Between seemingly impossible frisbee trick shots, beating cancer and paragliding down a 7,000 foot tall mountain, Brodie Smith and Kurt Gibson know all about beating the odds.
As UF students, they won national championships in Ultimate Frisbee. The UF alumni have made a name for themselves in and outside of UF after starring on the 28th season of “The Amazing Race” in 2016.
Smith, a 32-year-old 2010 UF graduate, and Gibson, a 34-year-old 2008 graduate, met on the UF Ultimate Frisbee team. Between practicing six times a week and winning the 2006 National Championship together, the duo’s bond became unbreakable.
“You don’t get those kinds of relationships and spend that time together anywhere as an adult,” Gibson said.
Smith recalled his college days when he would sneak the frisbee team into Gator Corner Dining Center with his all-you-can-eat pass. He would swipe in and slide his pass under the door for everyone else on the frisbee team to use.
He claims they are the reason Gator Corner Dining Center only lets students swipe their dining pass every 30 minutes now.
Smith and Gibson were always at ultimate frisbee competitions during homecoming weekend. But that didn't stop them from watching football games.
“We would try to win games on Saturday quick, and then, quick, run to Chili’s to watch the rest of the football game,” Smith said.
Smith originally gained internet fame when he started posting frisbee trick shot videos online. His videos showcased familiar spots around campus including Turlington, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and Flavet Field.
His YouTube channel has more than 2 million subscribers. The following led him to the 28th season of “The Amazing Race,” which was populated with social media influencers.
On the 28th season of “The Amazing Race,” Smith and Gibson competed against YouTubers, Viners and internet personalities such as Tyler Oakley and Korey Kuhl traveling around the world and completing tasks in hopes of winning one million dollars.
Smith and Gibson ended up in fifth place. Although they didn’t win the million dollars, they came home with lifelong memories.
The duo said the funniest moment of the race happened just five seconds in.
Gibson was ready. The cameras were lined up, almost like a runway for the teams. But Smith was facing the other way talking to the other team with his shoes untied.
When teams heard the “Ready, go!” from producers, Gibson was the first one to start running, but Smith was left in the dust.
“All of a sudden, I hear thwack! Boom!,” Gibson said. “This water bottle flies past me like 25 yards, and I look back and Brodie is on the ground and wiped out completely. It was ridiculous.”
Smith and Gibson have not gone without adversity, though.
Smith overcame multiple knee injuries while making a name for himself in ultimate frisbee. Gibson beat colon cancer he was diagnosed with when he was 22.
“There’s a lot of things that we’re thankful for since our college days,” Gibson said.
Smith travelled around the world on the “The Amazing Race,” but to him, there’s still no better place than UF.
The years fly by fast, Smith said, and to take in as many experiences at UF as possible.
“Because when it is gone, it's gone,” he said. “There's nothing else like it.”
Kurt Gibson (left) and Brodie Smith (right) are both UF alumni. They met on the UF Ultimate Frisbee team, and have been on CBS show The Amazing Race. Gibson said this photo was when they won the USA Ultimate Club Championship with Denver's Johnny Bravo in 2014.
