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An Amazing Race coming to amazing Athabasca

Organizer expects to hit max number of entrants soon
20200114 Amazing Race Athabasca logo
A homegrown version of The Amazing Race will be in Athabasca June 6. It is designed, created and produced by Westlock's Wendy Lister.

ATHABASCA – Yes, the Amazing Race is coming to Athabasca June 6.

No, not the television show, but a parody version organized and created by Westlock's Wendy Lister. A day full of route info clues followed by either a roadblock, or detour challenge for racers, while the team which crosses the finish line in the quickest time will win the title.

Twenty-four teams are needed by the end of February for this event to become a reality. It is a great team building, or bonding exercise, said Lister.

“Bound by friendship, love or family as a team of two you will race in and around the Town of Athabasca,” she says on the event Facebook page. “Teams will have no idea where they're going or what challenges they will face. The challenges will be as varied as the sponsors that design them: you may be solving a puzzle for one challenge then moving on to test your balance or fitness at the next challenge.”

Lister is a longtime fan of the show and known for creating and organizing events in Westlock.

"I'm known for doing events; I'm extremely creative and I look at something then think to myself ‘I can duplicate that, I can put my own spin on it to make it into my own,’” Lister said. “And so, I decided to do it in my hometown of Westlock (and) got some support (so) I am doing the same thing in Athabasca.”

Lister ran her first Amazing Race in Westlock last September and loved the experience. It also gave her a chance to figure out what worked and what didn’t.

“Two things I didn't realize: I didn't realize how competitive people are and how seriously they would take it. Like Westlock's race, team Verberts Keepin It Rural that won did it in two hours and 14 minutes. Seven challenges,” Lister laughs. “Everyone who raced that day, all 24 racers, were done within three, three and a half hours when they raced to the finish line.

“Those people were sweating while they were racing and it wasn't racing like for the cash prize, it was just that competitiveness came out of them and they took it very seriously. So now realizing that and reading the racerscomments from the feedback survey’s, we know we need harder and more challenges.”

Lister has been travelling to Athabasca to contact local businesses and put up posters inviting people to sign up.

“For Westlock’s race I had a lot of challenges in my own head so, I went and hit certain businesses (and the) same thing in Athabasca there's certain challenges in my head and I am targeting certain businesses,” she said. “So far, no one has said ‘Yeah, no, I'm not interested.’ Everyone's like, ‘Let's do it, yeah, sounds like a great day.’”

It’s a great way for local businesses to reach new customers Lister mentioned, noting how the bowling alley in Westlock closed for general business the day of the race.

“They closed the whole bowling alley down just for therace and out of 48 racers there was only a couple of people that the owner recognized that had ever been in his bowling alley,” Lister said. “So, it was great for him to have people come down. He even tried to recruit some of them because they turned to be good bowlers. That's always great for businesses.”

Several local businesses have already reached out to sponsor a challenge or to lend a helping hand including the Athabasca Advocate 

“We are fans of the show and see this as a great opportunity to showcase the beauty of Athabasca, as well as promote local businesses and tourism,” said Advocate general manager Karen Seal. “Plus, it just sounds like a lot of fun.”

The Athabasca race will also start differently than the TV show, with teams doing a shot-gun style start.

“So, it's not like The Amazing Race where all teams are going to go and do the first challenge and then move on,” Lister explained. “You have 12 challenges and we're going to stagger you all to start upon different challenges, so we don't bottleneck."

Lister recommends to anyone who enters the Athabasca race to know the area and stated this is an unplugged event as no cellphones or GPS is allowed, but you will be given a map of the town.

“I would highly recommend that either you familiarize yourself with reading a map and you should understand the countryside like range roads, townships, etc.,” Lister said. “I really highly recommend you familiarize yourself with the businesses and where to find things.”

If you want to register as a contestant or business contact Lister at [email protected] as the entry deadline is Feb. 29.

 

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