Simply raring to go

The Amazing Race Asia 3 returns on AXN next month with more action and tougher challenges for the 10 new teams.

ASIA has been eagerly anticipating the return of The Amazing Race Asia on AXN since the thrilling second season that brought viewers many exciting moments.

Expect a whole lot more drama and adrenalin-rushing excitement as The Amazing Race Asia 3 unfolds “The Toughest Race” next month.

“It will be the toughest race ever as there will be many challenges the contestants will not expect and be mentally prepared for.

“The teams will have shorter resting time, the journey will be harder, and the speed of the race will be faster and more intense.

“This combined with the new cast, you can expect many dramatic moments, tears, twists and turns, and an overall thrilling ride for viewers,” explained Ricky Ow, senior vice-president and general manager of SPE Networks - Asia, the parent network of the AXN, in a press statement.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 has a totally new and exciting cast to look out for. Besides the first Korean team joining the race, season three also has the highest number of family relationships in all seasons of The Amazing Race Asia.

And unlike their predecessors, many of the contestants are not used to the demands of high adventure. Yet this vibrant and spirited group of contestants is simply brimming with energy and an eagerness to win.

Up for this tough challenge are 10 diverse teams from India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea and the Philippines that guarantee to turn heads, not just because some are the best looking people around.

The contestants include a former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova and wife to Thailand’s highest ranking (and once world #9) tennis player Paradorn Srichaphan; the first-ever Korean team made up by sporty brothers; famous Malaysian faces – Bernie Chan who pairs up with her brother, and actress Ida Nerina with her heiress pal Tania Khan; a comedian who can’t help but crack jokes on- and off-screen with his teacher buddy; a beautiful ex air-hostess and cousin from India; and a dramatic father and son team with theatrical antics.

For more details about the race, visit http://amazing-race-asia.axn-asia.com, and watch the special Racers Revealed episode to find out more about the teams. Racers Revealed will air on AXN (Astro Channel 701) on Sept 4 (Thursday) at 9pm and the reality travel competition will air on AXN (Astro channel 701) starting Sept 11 (every Thursday) at 9pm.

Zabrina and Joe Jer

Friends from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Zabrina and Joe Jer are nothing if not loveable. Viewers will find themselves taking to these two immediately, for their ready smiles and easy-going camaraderie. These two young women are looking forward to the fun and the adventure of The Amazing Race Asia - particularly being able to share it with a friend.

Friends from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and self-described reality show freaks, these two ex-colleagues see their friendship as an asset that will support them through their efforts in the race.

"We're good friends," says Joe Jer "We can talk to each other."

Zabrina agrees. "We have the same sense of humour, that's why it's good."

Friendship comes with its own price - both of them can also be very direct, something that causes occasional friction.

Eventually, though, the two manage to clear the air, and are all the stronger for it.
Joe Jer and Zabrina met at the workplace, while working for a TV station. Joe Jer had been working there for some time before Zabrina joined the firm, and was one of the first friendly faces that Zabrina encountered there and soon a friendship blossomed when they discovered that they both had a mutual love for television. Not just a love for television, but in particular, for reality television shows. They are hard-core fans, and the two of them see this as one of the strengths that they will bring to The Amazing Race Asia.

"We know the game," says Zabrina. "We really know it. We watch it all the time. We take note of all the things that go wrong and right in the game."

Francesca and Sandy

Still in the early stages of their relationship, Sandy and Francesca (living in Hong Kong) are taking the brave step of entering The Amazing Race Asia, hoping to discover how well it will stand up to pressure. This attractive couple (he's a personal trainer, she's a model) have more than just good looks, and hopefully their perseverance and refusal to ever quit will stand them in good stead.

Sandy and Francesca make a very attractive couple. Both living in Hong Kong, Francesca is a model, while Sandy works as a personal trainer. Both are in good shape physically and are very personable and have an interesting relationship.

Having only been a dating couple for a few months, taking on the challenge of The Amazing Race Asia is a very brave step for them!

They have known each other for about a year, although when they met for the first time at an event, they merely became friends. It was only later on that they got together romantically, an arrangement that had been going on for about four months when the opportunity arose to take part in The Amazing Race Asia.

It takes a couple with great strength and fortitude to want to subject their fledgling relationship to that sort of pressure, and the fact that they both decided to take part in the Race is a testament to their courage. Certainly, they recognise that their relationship is still in its early stages.

"Our relationship is still very fiery. It has its ups and downs," says Sandy. "Most of the time, it's good. No, I'd say it's great".

"But it's much more stable now than it was at the beginning," says Francesca.

Andrew & Syeon

This result-oriented boyfriend and girlfriend have already developed strategies for the game. Putting their eighteen-month-old relationship under pressure is one way to see how strong it is, and these two are confident that they have what it takes and have enough in common to make it work.

Andrew and Syeon from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, already have a strategy.

"Every team needs a leader," says Syeon, "And if there are two leaders, then you just wind up arguing."

The solution is that there is only one leader. Andrew is the leader, and in any situation during the race, he will make the final decision (after a short debate, if necessary).

This sort of foresight should make for a very interesting game, particularly since it lays the blame squarely in Andrew's lap if he makes bad decisions.

But this is an interesting couple all around, another example of cross-cultural dynamics at play. While Andrew is a true-blue "Malaysian Sensation" (as he describes himself), his girlfriend Syeon is of a Korean-Australian background.

They two have known each other for three years, having met while snowboarding in Jindabyne, Australia. Friends at first, their correspondence turned into a long distance relationship while she was in London and he was in KL, and they've been together for about eighteen months now. They describe their relationship as interesting, fun and … childish. They think it's important that they have many common values and principles, partly because it lends strength to their relationship, but also because they feel that it will help them to be in sync during the Race.

Adrian and Collin

Young, energetic and passionate about their fitness regime, gym buddies, Collin and Adrian from Singapore are in such good shape that they could be the perfect poster boys for being fit and healthy. In fact, one can hardly tell that this team holds a secret which can prove to either be a setback or a huge advantage in The Amazing Race Asia! The jovial pair will proudly tell you, and expressively too, that Adrian has a hearing disability and relies on sign language to communicate with his teammate, Collin.

Having first met in a gym nine months ago, where Collin works as a part-time fitness and pilates instructor, these two fitness fanatics found similar interests in swimming, running and traveling and formed a quick friendship. So when they learned about the second season of their favorite race around the world, it was not hard to decide to sign up together.

While some may see Adrian's hearing disability as a hindrance in the race, the guys feel that it may reinforce their friendship. As Collin explains, "This is a good opportunity to know each other better. I like the challenges. Even though we are both active in sports, I believe that this race requires more than just physical fitness, to work as a team."

While Adrian may be younger, he will have you know that he is no pushover to be underestimated. Claiming to be the more adventurous of the duo, Adrian is always on a look out for challenges in his life to conquer.

In fact, The Amazing Race Asia is not his first adventure around the globe. Last year, he took part in a prestigious Clipper Race, an annual round the world yacht race that saw him navigating the seas for three whole months. Not only was he the first deaf Asian person to enter the race, he actually had no sea faring experience to speak of!

Just the same, this team is looking forward to having the race open up opportunities for them to get to know more of Asia. Describing their love of travel as a great passion, both Collin and Adrian profess a great hunger for knowledge about the world and people's culture and custom.

For their game strategy, both are planning to rely on teamwork, and will not start to blame the other if something does not happen as planned. Collin also promises that his team will always be using ethical ways to win. And if that doesn't work, they can rely on their uncanny ability to figure things out together. As Adrian describes it, "We think alike in so many ways, usually in unanticipated situations. It's amazing."

