TRU student winner of Amazing Race Canada

KAMLOOPS – The Amazing Race Canada was an amazing fit for one of the winners who studied adventure tourism at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.

Pete Schmalz and best friend Mickey Henry won the televised game show that pits multiple teams of two against one another in a race across the country, that unfolds as they complete various tasks and interpret clues. The 24-year-olds herald from Muskoka Ont. but Schmalz lived for a few years in Kamloops while in the Tourism program at TRU.

Adventure Studies faculty member Ross Cloutier taught Schmalz in a number of third- and fourth-year classes and believes more good things are ahead for Schmalz.

“He is an excellent student and to win Amazing Race Canada is no surprise to anyone at TRU,” Cloutier says. “He is an original, friendly, outgoing, visionary and will accomplish much within the Canadian adventure tourism industry.”

The pair didn't think they would win. They made it to the podium a few times during the run of the show, but didn't actually win an event until it really mattered, during the last run of the show. When they arrived at the finish line in Ottawa, they celebrated by dropping their pants.

Schmalz and Henry will split $250,000 in prize money and each receives free flights on Air Canada for a year, a Chevrolet truck, and free gas for life from Petro-Canada.

— With files from Thompson Rivers University and Amazing Race Canada