head-to-head, end-of-leg, or too physical?

[Questor]

For people who strongly disliked the recent very physical, end-of-leg,
head-to-head challenge, what was most objectionable about it?

What if the very same french fries race had been placed in the middle of the
leg, before a roadblock and/or detour, with the losing team incurring an
N-minute penalty (or Speedbump?) before being allowed to continue racing.

Or what if the french fries race had been a more "balanced" event, and included
some sort of mental component such as a quiz or puzzle?

Are people opposed to the head-to-head competition no matter where or how it is
conducted?

[Brian Smith]

Post by Questor
For people who strongly disliked the recent very physical, end-of-leg,
head-to-head challenge, what was most objectionable about it?
What if the very same french fries race had been placed in the middle of the
leg, before a roadblock and/or detour, with the losing team incurring an
N-minute penalty (or Speedbump?) before being allowed to continue racing.
Or what if the french fries race had been a more "balanced" event, and included
some sort of mental component such as a quiz or puzzle?
Are people opposed to the head-to-head competition no matter where or how it is
conducted?

If that was a roadblock there would be no complaining. It's that it came at the mat that annoys people. Getting to the mat should mean the leg is over or that there is immediately another leg to do that does not end at the same place and is a full leg.

--
Brian

[Guardsman]

Post by Questor
For people who strongly disliked the recent very physical, end-of-leg,
head-to-head challenge, what was most objectionable about it?

[...]

The challenge invalidates any lead a team could build and having it at
the end of the leg prevents a team from making up for poor natural
abilities. Either have it early in the leg or give a team an advantage
if they arrive first.

Maybe try a Head-to-Head Detour where the earlier team gets to choose
which Detour to do or a Head-to-Head Roadblock where the earlier team
gets to select the competitors?

--

[JDunlop]

They're trying things from other country's TAR, which is fine. It's designed to be a leg-ender (I don't think it works any other time,) so no issue with its placement either.

My problem is that they spent most of the second half of the hour on it, and after one or two races, it was pretty boring TV.

[Bob Bailin]

Post by JDunlop
They're trying things from other country's TAR, which is fine. It's
designed to be a leg-ender (I don't think it works any other time,) so no
issue with its placement either.
My problem is that they spent most of the second half of the hour on it,
and after one or two races, it was pretty boring TV.

In last summer's Amazing Race Canada Leg 7, they had a Face Off challenge
where 2 teams competed against in other at a local 5-pin bowling alley. The
winners moved on to the next task, the losers had to wait for the next team
to arrive. The last losing team incurred a one-hour (hourglass) time
penalty. This task was placed between the leg's Detour and Roadblock, and
gave the losers a chance to catch up (even though they didn't).

[Brian Smith]

Post by Bob Bailin

Post by JDunlop
They're trying things from other country's TAR, which is fine. It's
designed to be a leg-ender (I don't think it works any other time,) so no
issue with its placement either.
My problem is that they spent most of the second half of the hour on it,
and after one or two races, it was pretty boring TV.

In last summer's Amazing Race Canada Leg 7, they had a Face Off challenge
where 2 teams competed against in other at a local 5-pin bowling alley. The
winners moved on to the next task, the losers had to wait for the next team
to arrive. The last losing team incurred a one-hour (hourglass) time
penalty. This task was placed between the leg's Detour and Roadblock, and
gave the losers a chance to catch up (even though they didn't).

That sounds a lot better than what was done in TAR30.

--
Brian

[Karen M]

Post by Questor
For people who strongly disliked the recent very physical, end-of-leg,
head-to-head challenge, what was most objectionable about it?
What if the very same french fries race had been placed in the middle of the
leg, before a roadblock and/or detour, with the losing team incurring an
N-minute penalty (or Speedbump?) before being allowed to continue racing.
Or what if the french fries race had been a more "balanced" event, and included
some sort of mental component such as a quiz or puzzle?
Are people opposed to the head-to-head competition no matter where or how it is
conducted?

It's the timing that makes me, eh, uncomfortable. It's almost like telling the marathon winner nice effort, but after 26.2 miles, you have to wait for the next guy to cross the line, then run a 50-yard dash to determine the REAL winner. It's just a new twist we didn't expect; I suppose we'll get used to it if it keeps happening.

Karen

[Questor]

Post by Karen M

Post by Questor
For people who strongly disliked the recent very physical, end-of-leg,
head-to-head challenge, what was most objectionable about it?
What if the very same french fries race had been placed in the middle of the
leg, before a roadblock and/or detour, with the losing team incurring an
N-minute penalty (or Speedbump?) before being allowed to continue racing.
Or what if the french fries race had been a more "balanced" event, and included
some sort of mental component such as a quiz or puzzle?
Are people opposed to the head-to-head competition no matter where or how it is
conducted?

It's the timing that makes me, eh, uncomfortable. It's almost like telling
the marathon winner nice effort, but after 26.2 miles, you have to wait for
the next guy to cross the line, then run a 50-yard dash to determine the
REAL winner.

I like that image; it helps clarify what people find so objectionable.