"Suck It Up and Survive" is the premiere episode of , which originally aired on March 30, 2017 . This season introduced a major twist: for the first time in the show’s history, 22 complete strangers met at the starting line and were paired into teams based on a preliminary challenge. Starting Line & Team Selection
One team member had to navigate the city to find a specific location—the Panama Canal Administration Building —to receive their next clue. Detour: Teams had to choose between two tasks: [S29E1] Suck It Up and Survive
Arrived last after a 2-hour penalty for failing to complete a Detour before dark. "Suck It Up and Survive" is the premiere
Compete in a canoe race against professional rowers. Teams had multiple attempts, with the rowers giving them a larger head start after each loss. Detour: Teams had to choose between two tasks:
The race began at . Before leaving the U.S., the 22 individuals competed in a "Starting Line Task" to determine the order in which they would pick their partners: