MOST Amazing racer: ‘Cannot-miss event’
If you’re on the fence about competing in the 2016 MOST Amazing Race, talk to Eric Nybakken – his enthusiasm for the event will push you over the edge.
“Don’t hesitate for a moment,” urged Nybakken, who competed last year with his wife, Tanya. “This race is a cannot-miss event in my household.”
Why?
“I love the rush,” he continued. “It’s uplifting to witness the sportsmanship of all the teams. I love the coming together of hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds, all having fun while competing and exploring the city. From registration, to donations, to the race itself, the event is executed flawlessly from start to finish.”
Interestingly, Nybakken’s excitement is based only on a MOST Amazing Race qualifying event. He and his wife didn’t finish last year’s qualifier in time to compete in the main race.
Lucky for them, they won’t have to worry about getting past a qualifier this year – the 2016 race, held Sept. 24 in St. Paul, does not include one and the first 100 teams who meet a fundraising minimum are in the main event.
As a first-year racer, Nybakken’s path to the event was similar to that of many other teams: He and his wife are fans of the popular CBS reality TV show. One night, while they were watching the program at their home in Oakdale, they speculated about how they’d perform together in such a race.
“The next day, I searched the internet and found The MOST Amazing Race,” Nybakken said. “I was intrigued. It sounded like an unbelievable experience.”
With that, “Team Nybie” was born. Nybakken and his wife even made custom tank tops, colored purple, with a 1970s-style logo featuring shooting stars.
The race was everything they hoped it’d be.
“I vividly remember looking out over the field upon our arrival – the sun was glistening off the morning dew,” a nostalgic Nybakken said. “You could feel the excitement and anticipation as the other teams arrived.”
His favorite race challenge?
“Memorizing a verse and eating a bag of mini donuts,” Nybakken said. “I hammered that bag of donuts. My wife got one in before she had to step back and let me handle the rest.”
Least favorite?
“Bowling,” he admitted. “Not because it was a bad event, but because my wife and I are both terrible bowlers. It took us longer than it should have because none of the lanes had bumpers.”
Nybakken appreciates the race not only for the fun it beholds, but also the good it accomplishes.
“The Salvation Army is one of those organizations we often take for granted,” he said. “We forget about the amazing things they do in our neighborhoods, state, country, and around the world. At the end of the day, everyone is racing to help an unbelievable cause – The Salvation Army.”
The 2016 MOST Amazing Race will be held Sept. 24 in St. Paul. Registration is scheduled to open in mid-June. Learn more at AmazingRaceMN.org.
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