Amazing surfies opt for home

Bondi boys Tyler Atkins and Nathan Joliffe, winners of the first Australian Amazing Race, are pondering how to spend their $250,000 prize.

Atkins is toying with the idea of buying a villa in Bali or Mexico.

“A villa in a little surf spot I can go to would be great,” he said.

Joliffe has his sights closer to home and hopes to use the cash for a deposit on a flat in Bondi in partnership with his girlfriend, former Miss Australia and MTV personality Erin McNaught.

Neither was familiar with The Amazing Race before entering the competition.

Atkins thought it “would be cool to see more of the world and with a chance to win some money”.

Joliffe saw it as a chance to confront personal challenges such as fear of heights and an aversion to flying.

“Funnily enough flying ended up being the most stress-free part of the whole thing because it was the only time you could shut your brain down and completely relax,” he said.

The boys were confident from the start and came first in three legs of the race as well as the final.

Joliffe nailed it with his knowledge of flags in the last challenge, which he attributed to his interest in flags at primary school and his obsession with sport.

Nothing the boys saw on their world adventure reminded them of home but both loved South Africa.

“Capetown with its nice beaches was similar to the Gold Coast; the weather was beautiful and the people were kind,” Joliffe said.

“Delivering presents to the orphanage was very touching. It was shocking to see how these people live but they were so happy to see us. All the contestants were really moved by that.”

Atkins said South Africa was really beautiful although there was “nothing like Australia”.

“I’ve been everywhere and there’s nothing like Bondi. I guess everyone feels that way about home.”

Now 25, the boys have been friends since age 15, hanging out together on the Gold Coast surfing scene, a sport they still both love.

They have spent the last few years alternating between Bondi and Los Angeles where Atkins had a clothing label until December 2009.

Both are now taking acting lessons and hoping the Amazing Race win will open up opportunities for them in Australia.

Speaking from the Northern Beaches, where they were doing a fashion shoot for Men’s Health magazine, Joliffe expressed a wish to continue working in television: “I love fashion but I’d be happy on either side of the camera.”

Atkins said: “I was doing well in the US modelling. I’m going to stay around in Bondi and see what happens, hopefully in the TV industry. If not, I’ll go back to the US.”