The chosen ones
Best buds get second crack at Amazing Race Canada
The Amazing Race Canada Returns July 2
CTV, CTV.ca, CTV app
Jet Black and Dave Schram are the first ones to tell you: No one remembers who came in second place on The Amazing Race Canada, let alone fourth.
The best friends from London, Ont., competed on the first season of the reality series and lost to the father-son team of Tim Hague Sr. and Jr., coming in fourth place.
But after a nationwide vote, Black and Schram were selected as the first-ever eliminated team to get another shot.
Earlier this spring, Canadians voted between Black and Schram, brothers Brent and Sean from season 3 and the mother and daughter team of Frankie and Amy from season 4 to join season 7 as Canada’s Choice.
“Canadians chose Jet and Dave for the entertainment factor and because they liked to see how supportive they both were of one another even in disappointment,” show host and Olympian Jon Montgomery says. “But they’re going to have to earn their spot on the show. Canadians have given them a second chance and another opportunity. What they make of it is up to Jet and Dave.”
“I feel incredibly grateful and incredibly humbled,” Schram said. “I don’t like asking people for things, so even the thought or the notion of someone taking time out of their day to vote for us, it’s a big honour and it’s humbling when strangers step up and vote for you.”
Q What was it like to finish in the top four in season 1?
Dave: To go out before the finale was kind of gut wrenching. At least getting to the finale would have been a milestone, so when we didn’t get into the finale it was heartbreaking. I felt bad and guilty because it was the challenge I was doing that we lost on. Jet: After a couple of months of therapy (laughs) we moved on. Now we’re ready to try again. Dave: There’s nothing that thousands of dollars can’t fix (laughs).
Q What was your strategy in the first season and what about this time?
Jet: The first time we went in being very jovial and a lot of that was natural and we made a conscious decision to have fun, whether things were going great or poorly. I think that served us well. It kept us calm and gave us a nice perspective of the challenges and the race itself. Going in a second time, I would love to sit here and tell you that we have that exact same mindset, but I’d be lying if I didn’t confess that this time we’re a little more businesslike. I really want to see that mission accomplished. We had our fun, and we intend to have fun this season, but how great will it be to come in first? To be the last team on that podium – that will be amazing.
Q How do you feel about being selected as Canada’s Choice?
Jet: I’ll happily speak for every team that has done the race in the past six seasons. They would all jump at the chance to do it again, whether they were in first place or the first eliminated. The fact that we are the first team to ever repeat is very humbling. It also puts a lot on our shoulders, but, thankfully, our shoulders are broad enough to support that.
Q Are you feeling a lot of pressure being that one team that gets to come back?
Dave: Diamonds are made under pressure (laughs). There’s an immense amount of pressure. As the first Canada’s Choice team, people put faith in us. They want to see us and they want to see us win. So the stakes are bigger now than last time.
Jet: Season 1 we were going out there to represent ourselves, win or lose. This time, I feel like we’re going out there to represent ourselves and all the people who voted for us.
Q There have been a lot of fan-favourite teams in the five seasons after yours. What teams have resonated with you?
Jet: Obviously, seasons 2 through 6, there have been a lot of great teams and a lot of great male duos. Season 2, you had Mickey and Pete. Team Give’r, Kenneth and Ryan from season 5 to an extent.
Dave: I like the all-girl teams. I had a big crush on Steph and Kristen from season 4… they were incredible. They never saw the back of the line. ... The hockey girls (Natalie Spooner and Meaghan Mikkelson) were incredible.
Q Now how will you guys break up the challenges?
Dave: There’s nothing I won’t do.
Q What’s your Kryptonite then?
Dave: Swimming. Swimming is so hard. I don’t know if you’ve swam lately, but it’s really hard.
Jet: It really is. I anticipate being the second worst swimmer — Dave being the worst. The nice thing with our team is if you come into the race with two people with very different skill sets, you have to be careful about who does what. The nice thing with us is skill set wise we are very similar.
Dave: We’re Swiss Army knifelike. I don’t like the idea of skydiving, but if it’s on the Amazing Race, I’m doing it. There’s no challenge that’s going to come up that we’re not going to attempt.
Jet: We’re both pretty physical and we’re both smarter than the average bear. When it comes to food, hopefully he’s cooking it and I’m eating it.
Q What’s your take on U-Turns? Necessary evil or something you’re above doing?
Jet: I think in season 1, we would never consider using the U-Turn because we were too nice of guys. But, it is a game and it’s part of the game. We’ve lost the game in the past, and we will certainly understand if we get U-Turned…
Dave: I won’t.
Jet: I will understand if we get U-Turned, Dave will not. But I would at least be open to the discussion of using the U-Turn.
Dave: This season I would be more likely to use the U-Turn specifically against someone I don’t like. It will be deserved if we do it. It will be because they are a jerk. Then hopefully when it airs, they see that and realize what a jerk they are and they stop being such a jerk (laughs). Canada voted me in to call out jerks and I’m going to do it, one jerk at a time.
Q Where do you hope the Race goes this summer?
Dave: My hit list right now — Japan and Argentina. Those are the two places I want to go to the most. I’d also be happy with a Buenos Aires wine tour challenge. Cherry blossom picking in Japan could be good too.
Jet: We loved our season where we got to explore all four corners of Canada. Dave’s more of the travel guy, I’m more about the challenges.
Dave: I’ve been to every province and territory except Manitoba, so hopefully we can get there.
Q How do you prepare yourself to go on the Race?
Jet: Before bed every night it was 100 bicep curls. If big biceps can’t win this, nothing can.
Dave: Honestly, we haven’t had much time. I started running to get my cardio up. I have no idea how long the other teams have had to prepare, but they’ve had way more time than we’ve had.