by Gina Scarpa

 

It's always tough to be eliminated right before a final challenge, and Jonna and Derek learned that the hard way last week on Battle of the Seasons. Feeling they were in the clear and had reached the end, they were surprised to find out there was one more challenge and elimination standing between them and the money. They were thrown in against San Diego and came up short in a strategy challenge.  Before we find out which team ended up on top, we chatted with Cancun's Derek Chavez to find out more about his experiences on Battle of the Seasons and leaving too soon.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you come back for another Challenge - money, seeing your friends, getting to travel, all of the above?

A. Derek: All of the above, definitely! Getting the call for this Challenge, I definitely wanted to do it again because last time, I was sent home first. I wanted redemption.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Of all the teams, Cancun and Brooklyn definitely working together the best. What has your relationship been like with your housemates since The Real World?

A. Derek: We've definitely all kept in touch. The only one I haven't stayed in touch with was Joey but the ones I went on with, we were all really close. We built a relationship afterwards and we're a family.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: The rookies and newer players were definitely running things this season. It felt like a brand new game.

A. Derek: Yeah, when we first got there and we saw the numbers, were were like, "This is going to be a new game." I was on my first Challnge with Johnny and Paula. I was the first one thrown in and they were like, "You didn't suck, you were just the new person."

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You were not only tough in competitions, but you really stood your ground in the house too. Do you feel like you've changed over the years?

A. Derek: I definitely have changed since my season. You didn't see me get feisty because I got along with everyone. Here, it's a competition. I'm very competitive. I hate losing, I don't care what's in front of me, I'm going to do it. The only thing I didn't wanna see was spiders. Speaking my mind, there's a time and a place. There wa alcohol involved at times and I don't want that to be who I am.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: After CJ and Jasmine left, did you feel that you and Jonna were better off, in terms of getting ahead in the game, or did you feel that you were at a disadvantage?

A. Derek: Well, because of the past two teams that stayed... the way that it was working, when you were a two person team, you were done. We knew we were going to be targeted but if San Diego was safe, we'd be safe. We had each other's backs but I knew Jonna and myself would be fine. That's why we decided what we did with CJ and Jasmine's elimination. We wanted to further our team. Obviously, I wasn't going to go into a physical elimination with Zach, we knew that.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Frank and Marie were certainly a large source of the drama this season. At points, you were cool with both of them. What do you think of their behavior?

A. Derek: I've met Frank a couple times outside of the show. He's the exact same way he is on the show, that's not a front. He's definitely somebody you have to get adjusted to. He took some things kinda far. There was no point in the fights escalating the way they did and if he wasn't in the equation, it wouldn't have been like that. Marie... she's worse when she's drunk and she knows that too. She'll admit it. It's not an excuse, but it's the truth.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You made it so far this season but man, is it tough to be eliminated right before the final or what?

A. Derek: I was so upset that I didn't make it! We figured we were going to be in the final. There were four teams left, we were switching locations, there were already 10 challenges. We thought there was no way and it was kinda like your heart just sank. We were so close! Having me perform the way I did in that last challenge and ending up in an elimination, I was trying so hard and we wanted it really bad.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What are you up to now and do you think you have another Challenge in you?

A. Derek: Oh, I definitely have a few more Challenges in you. From getting out first to getting out last before the finals, there's a huge space in between. I don't wanna go out in the middle. I still do work for Steam City and I'm bartending because it's the easiest job to have if you do these Challenges. It's crazy and a good time.

 

 

Don't miss the finale of The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons, Wednesday at 10/9c on MTV.

 

(Image courtesy of MTV)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa