The Amazing Hoop Race: Let the Games Begin!

For those just tuning in, earlier this week we met the 14 Teams that will be competing in The Amazing Hoop Race, Hooping.org’s brand new contest that is presenting a series of revolutionary challenges for teams of two. Today the first leg of the race officially begins, but before we start things off, let’s take a few moments to explain the race in greater detail.

For those who may not be familiar, The Amazing Race is a reality television game show in the United States in which teams of two, who have some form of a preexisting personal relationship, compete in a race around the world. Contestants on the show strive to be the first to arrive at pit stops, while avoiding being last to get there – which carries the possibility of elimination. Contestants receive clues in each leg of the race which then lead the teams to the next destination, or direct them to perform a task along the way, sometimes together, sometimes one person solo. These challenges are typically related in some manner to the country wherein they are located or its culture. Teams are progressively eliminated throughout the game until three are left and at that point, the team that arrives first in the final leg is awarded a grand prize. For the record, The Amazing Race is not strictly American these days. International versions of the show have aired including The Amazing Race Asia, The Amazing Race: A Corrida Milionária in South America, The Amazing Race Latin America, HaMerotz LaMillion in Israel, The Amazing Race: China Rush in China, as well as The Amazing Race Australia.

While our Amazing Hoop Race is in fact inspired by the program, sending hoopers on a virtual hula hoop race around the world, there are, of course, some very distinct differences. Given that all our teams, for starters, are located in different cities and in different countries, how exactly is this race supposed to work? Let us to tell you all about it.

During the Amazing Hoop Race all fourteen of our teams will be accumulating points during each leg of the Amazing Hoop Race. Point totals will determine which teams will continue on in the race and which teams will be eliminated. There are four different ways that our teams will be earning their race points:

VISTA POINTS: During each leg of our hoop race around the world, our teams will find themselves at Vista Points where they can get out their hoops, enjoy the scenery and make a video. Vista Points are primary video challenges and these videos will be judged and awarded point values by the hosts in the city or country our teams are currently visiting. These scores will account for 40% of a team’s final total for each leg. Teams should pay close attention to our 10 Easy Hooping Video Tips, as not following them may result in point deductions. Teams should ensure that their chosen video soundtrack will also not result in their video being removed or silenced on YouTube (see our tips). Hosts may rate videos based on hooping, attitude, performance, audience engagement, interpretation of a theme, overall video presentation and more. Each host may have different judging criteria that is important to them in relationship to their video assignment.

AUDIENCE POINTS: 30% of a team’s final total for each leg will be coming from you, our Amazing Hoop Race audience. At the end of each leg a brief voting period will be opened and point values will be awarded in correlation with the amount of votes each team receives from our audience.

TRAVEL POINTS: Travel points account for 20% of a team’s final score for each leg. Travel points may come in the form of Route Markers, Detours or Roadblocks and require travelogue documentation.

1) ROUTE MARKERS: Route Information clues will instruct the teams where to virtually go next. Route Information clues may specify how the teams are to travel (such as by foot, by car, by air…), and instruct teams what type of location to travel to. Route information clues may be cryptic about the next location, leaving teams to figure out where they should actually be headed. Route Information clues will require all teams to complete a non-Detour, non-Roadblock task with travelogue video recorded.

2) DETOURS: A Detour presents each team with a decision between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons. Teams are given several details about both tasks and typically one task is less physically demanding, while the other requires some amount of time or thinking to complete. The decision about which task to attempt lies solely with the team. A team may choose to switch tasks. Once a team has completed a task and recorded a travelogue video they can move on.

3) ROADBLOCKS: A Roadblock is a task that only one team member may perform. A Roadblock clue is given as a cryptic question, such as “Who’s really hungry?” or “Who wants to get down and dirty?” Based on this information alone the team must decide which member will complete the task before they receive the task description. Once a team member has been selected, (s)he cannot switch. The Roadblock task is performed only by the selected racer. Once a team completes a Roadblock and recorded a travelogue for it, they can move on.

4) TRAVELOGUES: During the course of earning travel points teams will need to film travelogue video documentation. The purpose of a travelogue is to document completion of a challenge. No more, no less. Travelogues are uploaded to a team’s YouTube account separately from Vista Point videos. Travelogue videos are judged solely on each team completing their tasks – they do not need to be fancy.

PIT STOP POINTS: What about the remaining 10% you ask? Good question. Given that this is, in fact, a race, when teams have completed all of their tasks for a leg, then they have reached the pit stop for that leg of the race. They will then need to send Philo an email from their Hooping.org account with links to their Vista Point and Travelogue videos for the leg and stating that they have reached the pit stop. The time stamp on these emails, in relationship to the order in which teams post, will earn these final additional points with those coming in first receiving the most, and those posting last receiving less. Teams should, however, keep in mind that speed isn’t everything on and point values are substantially higher in areas that do require more time and care.

AND REMEMBER:
• Obey the law: Teams are required to abide by all local laws of the country in which they are racing.
• Keep it clean: There are kids watching.
• Make it work: Because this contest is a virtual one, if for some reason something comes up in a challenge that just doesn’t seem possible where you live, figure out how best to pretend that it is possible with what you have available. And don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends and family or other hoopers in your area if you need it or you get stuck. Unlike the TV show, you have people all around you who know you and can help.

And that pretty much covers it. So are you ready for The Amazing Hoop Race to begin? Alright, the time has arrived. The big moment is finally here! We’re so excited!

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!

Proceed to the nearest airport and take your hoops with you. At the airport, share the joy of hooping with others. Record a travelogue of all airport patrons that join you for an airport hooping session. Each person who hoops successfully with a member of your team is worth one point, although a pilot is worth 5 points and a flight attendant is worth 3. Your airport visit has a maximum Travel Points capacity of 20, so when you reach 20 points and have your travelogue documentation, it will be time to prepare yourself for virtual international air travel.

Once you are on board our airplane we invite you to sit back and enjoy a very special screening of The Hoop Loops VJ Mix (Vol. 1), as it is a cinematic compilation of beautifully-filmed hooping from across the planet. On split screens, in the city, the mountains, and on the playa, this stunning footage is paired with one body-rocking soundtrack! We think you’re going to enjoy Hoop Loops so much that you’re going to want to have a copy of the DVD for your very own so you can add it to your hooping events, knocking everyone’s socks off by simply pressing “Play.” It’s a total hoop jam helper, and the team that comes in first place for this first leg of the race will win a copy of their own, prize courtesy of The Hooping Life.

Upon landing in our first Amazing Hoop Race location, you will need to find the Vista Point for this leg of the race. We have a feeling this first leg will have you going in Circularidades. Good luck Amazing Hoop Racers! The three teams with the least amount of points this week will be eliminated.

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