All About SOAR
The Beginning
Glenna Banda, Matt Steffler and Paul Pengelly got together in late 2003 to begin the plans for an Amazing Race in 2004 for their friends and family. The race was to take place on the August long weekend and span two days ending with a big party. Glenna got the idea to get a local charity involved and because of Matt's father's involvement with The Children's Aid Society, we contacted them and were directed to The Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington.
The event had an entry fee of $150 and although it was talked about by potential racers throughout the spring and summer, the applications didn't come in by the time the deadline came around. The directors decided to chalk the poor attendance up to the scheduling conflicts of the long weekend. So, the date was switched to September 17-19. 14 teams raced in the first event that never even left the City of Guelph.
Since that first year, with the date now firmly set on the first full weekend in June, 100 teams have been put up against over 100 unique challenges in 15 different towns and cities. Teams have lodged at farms, conservation areas, scout camps and even stayed in a hotel!
SOAR has handed out one $5000, three $3000, and two $1200 travel vouchers, two return plane tickets to anywhere, 4 BBQs, camping packages, cd and dvd packages, and much more.
The Race
The Southern Ontario Amazing Race (SOAR) is a two day adventure competition modelled after the TV show The Amazing Race. 20 teams of two race around Wellington County and beyond competing in challenges of all sorts at test racers' mental and physical strengths.
A sample of challenges:
40 foot high suspended ropes course |
Transmit a message using Semaphore |
Complete a pole dancing routine |
Tube the Elora Gorge |
Solve a giant sudoku |
Chisel free a glass bottle |
Teams must travel by one of the many methods provided (canoe, bike, helicopter, bus, car, train, foot) to get from challenge to challenge. To date, the race has travelled to the following locations:
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The Cause
Racers collect pledges prior to the event for The Children's Foundation. The teams that bring in the most pledges are given tokens that help them during the race. Shortcuts allow teams to skip an entire challenge, Tune-Ups give teams a hint or head-start at a challenge and Yields allow a team to force a following team to wait 15 minutes at the Yield sign. In the 8 years of the race's existence, teams have raised over $400,000 dollars.
- 2011 - $74,000 (Top Team: Lindsay and Taylor - $12,900)
- 2010 - $70,000 (Top Team: Jake and Rob - $14,000)
- 2009 - $65,000 (Top Team: Eric and Michael - $8007)
- 2008 - $62,000 (Top Team: Carrie and Kim - $9570)
- 2007 - $49,000 (Top Team: Carrie and Kim - $9400)
- 2006 - $45,000 (Top Team: David and Michelle - $9050)
- 2005 - $34,000 (Top Team: Graham and Michelle - $4900)
- 2004 - $9000 (Top Team: Wayne and Kristen - $1600)
The Crew
Matt Steffler - Director - Media Coordinator
Matt is a Sales Rep for Dupont Canada Inc.
Most Memorable Race Moment:
Having the string break on Splintersection in Year Two. I can't say it was my favourite moment, but it's still outlined in vivid memory for me.
Top Three Race Challenges:
Silent Rainbow Connection - teams have to use food colouring to create a series of coloured containers, based on drawings from their partners. One of my personal favourite challenges that just came into my head, fully realized.
Log Driver's Waltz - Move a volunteer from the community across a field and back, rolling them along lengths of telephone pole. This one has it all for me - real physical effort, some skill, the community aspect, making great use of donated supplies - and great use of an annoying song, repeated endlessly.
Blind Man Tango - Blindfolded, one team member follows the other's instructions to assemble several tangram pieces. Then, together, they make a randomly selected tangram shape. Uniquely among our Year One challenges, this one stands up to any we've created in subsequent years.
Favourite Planning Task:
Actually building the challenges - and seeing the whole Race lined up in front of us in one room, the back of one truck, wherever.
Thoughts for the Future of SOAR:
I'd love to see us make another big leap in the scope and size of the Race, as long as we could do it without sacrificing what makes SOAR great now. That - and I'd love to see a truly working Hexagone Overboard in action.
Glenna Banda - Director
Glenna Banda is the Executive Director for The Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington.
Most Memorable Race Moment:
Waiting at the final pit stop in 2005. The top 3 teams were so close that we had no idea who was running across the field towards us until they were in sight. True excitement!
Top Three Race Challenges:
PicasSo Far - Teams had to match up kids' drawings with the artist. I was a "test racer" for this challenge and man was it frustrating and I love frustrating challenges!
Summer Camp - It was simple but so adventurous - archery, canoeing, and high ropes.
ROTF - I've always wanted to do a challenge with slingshots and we finally made it happen! Plus, I have a soft spot for the Survivor-esque challenges. Teams had to break targets to earn their puzzle board and then solve the puzzle.
Favourite Planning Task:
I love the week before the race when we sort all of the challenge props into containers by challenge. It's a sense of completion and anticipation all at the same time.
Thoughts for the Future of SOAR:
To keep the race fresh & exciting every year.
Paul Pengelly - Director
Paul is a Musician and Writer.
Most Memorable Race Moment:
In year one there were 12 volunteers in total (including Race Directors). Ed Griffith (Racer 2005) was volunteering without a car and so I had to drop him off at his challenges before getting to mine. It was utter chaos.
Top Three Race Challenges:
Petrified Clue Inside - clue was hidden in bottle that was incased in stone.
PicasSo Far - teams had to match grade school artwork by the artist based on the drawing styles
Rewriting History - teams had to order the challenges completed so far and place them in the city they took place in.
Favourite Planning Task:
The Volunteer scheduling. Each volunteer gets their name on little cards and we shift them around on a big wall timeline of the race. Logistically it is crazy, but satisfying when we get every challenge covered by enough marshals.
Thoughts for the Future of SOAR:
SOAR is the SOUTHERN ONTARIO Amazing Race. I would truly like to see that happen. In the past we have been restricted geographically to the Guelph, K/W area, and I look forward to the year when we can actually use all of Southern Ontario.
Jocelyn Wessels (2008-2009 Racer) - Transportation Coordinator
Jocelyn is a Research Assistant at The University Of Guelph.
Most Memorable Race Moment:
The clue read: "You must walk to your next challenge". On our way, my race partner Emma and I were met with odd looks and stares from other pedestrians and motorists. Turns out having your face painted like a tiger will attract that kind of attention in a small town!
Top Three Race Challenges:
XYZ - Ziplining over the Elora Gorge.
Crochaos - One partner directs the other to complete a croquet course while they are blindfolded and rolling a giant beach ball.
Biathalon - One partner skis (on grass) around a circuit and uses a blowgun to hit Olympic ring targets, completing penalty laps if they miss
Favourite Planning Task:
Deciding whether or not a challenge is buildable/workable/doable. You have to look at it from every possible angle, and realize its strengths and weaknesses. Some challenges start out as crazy ideas, and end up being amazing challenges. Others don't make it much further than the drawing board…
Thoughts for the Future of SOAR:
As the Transportation Coordinator, I'd like to see a few different modes of transportation used in future races... And also to see just how much we can collect for the Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington! Go Racers Go! You can do it!
Laura Cassian (2006-2009 Volunteer) - Story Coordinator
Laura is a GIS Specialist with the City Of Brampton.
Most Memorable Race Moment:
SOAR 2010, Saturday night overnight when the storms and wind rolled in, basically obliterating the campsite. A bunch of people woke up and we took shelter in the Penske truck, but amazingly, some people managed managed to sleep through the storm! I spent most of the night listening to the radio, worried about tornadoes. My favourite part of that experience, even though we were all miserable and soaked to the bone, was that directors, volunteers and racers all banded together the next morning to clean up, put up some shelters, get the barbecues going and get everyone a hot breakfast before heading off for another day of racing. Seeing everyone working together really renewed my spirits.
Top Three Race Challenges:
Zipline across the Elora Gorge in 2009 - pure adrenaline in a beautiful setting.
Ass from Jack or Ass in 2010 - loved getting to know the donkeys during our site visit
Any gross food challenge - it's so much fun sitting back and watching someone else have to do this!
Favourite Planning Task:
Testing the challenges - all the fun of being a racer with none of the pressure!
Thoughts for the Future of SOAR:
I would love to see the race spread out more geographically, while still being doable in 2 days. And of course, keep the challenges unique, fresh and fun for everyone.
Darren Farry (2004-2006 Racer) - Insurance Coordinator
Darren is a Financial Controller for Unitron.
Most Memorable Race Moment:
The race to the finish in Year 2. My teammate Cory and I left the last challenge in first place. We just needed to find a quick ride and get to the finish line ASAP. Well the race gods were not on our side that day. 10+ cars refused our request and we ended up in a single mother's car with her 4 year old. We were motivated to get to the finish line pronto and she seemed very motivated to get us out of her car pronto. So you could say our objectives were aligned. Ultimately, the delay in finding our last lift ended up costing us the race. But what a blast!!!
Top Three Race Challenges:
Zip-lining the Gorge (as a Director in 2009)
Summer Camp - more specifically the High Ropes portion (2006)
Water Totter (2006)
Favourite Planning Task:
Dreaming up Challenges and Building Weekend
Thoughts for the Future of SOAR:
I think SOAR will continue to evolve as it does every year with new elements added and things changed. I think one of these years, SOAR as past racers know it, may take a monumental shift in a direction nobody expects. That's what keeps it so exciting, that it is so dynamic, from the different challenges introduced to the race going to new locations all the time. One of these years, the fundamentals of SOAR will be shaken to their core and a new race will emerge. Could this be the year? Who can say?
Other Directors
Emily Boms (2004 Racer) - Volunteer Coordinator
Ilona Farry (2004 Racer) - Food Coordinator
Albert Klein (2005-2007 Racer) - Safety Coordinator
Kim Logan (2005 Racer) - Financial Coordinator
Burke Thompson (2004 Racer) - Construction Coordinator
Lilly Clattenburg (2008-2009 Racer) - Racer Coordinator
Jason Clattenburg (2008-2009 Racer) - Construction Coordinator
Chris Jaroszko (2008-2010 Racer) - Online Media Coordinator
