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Ronald "Ron" Hsu and Christina Hsu are a Father/Daughter team on The Amazing Race 12 and on The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business.

The father-daughter pair came into The Amazing Race 12 looking to forge a stronger relationship as Ron was constantly absent when Christina was younger. However, they immediately encountered problems when Ron revealed an overbearing side towards his daughter which stifled their progress and from which they barely escaped elimination in the second leg. After being confronted over his attitude by Christina, the pair noticeably communicated better in the coming legs, although Ron was still prone to relapsing from time to time. The pair hit their stride and dominated the end of the race to easily make it to the final three where they were in the lead for most of the final leg. However, Christina got stumped at the final Roadblock, which allowed TK & Rachel to pass them, resulting in a 2nd place finish.

They returned in Unfinished Business looking to spend more time together before Christina got married. However, the pair's communication problems resurfaced early on, with Ron getting distracted by almost everything and Christina left having to refocus her father. In the seventh leg, Ron struggled and went off-course during the Roadblock squandering an hour lead that they held over Jet & Cord. The cowboys were able to pass them and the father-daughter pair was never able to catch up, being eliminated in 7th place.

Profile[]

Retrieved from CBS.com

Ronald & Christina are a father/daughter Team who are competing in the Race to make up for lost time. Since Ronald was constantly traveling for work throughout much of his daughter's formative years, Christina hopes the Race will allow her father—a self-proclaimed workaholic—to stop and smell the roses and provide them with some meaningful time together.

Ronald, a first-generation immigrant and eldest of five, works as a Vice President of sales for a paper packaging company. His proudest achievements are his thirty-one years of marriage and raising two independent daughters. Christina is Ronald's youngest daughter and holds degrees from both Duke and Princeton. She once served in the State Department and often wishes her Teammate could be as diplomatic as she.

Neither are strangers to the unpredictability of international travel as they have both lived and worked abroad. Ronald describes himself as inquisitive and open-minded, while Christina describes herself as loyal and adventurous. This father/daughter duo is excited to grow closer, make friends across continents and create Race history by being the first father/daughter Team to claim the $1 million prize.

Ron[]

Age: 61
Hometown: Tacoma, Wash
Connection to your Teammate: Father
Current Occupation: Vice President
Previous Season/Result: Season 12/2nd place
Biggest mistake you made in your previous season: Not being uplifting.
Most memorable moment from your first Race: In Croatia when we conquered our fear of heights and came in first.
Favorite place you visited on your first season: Croatia because it was so beautiful along the Adriatic Sea. I want to have a second honeymoon with my wife there.
Why do you want to run the Race again? When else do you have an opportunity to travel around the world like this?
How have you changed since the last time you competed? I've gotten grayer and wiser.
What are you passionate about? My family.
People would be surprised to learn: I make the most delicious and nutritious smoothies.
One location that you hope to go on this adventure: St. Petersburg, Russia—for its great Hermitage museum
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: I had back surgery last year so I cannot run as fast as the younger racers. It may be a struggle to keep up with them.
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race again (other than winning one million dollars): I hope to have a great time with my daughter before she gets married.
Pet peeve about your teammate: Her navigation skills are shaky.
What would you do if you won the million dollars? Retire. I also want to write a book about my parents walking on foot over 800 miles in the winter of 1947 to escape from the civil war in Northern China.
Any strategic changes you will make heading into this Race: I will be more uplifting to my teammate.

Christina[]

Age: 29
Hometown: Wash., D.C.
Connection to your Teammate: Daughter
Current Occupation: Consultant
Previous Season/Result: Season 12/2nd place
Biggest mistake you made in your previous season: Not taking a deep breath at the final Road Block in Alaska.
Most memorable moment from your first Race: Milking a camel in Burkina Faso and drinking the camel's milk.
Favorite place you visited on your first season: I'll never forget zip lining 200 feet into the Adriatic Sea in Croatia.
Why do you want to run the Race again? It's a second-in-a-lifetime chance to see the world!
How have you changed since the last time you competed? I've gained a lot more perspective on what is important in life and became happier.
What are you passionate about? Family, friends and contributing to the local community
People would be surprised to learn: I completed my first triathlon last year.
One location that you hope to go on this adventure: Machu Picchu in Peru because that is where my fiancé and I would like to travel.
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Completing physically exhaustive tasks while sleep deprived.
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race again (other than winning one million dollars): To enjoy the moment with my dad and worry less about the outcome.
Pet peeve about your teammate: My dad snores.
What would you do if you won the million dollars? I want to adopt a Labrador Retriever and buy a house.

