Derek & Drew

Derek Riker and Drew Riker are a team of Twins/Models on The Amazing Race 3.

Derek and Drew were the most feared team at the start of the season due to being young, athletic, and male (a direct response to Rob & Brennan and Chris & Alex's wins in the first two seasons). Despite having nearly everyone out to get them, they managed to win four legs and work their way far into the Race. At the final four, they missed the clue for the Roadblock causing them to be eliminated in 4th place.

Profile[]

Retrieved from CBS.com

“Just don't get rattled, be patient during the race, relax and have fun: the more fun you're having, the less you'll get stressed out”

Thirty-two-year-old twins Derek and Drew can't recall the last time they got into a physical fight with each other. Except maybe that time in 1981, when they had it out in the back of their parents' Buick. The pair is originally from Chicago, but currently live in Los Angeles.

After graduating from the University of Illinois, Derek and Drew pursued careers in modeling and acting, and have appeared in commercials for Revlon and hosted shows on VH1 and E! While Drew is currently a photographer, Derek hopes to pursue his dream of becoming "the next Michael J. Fox."

Drew is still a bachelor, but Derek was married this past June. As a result, they haven't seen each other much lately, and Drew is hoping that this experience will give them the chance to reconnect. "I couldn't come up with a better excuse to spend this much quality time with my brother," joked Drew.

Derek and Drew believe that the most important element to getting ahead in the Race is cleanliness. Drew is making sure he packs his toothpaste, toothbrush and dental floss, and says, "It's nearly impossible to communicate effectively with bad breath." Derek reveals that he won't leave home without his deodorant. "I just hope to maintain a reasonable level of cleanliness and odor while on the race. Otherwise, it's almost impossible for people to deal with you," he says.

They may not be the Doublemint twins, but Derek and Drew will definitely be looking and smelling their best during their latest adventure. They're convinced that their strength, endurance and level-headedness will help them cross the finish line ahead of the pack.

Derek and Drew's birth date is August 30.^[1]

How would you describe your previous travel experience?

Derek: My travel experience has been fairly extensive. I have lived in Italy, Germany and England. I have also lived in New York, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles.
Drew: I have traveled extensively inside the U.S. I have lived and worked in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and have driven everywhere in between. However, I haven't traveled internationally in seven years, and have only been to Europe.

What is the most stressful aspect of traveling?

Derek: The most stressful aspect of traveling would be hygiene. I just hope to maintain a reasonable level of cleanliness and odor while on the Race. Otherwise, it is almost impossible for people to deal with you.
Drew: Trying to smuggle on oversized carry-on baggage.

What is the most important item in your backpack, and why?

Derek: The most important item in my backpack would have to be either deodorant or clean underwear (for reasons stated in my previous answer).
Drew: It's a tossup between toothpaste, toothbrush, or dental floss. It's nearly impossible to communicate effectively with bad breath.

Why did you want to be on THE AMAZING RACE?

Derek: I'm at a bit of a crossroads in my life, and this seems like an excellent way to discover new things about myself and what I am capable of. I also just got married, and this is probably the only time the rest of my life that I will get to spend this much time with my brother.
Drew: I love the show, and I couldn't come up with a better excuse to spend this much quality time with my brother away from his wife after only two months of marriage. We haven't had a chance like this since he met his wife.

Have you and your partner traveled together before? If so, what was it like?

Derek: Yes, a lot, and it has always been fun and relatively stress-free. However, we have never raced anywhere, and we are both very competitive, so I expect it will be very different on the show.
Drew: Yes, we've traveled a lot together. It has almost always been very easy and fun. We haven't physically fought on a trip since the back seat of my parents' Buick in 1981.

What do you fear most about competing in THE AMAZING RACE?

Derek: That somehow I am portrayed as someone other than the fun-loving, playful and intelligent male model that I am.
Drew: The thing I fear most about competing in the Race is actually watching the Race. I hate the thought of watching myself on TV.