Marc and Rovilson

No Amazing Race show can be without its hunk factor and that is where Marc and Rovilson from the Philippines come in. This is one team with the two flamboyant individuals, who dish out a mixture of comedy and ego with a ton of sass. Both TV hosts by day, Rovilson also works as a magazine editor while Marc is a model, whose face, and rather well toned body, has graced the cover of many magazines.

From the get-go, the combination of Marc and Rovilson, is a potent mixture that cannot be taken seriously. Otherwise, you will miss out on the constant ribbing dished out by the friends of four years, as they lovingly slam each other with put down and insults, all in the name of friendship.

Even before the race, Rovilson is very sure that his Aussie buddy will do something disappointing during the competition while Marc is deathly afraid that his American friend will show his true nature in the competition, which happens to be constantly late for everything.

"But I've learned to accept him as a friend, even with his faults. Plus, I tell him to turn up an hour before he actually needs to be there," Marc quips.

At the same time, Rovilson happily describes his friend as someone who lets his female co-host do all the dirty work on television, and also hosts beauty pageants for a living.
Such is the basis of a friendship that started with a mutual friend 4 years ago, which showed both men that they were not that different, as both love a good laugh, and share an equally wicked sense of humor. So what exactly is the biggest difference between them both?

As Marc puts it with a straight face, "I've got hair."

Marc is looking forward to the joy of hamming it up with his buddy on screen, and challenging themselves to win. In fact, this is his main reason for competing on the show. "We are the most competitive when we are giving each other a hard time," he points out, subtly revealing that it is not purely about the fun and games when it comes to the top prize.

So, given their sharp wit, outgoing personality and an ability to dish out as well as they can take, who is the better TV host between the two of them? A laughing Marc believes he has that title in the bag. Pointing to his partner, "Even if I have to lug your lazy fat arse all over television, people will get to see who the best TV host is."

A sly Rovilson counters, "As long as you promise not to bring your stunt double." And Rovilson makes this promise to viewers of the show, "We promise you the most animated, exciting, lovable, huggable and most fun team on The Amazing Race Asia."

Pam and Van

When it comes to The Amazing Race Asia, there is an unspoken pressure for Pamela, 24, and Vanessa, 29, to bring home the top prize. Yes, both Malaysians realize that there is a lot riding on them to perform well, since the winners of the inaugural The Amazing Race Asia were Malaysian and also an all female team!

But trumping nationalistic pride is a simple matter of family pride as well. Four years ago, their brother, Vince, proved to be a winner by emerging victorious over 11 others in a nationwide reality singing competition.

Artiste manager Vanessa, who now manages her brother's rising singing career, recalls that watching their brother win formed one of the high points in her life. But aside from price, there are also other factors that will be pushing both women to victory.

"I love adventure and I want to see how far we can push ourselves," says Pamela, a professional dancer and assistant dance choreographer.

Surprising enough, elder sister Vanessa admits to being the more timid one compared to Pamela, who she describes as more outgoing. In fact, Vanessa credits Pamela for saving her life once, when out for a drive one evening, their friend fell asleep at the wheel. It was Pamela who woke up and alerted the driver, but not before the car began spinning out of control. It was also Pamela's idea that they both take part in the race. Of course, it was an idea that Vanessa jumped at as it was an opportunity of a lifetime.

"Plus I love traveling and love an adventure. I was to see how far I can push myself in different situations," says Vanessa. For Pamela, choosing her sister as a partner was an easy choice to make as "she's always been there for me.".

In anticipation of the grueling experience, the sisters started increasing their workout sessions and also developed strategies, such as deciding who would be a better fit for the different tasks dished out in the show. But as Pam puts it, there is only so much you can account for especially when watching someone performing a task on television and having to tackle it head on.

"Each task and situation varies so vastly that you can't seem to apply a strategy that you've learnt from a prior task," she notes.

And also expect a certain mean streak inherent in the sisters but not in the way one can expect. The sisters have perfected an evil, insidious laugh, and coupled with the fact that their voices are identical, it certainly bumps up the scare factor when they laugh in unison.

In other words, when the two are laughing together, the other teams better be on the lookout.