Any strategic changes you will make heading into this Race: I'm going to relax and keep everything in perspective. [1]

The Amazing Race 12[]

 Race History[]

Ron & Christina's Race History
Episode Leg Destination(s) Detour Choice
(underlined)
Roadblock
Performer
Placement Notes
1 1 United States → Ireland No Detour Ron 7 of 11
2 2 Ireland → Netherlands Hoist It / Hunt It Christina 9 of 10
3 3 Netherlands → Burkina Faso Teach It / Learn It Christina 5 of 9
4 4 Burkina Faso Shake Your Pan / Shake Your Booty Christina 3 of 8
5 5 Burkina Faso → Lithuania Count Down / Step Up Ron 3 of 7
6 6 Lithuania → Croatia Short & Long / Long & Short Ron 1 of 6
7 7 Croatia → Italy Invention / Tradition Christina 3 of 5
8 8 Italy → India Paste 'Em / Thread 'Em Ron 3 of 5
9 9 India → Japan Sense of Touch / Sense of Smell Christina 1 of 4
10 10 Japan → Taiwan Fire / Earth Ron 1 of 4
11 11 Taiwan → United States Cut the Cod / Grab the Crab Christina 2 of 3
Average 3.45
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
The team used the U-Turn
Recipient of the U-Turn

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business[]

Race History[]

Ron & Christina's Race History
Episode Leg Destination(s) Detour Choice
(underlined)
Roadblock
Performer
Placement Notes
1 1 United States → Australia No Detour Christina 8 of 11
2 2 Australia Spirit World / Natural World No Roadblock 10 of 11
3 3 Australia → Japan Prayer of Purity / Frog of Luck Ron 3 of 10
4 4 Japan → China Hammer / Horn Christina 4 of 9
5 5 China Honor the Past / Embrace the Future Christina 7 of 9
6 6 China → India Hindu Art / Bengali Language Ron 3 of 8
7 7 India Feed the Fire / Feed the Buffalo Ron 7 of 7
Average 6.00
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
ϵ The team used the Express Pass somewhere during the leg
The team used the U-Turn
Recipient of the U-Turn
The team that used the second slot of the "Double U-Turn"
Recipient of a second U-Turn due to the "Double U-Turn" twist
This team was penalized with an automatic "U-Turn"

Post-Race[]

Trivia[]

  • Ron & Christina were featured in a CBS.com gallery celebrating Father's Day in 2015.[4]

Franchise Records[]

  • Ron & Christina are the first parent/child team to reach the final three in standard format.
  • First Asian-American team to reach the final three on their first season.
  • First Asian-American team to finish in 2nd place.
  • Tied with the Bransen Family and Sheri & Cole for the highest finish for a co-ed parent/child team, finishing in 2nd place.

External links[]

Interviews[]

Season 12[]

  • Christopher Roochio at Reality TV World (01/22/2008): "Exclusive Interview: Ronald and Christina Hsu talk The Amazing Race 12"
  • Oscar Dahl at BuddyTV (01/22/2008): "Exclusive Interview: Ronald and Christina, from 'The Amazing Race'"
  • Teeuwynn Woodruff at Reality News Online (01/23/2008): "We Really Enjoyed This Magic Carpet Ride"
  • Brian Zoromski at IGN.com (01/24/2008): "Amazing Race Interview - Ron & Christina"
  • Mark at Reality Wanted (01/24/2008): "Interview with Ron and Christina of The Amazing Race 12"
  • Rochell D. Thomas at TV Guide Online (01/25/2008): "Amazing Race's Final 3: The Last Pit Stop"

Season 18[]

  • Julie Zed at Xfinity.com (04/11/2011): "The Show Improved Our Relationship"
  • Joyce Eng at TV Guide Online (04/11/2011): "We were very aware of our our physical limitations"
  • Reality TV World (04/12/2011): "Ronald Hsu and Christina Hsu talk The Amazing Race"
  • Carla Patton at BuddyTV (04/12/2011): "Ron and Christina of 'The Amazing Race' Talk Food and Fun Around the World"
  • Amanda A. Hamilton at Examiner.com (04/12/2011): "Ron Hsu says wrong street cost team time"
  • Digital Spy (04/12/2011): "Ron & Christina talk about hunting sadhus and racing for a third time"
  • Allyson Wells at Reality TV Magazine (04/13/2011): "Ron and Christina Discuss Their Second Race"
  • Teeuwynn Woodruff at Reality News Online (04/18/2011): "We Walk Away with Nothing but Positive Memories"

References[]

The Amazing Race 12 Teams
 Ari & Staella
Best Friends
S12 AriStaella
 Azaria & Hendekea
Brother/Sister
S12 AzariaHendekea
 Kate & Pat
Married Ministers
S12 KatePat
 Kynt & Vyxsin
Dating Goths
S12 KyntVyxsin
S12 LorenaJason
S12 MariannaJulia
 Nicolas & Donald
Grandson/ Grandfather
S12 NicolasDonald
 Ron & Christina
Father/Daughter
S12 RonChristina
S12 ShanaJennifer
 TK & Rachel
Newly Dating
S12 TKRachel
The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business Teams
 Amanda & Kris
Engaged
S18 AmandaKris
 Flight Time & Big Easy
Harlem Globetrotters
S18 FlightTimeBigEasy
 Gary & Mallory
Father/Daughter
S18 GaryMallory
 Jaime & Cara
Former NFL Cheerleaders
S18 JaimeCara
 Jet & Cord
Cowboys
S18 JetCord
 Kent & Vyxsin
Dating Goths
S18 KentVyxsin
 Kisha & Jen
Sisters
S18 KishaJen
 Margie & Luke
Mother/Son
S18 MargieLuke
 Mel & Mike
Father/Son
S18 MelMike
 Ron & Christina
Father/Daughter
S18 RonChristina
 Zev & Justin
Best Friends
S18 ZevJustin
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