think they will continue racing, just not as hard. Maybe they will get lucky and "rest" on a plane.

[smileyKT]

great episode! I'm very surprised at who was first and who got eliminated this leg

[Natalka]

Well, duh to Jessica and John.... really, you don't use the express pass? No pity for them, and I'm not sad to see him leave.

Priceless at the end to see Phil's face - him shaking his head, Oy vey!

[electric_viking]

That was just like getting voted out in Survivor when you have a hidden immunity idol and dont use it.
Good on the father/son team for winning the leg.