The upcoming season of The Amazing Race Canada has two teams competing from s single, relatively small B.C. community.
The national TV show putting contestants through a series of travel-related challenges has tapped two teams from the Comox Valley for Season 9 who will compete $250,000, along with two 2023 and a round-the-world trip.
Black Press Media spoke with each team:
Allie and Eddie: Personal trainers and entrepreneurs
Allison Seller, 48, is a business mentor with a background in nutrition and relationship coaching. Her teammate is Eddie Parinas, 52, a personal trainer and entrepreneur.
鈥淗ow can you not be ready for the race when you鈥檙e from the Comox Valley?鈥� Parinas told the Record. He and his wife Seller stay healthy using the perks of Island life, he said, such as outdoor hiking spots and water features.
鈥淚t鈥檚 Vancouver Island, you can鈥檛 help but be active!鈥�
The couple moved to Comox Valley in 2022 after being 鈥渃ontinual visitors that never wanted to leave,鈥� according to Seller. They are building a home in Courtenay on property they鈥檝e owned for the past 10 years.
The husband and wife are ready to race, they said, because they live life 鈥渃onstantly active鈥� and are on top of their nutrition and wellness.
Tyler and Kayleen: Athlete and scuba diver
Tyler Turner, 35, is a professional athlete. He won two medals 鈥� gold and bronze 鈥� at the Paralympic winter games in 2022. His teammate Kayleen VanderRee, 31, is a commercial scuba diver and a blogger of travel and sailing. The dating couple is mobile, but base themselves in the Comox Valley.
VanderRee told the Record she and Turner lift each other up through pursuing dreams.
鈥淲e do our best when we chase after our goals together,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd when we have the most fun.鈥�
The scuba diver hopes she can find an edge on the Valley competition by using her problem-solving skills.
鈥淭he Comox Valley attracts adventurous, fit people, so Eddie and Allie should make for good competition. However, The Amazing Race Canada is equally a mental game, so we will see how it plays out!鈥�
While the two teams competed for prizes of more than a quarter million dollars, they still keep a friendly attitude.
鈥淚 was so excited to experience it with them,鈥� said Seller.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 say鈥� that we鈥檙e not going to have a relationship moving forward.鈥�
The two Comox Valley couples will compete against each other and eight other teams in season nine of The Amazing Race Canada. The TV series premieres on July 4.
ALSO:
connor.mcdowell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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