Reality Dish Exclusive Interview: Steve and Linda Cole of The Amazing Race 14

Interviews

THE AMAZING RACE 14

On Wednesday I got the chance to chat with Steve and Linda Cole, second team eliminated from The Amazing Race 14. Now I don’t know about anyone else, but I really enjoyed these two. They would have been great to have in this season. They saved themselves in the first episode, but had a bit of slip on Sunday. They talk here about how they outsmarted the rest on cheese hill, what really happened when Linda got lost, and what they think about the other teams still racing for the finish line.


Billy Debney: How are you guys doing?

Steve Cole: We’re doing great Billy, how are you?

BD: I’m doing great thanks. First I just have to say that I wish you two were going to be in the rest of this season…I thought you were great.

Linda Cole: We wish we were too!

SC: You know that’s the thing…its hard cause its not like we lost out because of some physical challenge. It was just a simple mistake. And we were just starting to get in the groove and we were getting up in the middle of the pack and getting to meet people. We were right up there and could have started to work with them.

BD: Alright so what made you two want to be part of The Amazing Race?

SC: We’ve been fans of The Amazing Race since the very first episode. That was probably the biggest thing. And it was all in the past couple years where we started trying. So one thing led to another…and we sat at home watching saying we could do that…and oh I wouldn’t make that mistake. So we just wanted to be a part of it. Just for that reason, for the adventure and so we could show that we could do it.

BD: What’s the story behind you getting picked?

SC: Well basically we filled out online applications and we made the video. One thing led to another. We got called in for interviews, so we did that. So this thing actually started…

LC: Last May. That’s when we sent the interview tape in. They sent us to LA then for the interview. And they were trying to decide if we were on the show or not. Now I know it looks like I wasn’t in shape but I’m 35 pounds lighter…I learned how to swim, I started climbing ladders and getting over my fear of heights. So we were preparing just in case we did get picked. And when we got the call…well we were just in shock. We were so thrilled.

BD: That’s awesome! Alright I want to rewind one episode first. That cheese challenge will probably be one of the most memorable challenges on The Amazing Race. How hard was it really?

SC: Hard! (laughs)

BD: (laughs) Well it looked hard!

LC: That hill was so slick and wet. It had animal excrement. It was not pretty.

SC: The hill was very steep, it was slick, and it was a long way. And what made matters worse was we did not know Jodie and Christie were behind us, we thought we were in last place. So Linda had troubles getting up the hill anyway. I mean it was so slick. So I had both of our cheese carriers and I would take them about 20 feet ahead first, because you had to keep them within 20 feet of you. So I would run up and then slide back down to Linda so I could help her up. Then we’d do it all over again. So that Linda stayed within the 20 feet of the carriers. So by the time we actually go to the top, well I was about dead at that time before we ever started carrying it. So once we got to the top we were like, well lets take a minuet and think about this. There was no way we were going to be able to do two trips. So we took a minuet and I cant remember who came up with it but we decided to take our carrier and make a sled. Cause the clue read that we had to use the carrier, It didn’t say how we had to use it. So I right away started busting mine up and Linda started getting the cheese together. So we worked really well as a team.

LC: We had two sleds but mine busted. Within three feet.

SC: I think we did tremendously well. But that was tough. I mean you could take the strongest person out there and that still would have been tough.

BD: Well you two did so well on it. You basically saved yourself and got to do another leg of the race.

LC: Had it not been for that.

SC: That’s one of the things that made us kick it in to gear. Cause if we don’t do this now we know that we’re gone. We were desperate. I think it was just taking a couple minuets out of the heat of the moment to just stop and think about it. And I think those couple of minuets put us ahead of like 3 or 4 other teams. Well before we got lost.

BD: Alright so on Sundays episode, the paragliding challenge. What was everyones reasoning, you included Linda, for not waiting for the wind to change and just running down the hill.

LC: Well the way we figured it. I believe at the time when we started to make the decision, there was a team that was on another flight that was one hour behind us. And there were 3 people ahead of me. And there were 15 minuets between each flight. So that was 45 minuets, and we figured another 15 minuets for me to fly down. Plus we had to wait for the wind. And we didn’t know if the wind would change that day or not. Some days its windy all day.

SC: And we didn’t realize that if these teams are this far behind, it think it was 3 teams, so we figured if Linda was slower and we gave her two hours to get down, so if the first team from the teams on the last flight got there after she had left and then they waited for awhile…well worst case scenario maybe they caught up a bit. So we did the math, and I think it would have worked, if Linda hadn’t gotten lost so badly. (laughs….with Linda)

LC: What they didn’t show on the show, I was on that mountain for about 4 hours. I made it all the way to the bottom and realized I had gone the wrong way. So I climbed back up, made my way through fire trails, and still couldn’t find that darn arrow. So I went back down and said well I’m going to have to stop someone to get some instruction. So I stopped that lady. Now I figured after 4 hours we were for sure out of it. And I thought if we got a 30 min penalty for taking a ride, well it wouldn’t hurt much anyway.

SC: Now what she didn’t tell you was she was not the only one to get lost. By the time she had gotten to the car, I think Jodie and Christie had just left 20 min earlier. We were still in the race. And actually on the way down Linda did see some of the other teams, but she pointed them in the right direction even though she was lost.

LC: I should have hid in the woods.

BD: Now you two almost caught up to Jodie and Christie when they didn’t know what to do with the wood. Was that an easy clue to misinterpret like they did?

LC: Well yea it could have been. Because it says hoof it. So they thought hoof it meant go to the horse stable. They really meant walk.

SC: And actually my first reaction was, I was thinking horses as well. These things are clues. They don’t say “go here” you have to read between the lines. They just read a bit more in to it then what was actually there.

BD: If I had talked to you right after you got eliminated, who would you have said would be crossing the finish line first?

LC: Well the way I thought of it the whole way through was, there are so many cameras and sound men around with you. I mean we are from a small town and not used to that. So I think whoever can go through that much stress and work that hard, that’s the one that deserves to win.

SC: Now you have to keep in mind that we didn’t get to run the race with a lot of people because they were so far ahead. So we only got to see them a bit at the first pit stop. But I was really impressed with Mike and Mel. There was just something about them, maybe cause we saw them the most.

LC: And Luke and Margie. I mean they were just so amazing. She is just so fit. When we were in L.A. I saw her do a handstand on her back. And Luke is amazing. They are a great team.

BD: Like I said I really enjoyed watching you. If you ever got the opportunity to do All-Stars, would you do it?

SC: Oh well that would be just great. We would absolutely love to be part of the race again and get another shot. So if they ever asked we would for sure do it.

LC: They asked us that in our final interview. We would be so thrilled if they ever called.

BD: Well I think that’s all I have for you guys. Thanks so much!

LC: Thanks so much Billy, and thanks for cheering us on.

BD: Anytime, take care!

SC: You as well.