This week, Phil tells us that the Blind U-Turn will be in play for the first time. The Blind U-Turn means a team may choose to send another team back to complete the second detour task, strategically delaying them. In seasons past, the team knew who U-Turned them. This season, it's anonymous and sneaky. Just how we like it!
Teams must fly to Krasnoyarsk in Siberia via Moscow. Once there, they take a taxi to a hydroelectric dam featured on the back of the ten ruble note. Once there, they get the next clue. Teams have lots of flight options routing through Moscow. It was nice to see flight attendants Jodi and Christie use their professional experience to their advantage. They quickly routed themselves on the earliest flights -- and good for them, really. Lots of Jaunted folks have been very frustrated with their previous lack of travel prowess.
DETOUR
Once the teams get to Siberia, and find the dam, they have to find the Church of
Saint
Innokenty to get their next clue. In this case, it's the Detour. Teams must choose
between Stack and Construct. In Stack, teams must stack a gigantic pile
of firewood into a neat stack, using another stack as a model. In Construct, teams
must build a pair of wooden shutters and then install them on a house. If you watched
the episode, you know it was all about Stack! It was the only challenge that had food,
booze and a roaring campfire. Construct just had a grumpy old Russian dude scowling at
racers. If he had vodka, he was totally bogarting it. Several teams experienced
collapses during Stack which prompted them to try Construct. At the end of the Detour,
Margie and Luke blind U-Turned Amanda and Kris, who then had to finish both tasks.
That kid, Luke, is a sneaky snake...and we like it!
ROADBLOCK
Teams head over to Bobrovy Log
Park, a local amusement park, for the Roadblock. In
this challenge, one team member must ride a three mile bobsled course in under four
minutes and look for seven letters to unscramble at the bottom. The word will spell
out the name of the famous Russian playwright, Chekhov. This is a challenge ripped
right from ABC's The Mole, but it was awesome, so we don't care! This
unregulated bobsled track had all the safety features of a rickety county fair -- and
it's a wonder no one went careening off the track.
THE PIT STOP
This week, it's Krasnoyarsk
Theater. In the end, Jodi and Christie really pulled it
together and arrived on the mat in first place and won a pair of motorcycles. Everyone
knows blond bikers are hot! Way to go, Phil! Kisha and Jen finished second with
Victor and Tammy in third. And, for the third week in a row, Margie and Luke land
safely in fourth.
OUSTED
It was a race to the finish, and we secretly hoped those little stunt men would get the
boot, but it was Amanda and Kris who finished last, and were eliminated. They were a
smart, competitive team, and it's too bad they didn't hang around awhile longer. But,
that's they way the game is played, and kudos to Margie and Luke for eliminating one
of their biggest threats this early.
NEXT WEEK
It looks like everyone has to run through frozen Russia wearing nothing but Speedos.
This challenge seems particularly sadsistic, and we are loving it! Shrinkage
everywhere! That's amazing television, people!
