The hit reality TV show The Amazing Race Canada features two pairs of West Coasters in its current season.
“How can you not be ready for the race when you’re from the Comox Valley?”
Eddie Parinas
Four contestants from Vancouver Island’s Comox Valley are on the show’s ninth season competing for a grand prize of $250,000.
The two teams are married couple Allison Seller and Eddie Parinas and partners Tyler Turner and Kayleen VanderRee.
“How can you not be ready for the race when you’re from the Comox Valley?” Parinas said in an interview with The Comox Record, crediting the Island for abundant outdoor adventure on land and sea. He and Seller are both wellness enthusiasts: he is a personal trainer, and she works in business with a background in nutrition.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of this incredible race, ready to face challenges, explore stunning destinations, and push our limits to the max!”
Eddie Parinas
On his Instagram, he shared: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of this incredible race, ready to face challenges, explore stunning destinations, and push our limits to the max!”
Meanwhile, Turner and VanderRee are both professionally active. He is a snowboarder who just won two golds and a bronze at last winter’s Paralympic games.
“Amazing Race Canada Season 9 Let’s Gooooo!!”
Tyler Turner
Turner lost both his legs after a skydiving accident back in 2017 but has since returned to skydiving as an instructor and also competes in adaptive surfing with the use of prosthetics.
“Amazing Race Canada Season 9 Let’s Gooooo!! Make sure you tune in this summer and cheer on @fromsnowtosail and I as we try and see how far I can possibly run on my legs! 😂😂” he wrote on his Instagram.
His partner VanderRee is a blogger and commercial scuba diver. She shares their active outdoor adventures on her Instagram @fromsnowtosail and via their Youtube Channel, All About Spray Sailing.
Speaking to the Record, she said, “the 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!”
The series premiered July 4th, with the next episode airing July 11th – you can watch how it all plays out via CTV’s website.