Three-peat: Puzak, Kelly win Race (video)
(Watch video) – They did it again. For the third time in a row, the winners of this year’s 10th anniversary MOST Amazing Race, presented by CenterPoint Energy, are Tom Puzak and Eric Kelly. They finished in 4 hours, 58 minutes.
View team photos, race photos, qualifier photos.
Puzak and Kelly raced under a different name this year – team “Lucky Halves.”
They needed the luck, edging out team Breezy Bizzle by just 10 minutes. The teams were neck and neck for most of the race.
This year’s race included popular challenges from each of the past 10 years. Many were mental challenges such as identifying hot sauces at Buffalo Wild Wings and learning a Bollywood dance.
“This race is becoming less physical and less about running – it’s more accessible to everyone,” Kelly said. “If you’re a track star, you can’t win based on that. There are difficult mental challenges, like memorizing a play. You have to be multi-faceted.”
At some point during the race, each team had to give a $50 Mall of America gift card to a random person on the street and prove it by shooting a photo of the transaction – a challenge Mall of America dubbed “Surprise and Delight.”
Puzak and Kelly gave their gift card to a man who was very appreciative (pictured).
“He was going to go to Mall of America and spend it right then,” Puzak said.
Kelly and Puzak have participated in other Salvation Army MOST Amazing Races in cities across the country, winning several.
They loved this year’s 10th anniversary race.
“Great job by (race organizer) Julie Orlando and all the volunteers,” Puzak said. “We do other (non-Salvation Army) races, and this one is so much better because of the volunteers. It’s in a different league. The qualifier is great, too – it’s an event in itself.”
The top fundraising team of David Hilden and Beau Ellis (pictured) of team Adventure Guys won two $1,000 Mall of America gift cards. They raised nearly $6,300 for Salvation Army food and housing programs, edging out the second-place fundraising team, Flying Turtles, by less than $200. This is the sixth time Hilden (left) has won top fundraising honors.
Other race winners included:
- Second place: Breezy Bizzle won two premium queen-size beds courtesy of Mattress Firm ($4,600 value).
- Third: Two Guys won two queen-size beds courtesy of Mattress Firm ($2,400 value).
- Fourth: Adventure Guys won two $200 Mall of America gift cards.
- Fifth: Cao & Eddie won two $100 Mall of America gift cards.
- Sixth through 10th: Each team won $100 or more worth of products or services from one of the following: Mall of America, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunn Brothers Coffee, Guthrie Theater, Chick-fil-A.
- 11th through 25th: Each team won two $20 Mall of America gift cards.
Race details
The 2015 MOST Amazing Race featured 25 teams of two racing around Minneapolis to complete 11 mental and physical challenges.
Race challenges included:
- Stone Arch Bridge (starting line) – Hand-squeezing lemons to make Chick-fil-A’s signature lemonade and then drinking the straight lemon juice, seeds and all.
- Guthrie Theater – Memorizing and reciting a script on stage.
- U of M Aquatic Center – Jumping off a five- or 10-meter diving board, or picking toys off the bottom of the pool.
- Buffalo Wild Wings – Guessing the flavors of six different wing sauces, then drinking cups of each.
- Salvation Army Booth Manor – Delivering new pillows, courtesy of Mattress Firm, to 60 apartments inside the housing facility for seniors.
- Comedy Sportz – Acting out silly phrases.
- Kitchen Window – Making a gallon of fresh salsa and eating two cups of it.
- Tapestry Folkdance Center – Learning and performing a Bollywood dance.
- Mall of America – Riding two rides at Nickelodeon Universe.
- Minnehaha Falls – Looking for landmarks while riding surrey bikes.
- Stone Arch Bridge (finish line) – Getting a permit and plans from CenterPoint Energy to safely build a pipeline to a house.
Qualifier details
A qualifying event was held the morning of the race at two University of Minnesota facilities – Siebert Field and Coffman Student Union. Nearly 80 teams competed for 20 spots in the official afternoon event, where they were joined by the five top fundraising teams.
A Twin Cities power couple hosted the qualifier and cheered teams on: KDWB 101.3 FM host Falen, along with her husband and KFAN 100.3 FM host, Paul “Meatsauce” Lambert.
“The MOST Amazing Race is an event I look forward to doing,” said Lambert, who has volunteered at the race with Falen for several years. “It’s the perfect way to raise money for The Salvation Army.”
Qualifier challenges included:
- Initials game similar to the one played on KFAN Power Trip morning show.
- Riding a Slip ‘N Slide while playing a matching game.
- Eating either a mystery can of food or a full bag of mini-donuts.
- Bowling at Coffman Student Union.
- Finding locations on a Metro Transit bus map.
Thank you to ASPIRE Beverages and Coca-Cola for providing cold drinks during the qualifier and main race.
Amazing fundraising
The Salvation Army thanks all of the racers, volunteers and sponsors who made this year’s 10th anniversary MOST Amazing Race a success. Together, they helped raise $83,000 for Salvation Army food and housing programs.
To date, the race has raised more than $630,000 to fund programs such as our Harbor Light Shelter in Minneapolis and breakfast program in St. Paul.
The race is the brainchild of Julie Orlando, special events manager for The Salvation Army Northern Division.
“I get emotional thinking about all the wonderful things the race has accomplished in 10 years,” said Orlando (pictured). “Thank you to CenterPoint Energy for sponsoring this year’s race, and to every racer, volunteer and staff member of the past decade for making this dream a reality. Together, we have made an incredible difference in the lives of thousands of people who need our love and support.”
Video
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