What strengths and weaknesses do you bring to the Team?

Derek: My strengths are my ability to manage stress, both my own and my brother's, and my competitive spirit. My weaknesses are that I think I know everything and I don't trust anyone.
Drew: My strengths would have to be my physical endurance and intuitiveness. My weaknesses are my ability to manage stress (yoga is something I used to do) and my inability to ask for help.

What strengths and weaknesses does your teammate bring to the Team?

Derek: My brother's strengths are his intelligence and his competitiveness: he does not lose. My brother's weaknesses are his ability to manage stress, and beautiful girls.
Drew: Derek's strength is his level-headedness. He can be positive in any situation, and is always the voice of reason.

What will you miss the most from home (besides your bed)?

Derek: My wife. We have only been married a couple of months, so it was very hard to leave her to go on the Race.
Drew: NASCAR.

What languages do you speak?

Derek: English. Un poquito Español.
Drew: English and Spanish (un poquito).

What destination are you hoping to visit?

Derek: Africa, Kenya or Tanzania.
Drew: Africa, mostly Kenya and Tanzania. I would love to see the Serengetti.

What country do you feel best prepared for?

Derek: England or Germany.
Drew: Italy, only because I lived there one summer (seven years ago).^[2]

The Amazing Race 3[]

Race History[]

Derek & Drew's Race History
Episode	Leg	Destination(s)	Detour Choice (underlined)	Roadblock Performer	Placement	Notes
1	1	United States → Mexico	Wings / Wheels	No Roadblock	11 of 12
2	2	Mexico	Used Fast Forward		1 of 11►
3	3	Mexico → United Kingdom	Punt / Bike	Derek	1 of 10
4	4	United Kingdom → Portugal	Old School / New School	Drew	3 of 9
5	5	Portugal → Spain → Morocco	Ropes / Slopes	Derek	3 of 8
6	6	Morocco	Now You See It / Now You Don't	Derek	4 of 7
7	7	Morocco → Germany → Austria → Germany	Sled / Skate	Drew	2 of 6
8	8	Germany → Switzerland	Count the Money / Run the Numbers	Derek	1 of 5
9	9	Switzerland	Extreme Swiss / Very Swiss	Drew	3 of 5
9	10	Switzerland → Malaysia → Singapore	Dry / Wet	Derek	1 of 5
10	11	Singapore → Vietnam	Easy Buy / Hard Sell	Drew	4 of 4	^[1]
				Average	3.10
Legend: The team finished in first place The team finished in last place and was eliminated from the race The team finished in last place in a non-elimination leg The team that won The Amazing Race The team that crossed the Finish Line second The team that crossed the Finish Line third ► The team used the Fast Forward pass
Notes: 1: Derek & Drew initially arrived 3rd, but had inadvertently skipped the Roadblock due to them not having followed a marked path from its starting point. They were forced to backtrack and perform the Roadblock. In the meantime, Ken & Gerard had checked-in. As a result, Derek & Drew fell to last place and were eliminated.

Post-Race[]

Drew dated fellow racer Flo Pesenti after the race and called it quits after seven years in 2009.
- They were asked to participate in The Amazing Race: All-Stars (2007) as a new team but Flo reportedly declined.
Derek has since become a fashion/celebrity photographer and a director.

Trivia[]

Derek & Drew are the first team to place 11th in the first leg of a season but not be eliminated.
- This was because of the season of the race had 12 teams instead of 11.
Derek & Drew are having the largest gap of placement between placed last in the first leg and went up to first place the following leg (10 placements).
First team eliminated in Vietnam.

External links[]

Derek & Drew's Website: http://www.rikerbrothers.com/

Interviews[]

Harry Smith on The Early Show (12/12/2002): "Vietnam Last Stop For Wonder Twins"
FansOfRealityTV (12/12/2002): "Our Interview with Derek and Drew"
CBS.com (2002): "After the Race"