On CBS’s hit reality show The Amazing Race, contestants take off from airports around the world, collect dozens of passports stamps and visit some of the most coveted travel destinations. But how does the show related to real travel? Season 19 contestant Laurence Sunderland shares his Amazing Race experience.
After being asked to be a contestant on CBS’s hit reality television show The Amazing Race a few years ago, yacht builder, manager and father of eight Laurence Sunderland refused. At the time Sunderland, father to the now famous Abby and Zac Sunderland, admits to not knowing much about the program that pits two person teams in a race around the world.
Nor did he change his mind when the show approached him a second time. But in a third plea to Sunderland and son Zac, the show finally got the father-son adventure duo they had been looking for to compete in The Amazing Race’s 19th season that is currently airing .
“I didn’t know anything about [the show] at first…I refused,” Sunderland said, “I didn’t mean to be ignorant…But it’s a great opportunity to spend more time with Zac. And the opportunity to race with him is great. Not many fathers get to do that.”
The Sunderland family has a rich legacy of travel and exploration. Laurence, who has owned his own yacht building and management company since 1990, has sailed all over the world to exotic and remote locations. Two of his eight children, Zac ,19, and Abby ,17, have already made names for themselves. Zac became the first person under the age of 18 to solo circumnavigate the globe (a record which has since been broken), while Abby attempted the feat but was unsuccessful.
With all of that experience under their belts, one has to like the father-son tandem’s chances at winning the $1,000,000 cash prize awarded to the winner of the show.
Laurence, who managed both Zac and Abby’s famous sea expeditions, talked about how his travel-oriented lifestyle has helped him prepare for the show.
“I managed [Zac and Abby’s] campaigns and in that I’m forever dealing with curveballs…things on the fly. The Amazing Race is almost an extension of that,” Sunderland said with a laugh.
Sunderland has been to the farthest reaches of the globe and with that he has learned a thing or two about travel.
“The best piece of advice I have is: Rather than be the tourist, try to find out where the real people of the destination go to have fun,” Sunderland said, “It enriches the experience and helps get to the heart of a place rather than the plastic lining.”
Sunderland is at heart, a sailor. So it’s no wonder he prefers the ocean as opposed to traveling by plane.
“[Sea travel] is a unique way of getting there. It’s slow, enjoyable and it takes a little bit of work, but you feel like you’ve contributed something when you arrive.”
By Steve Breazle for PeterGreenberg.com
Are you watching Laurence on The Amazing Race? Is that show an accurate look at travel or another overblown reality show?
To read more, check out:
- our plan for How to Run Your Own Amazing Race
- our news article about Laurence’s daughter Abby Sunderland’s disappearance at sea
- and the followup article on Sunderland’s rescue
- our water sports and sailing category
For more information about Laurence and his children Zac and Abby, check out Worldwind Productions.
And watch Laurence and Zac on The Amazing Race every Sunday night on CBS
