Press release from CBS, Dec. 7, 2017:

CBS’ multi-Emmy-Award-winning reality series THE AMAZING RACE returns on Wednesday, Jan. 3 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) for its milestone 30th season. More than 600 Racers have traveled over one million miles in 29 seasons, but for the 30th Race around the world, this edition boasts some of the most competitive and accomplished teams to ever take on the Race. Teams include IndyCar drivers Alexander Rossi and Conor Daly; retired NBA All-Stars Cedric Ceballos and Shawn Marion; X-Games champions Kristi Leskinen and Jen Hudak; nationally ranked debaters Henry Zhang and Evan Lynyak; BIG BROTHER power couple Cody Nickson and Jessica Graf; competitive eaters Joey Chestnut and Tim Janus, among others.

Teams begin their adventure in Washington Square Park in New York City and immediately travel to their first destination, Iceland, where they must traverse a massive canyon high above the Geitargljufur River. Along the Race, teams will travel to 10 countries, 21 cities and over 29,000 miles in the quest to cross the finish line of THE AMAZING RACE first and win the one million dollar prize. Phil Keoghan is the host.

Following are the 11 teams, listed in no particular order:

CEDRIC AND SHAWN #TeamSlamDunk

Name: Cedric Ceballos

Age: 48

Current occupation: Retired NBA Player

Qualifications: Former NBA All-Star and Slamdunk Champion

Instagram: @cedceballos

Name: Shawn Marion

Age: 39

Hometown: Chicago

Connection to teammate: Retired NBA Player

Qualifications: 4-time NBA All-Star and NBA Champion 2011

Instagram: @matrix31

Twitter: @matrix31

APRIL AND SARAH #TeamGoatYoga

Name: April Gould

Age: 39

Hometown: Gilbert, Ariz.

Connection to teammate: Friends

Qualifications: Goat Yoga Instructor

Instagram: @AprilGouldNinja

Twitter: @AprilGouldNinja and @GoatYoga

Name: Sarah Williams

Age: 39

Hometown: Mesa, Ariz.

Connection to teammate: Friends

Qualifications: Goat Yoga Instructor

Instagram: @desertpaddleboards

Twitter: @GoatYoga

CODY AND JESSICA #TeamBigBrother

Name: Cody Nickson

Age: 32

Hometown: Plano, Texas

Connection to teammate: Dating

Qualifications: “Big Brother 19” Power Couple

Instagram: @codythemarine

Twitter: @codythemarine

Name: Jessica Graf

Age: 26

Hometown: Los Angeles

Connection to teammate: Dating

Qualifications: “Big Brother 19” Power Couple

Instagram: @thejessicagraf

Twitter: @thejessicagraf

HENRY AND EVAN #TeamYale

Name: Henry Zhang

Age: 22

Hometown: Los Angeles

Connection to teammate: Dating

Qualifications: Former president of the Yale debate team

Instagram: @HenryTZhang

Twitter: @HenryTZhang

Name: Evan Lynyak

Age: 22

Hometown: Los Angeles

Connection to teammate: Dating

Qualifications: Top-ranking female debater in the world in 2016

Instagram: @evan.lynyak

TREVOR AND CHRIS #TeamWellStrung

Name: Trevor Wadleigh

Age: 30

Hometown: New York, N.Y.

Connection to teammate: Dating

Qualifications: Billboard chart-topping musician in the string quartet “Well Strung”

Instagram: @tdwadleigh

Name: Chris Marchant

Age: 33

Hometown: New York, N.Y.

Connection to teammate: Dating

Qualifications: Billboard chart-topping musician in the string quartet “Well Strung”

Instagram: @chrisjmarchant

Twitter: @chrisjmarchant

ALEX AND CONOR #TeamIndyCar

Name: Alexander Rossi

Age: 26

Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.

Connection to teammate: IndyCar drivers and friends

Qualifications: Indianapolis 500 winner 2016

Instagram: @alexanderrossi

Twitter: @AlexanderRossi

Name: Conor Daly

Age: 25 (26 on 12/15/17)

Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.

Connection to teammate: IndyCar drivers and friends

Qualifications: Placed 2nd in the Detroit Grand Prix

Instagram: @conordaly22

Twitter: @conordaly22

DESSIE AND KAYLA #TheRingGirls

Name: Dessie Mitcheson

Age: 27

Hometown: Apollo, Pa.

Connection to teammate: Friends

Qualifications: Ring girl and Instagram model

Instagram: @dessiemitcheson

Name: Kayla Fitzgerald

Age: 26

Hometown: Clermont, Fla.

Connection to teammate: Friends

Qualifications: Ring girl and Instagram model

Instagram: @kaylafitz3

JOEY AND TIM #TeamChomp

Name: Joey Chestnut

Age: 33

Hometown: San Jose, Calif.

Connection to teammate: Friends

Qualifications: World champion competitive eater

Instagram: @joey.chestnut

Twitter: @joeyjaws

Name: Tim Janus

Age: 41

Hometown: New York, N.Y.

Connection to teammate: Friend

Qualifications: Former competitive eater

Instagram: @timothyjanus

Twitter: @eaterx

KRISTI AND JEN #TeamExtreme

Name: Kristi Leskinen

Age: 36

Hometown: Uniontown, Pa. and Scottsdale, Ariz.

Connection to teammate: Retired Professional Skier and friend

Qualifications: 2nd Place World Champion and 3rd place X Games skier

Instagram: @kristileskinen

Twitter: @kristileskinen

Name: Jen Hudak

Age: 30

Hometown: Park City, Utah

Connection to teammate: Professional Skiers and friends

Qualifications: 2-time X Games Gold Medalist and 4 time National Champion

Instagram: @jenhudak

Twitter: @jenhudak

LUCAS AND BRITTANY #TeamOceanRescue

Name: Lucas Bocanegra

Age: 35

Hometown: Miami Springs, Fla.

Connection to teammate: Dating

Qualifications: Lifeguard Lieutenant

Instagram: @luc8719

Twitter: @luc8719

Name: Brittany Austin

Age: 31

Hometown: Miami Springs, Fla.

Connection to teammate: Dating

Qualifications: Ocean Rescue Lifeguard

Instagram: @bitaba10

ERIC AND DANIEL #TheFirefighters

Name: Eric Guiffreda

Age: 33

Hometown: Ponchatoula, La.

Connection to teammate: Twin Brothers

Qualifications: Firefighter

Twitter: @Eguiffreda

Name: Daniel Guiffreda

Age: 33

Hometown: Gonzales, La.

Connection to teammate: Twin Brothers

Qualifications: Firefighter

THE AMAZING RACE sends 11 teams on a trek around the world. Each Team is comprised of two people. At every destination, each Team competes in a series of challenges – some mental and some physical – and when the tasks have been completed, they learn their next destination. Teams who are farthest behind will gradually be eliminated as the contest progresses, with the first Team to arrive at the final destination winning at least $1 million.

Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Elise Doganieri and Mark Vertullo are the executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Worldrace Productions in association with ABC Studios and Amazing Race Productions. THE AMAZING RACE was created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri.