Top 10 Incredible Race Across the World Moments
#10: Tricia & Cathie’s Friendship
They went on to win the third series, and it’s easy to see why: the two worked together seamlessly and were never afraid to get stuck in to earn some money. In one memorable moment when the duo arrived at Jade City in Canada, they decided that rather than camp in the Great White North’s bear-infested wilderness, they were going to brutally dismantle a shack so that they could get a free night’s stay in a picturesque, woodland cabin. As if we weren’t already rooting for them, Cathie takes a moment to reflect on how much she’s grown on a trip she actually only came on initially to support Tricia.
“Tricia & Cathie” = same as “Trisha” and “Cathy”
#9: Green Onion Cakes
In Edmonton, Zainib and Mobeen went to work in a Chinese restaurant making the city’s renowned green onion cakes. We’re not sure we’d trust some strange Brits with a cherished recipe, but they all had fun baking. Or, rather, Zainib did, because she did most of the work herself – which seemed to be the way their entire relationship went, though it clearly suited them just fine. Zainib opened up about her husband’s methodical nature, but didn’t mind his slowness on the ruthless dough production line. In the end, they got the job done, despite initial concerns that they were going to spend the race arguing.
https://youtu.be/ExkaOH96n-Q?si=D1mrMrA6xJaSZllNP&t=10 Zainib and Mobeen pronunciations
#8: Spelunking
In the inaugural series of the celebrity version, they had to get all the way from Marrakesh in Morocco all the way to Tromsø, at the very top of Norway. But the most amazing tourist r attractions are often the ones that take the most work, which F1 driver Billy Monger and his sister Bonny learnt when they took a trip to see the Cave of Choranche in France. They donned wet suits and hard hats and got spelunking, traversing underwater rivers to get to the enormous, stalactite-filled cavern. The cave actually has the most stalactites of any cave in Europe, and the Mongers found their subterranean experience to be deeply moving.
#7: The Great Wall of China
Series 5 saw the contestants trekking almost 9000 miles from China to India, and their journey began at one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the Great Wall of China. Constructed over a period of a thousand years, the wall was built primarily to defend China from Mongolian invaders. Everybody was amazed to see the wall, which stretches over 10,000 miles, even if their walk over the fortification ended in the requisite sacrifice of their phones and bank cards. It’s a sight everybody deserves to see once in their lifetime, but few are able; there’s always future series of “Race Across the World” to sign up for, though…
#6: An Encounter with Nature
Kevin and Claudia experienced something extraordinary while staying with an indigenous Cree family in Canada: a wild deer, roaming near to the camp. Deer are common even in the UK, but seeing one approach the campsite so fearlessly was absolutely remarkable. They contented themselves to relax and observe, experiencing nature in a way few people get to. Afterwards, they join in with a ceremony intended to commemorate their lost loved ones, which in this case were Kevin’s parents and Claudia’s grandparents, whose losses they both felt profoundly. Claudia, in particular, was moved to tears, while Kevin came to a realisation about his own role as her father.
#5: Father-Son Bonding
TV presenter and ex-footballer Jeff Brazier appeared on series 2 of the “Celebrity” version with his son Freddy, one of the two sons he had with the late reality TV star Jade Goody. Goody’s story is well-known, but getting a new perspective on her life and tragic death from cervical cancer was an emotional journey we weren’t prepared for. Freddy opens up to the camera and to his dad about the loss of his mother, which still – understandably – looms extremely large in the lives of himself and his brother Bobby. We usually see people bonding and growing on “Race Across the World”, but there was an added dimension to seeing these two go on their journey.
#4: Hitchhiking
More from Zainib and Mobeen, they ended up stranded in Canada outside a branch of Costco trying to find someone to give them a lift to Prince Rupert. But if there’s one thing Canadians are known for, it’s their friendliness, so they did eventually find someone willing to give them a lift. He agreed to take them on the drive for 250 Canadian dollars before they even knew his name – Cory, by the way – because he was already planning on spending the day driving around and exploring nature. He takes them on a pastoral detour to see a lake that means a lot to him, and they enjoy some wild swimming.
#3: A Hospital Visit
During the third “Celebrity” series, Dylan Llewellyn and his mum Jackie got stranded late at night in Mexico with nowhere to stay. But they ended up stuck not at a hotel like they wanted, but outside a hospital. Neither of them was injured, luckily, but they did wander around outside trying to find someone who spoke enough English to direct them to somewhere they’d be allowed to stay without needing medical attention. It’s a silly moment, but as anybody well-travelled knows, the absurd things that go wrong during a trip abroad are often the things you remember more than the bits that go well.
#2: The Naki Sumo Festival
After racing all the way from the starting point on Hokkaido down to Tokyo, Alfie and Owen got to enjoy the Naki Sumo Festival in Japan’s capital. But if you think you know what sumo is, prepare to be surprised, because this particular festival is a race to see which of two babies will cry first. It may seem odd, but it’s believed in Japan that crying means a child is healthy, so the child being able to cry well is a positive sign. The boys embraced the opportunity to broaden their horizons and learn all about this unique cultural event.
#1: Palenque
Kicking off in Mexico City, Emon and Jamiul eventually make their way to the tourist trap of Palenque, an ancient Maya city that was abandoned in the eighth century AD. Jamiul wants to experience everything the ruins have to offer, climbing the ancient steps and posing for photographs, while also descending into the temples themselves to see the spaces once used for human sacrifices. In the end, they reached the first checkpoint too late to get their bus tickets, but considering they eventually won this series, we’re sure the respite spent exploring Central American history was well worth it.
https://youtu.be/1tupA2Yqut4?si=o8otpa3SuG4_29Lg&t=2261 “Emon and Jamiul” & “Palenque” pronunciations
Let us know your favourite couple on “Race Across the World” in the comments!
