The Amazing Race 14

The Amazing Race 14
The Amazing Race logo from Seasons 14–17
Presented by	Phil Keoghan
No. of teams	11
Winners	Tamara Tien-Jan "Tammy" & Victor Jih
No. of legs	11
Distance traveled	40,000 mi (64,000 km)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	12
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	February 15 (2009-02-15) – May 10, 2009 (2009-05-10)
Additional information
Filming dates	October 31 (2008-10-31)[1] – November 21, 2008 (2008-11-21)[2]
Season chronology
← Previous Season 13 Next → Season 15
List of episodes

The Amazing Race 14 is the fourteenth installment of the American reality television show The Amazing Race. This season featured 11 teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world.

The season premiered on Sunday, February 15, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and aired on Sunday nights^[3] with the season finale on May 10, 2009. The show was again hosted by Phil Keoghan.

Siblings Tamara Tien-Jan "Tammy" and Victor Jih were the winners of this season and were the first Asian American contestants to win the competition.

Production[]

Development and filming[]

Teams were brought to the season's Starting Line at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base in California by Seahawks.

The Amazing Race 14 lasted for 22 days and traveled over 40,000 miles (64,000 km). The teams raced in nine countries, including Romania and the Russian region of Siberia for the first time, as well as Switzerland, Germany, Austria, India, China, and Thailand, with the Finish Line in Maui, Hawaii. In an interview, executive producer Bertram van Munster revealed that the teams took a 13-hour train ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway and got into a Siberian snowstorm with below-zero temperatures.^[2][4] He also revealed that the teams suffered extreme climates, intense Roadblocks, and less time in airports, which added up to an exhausting course for the racers. In addition, CBS revealed the season included the world's second tallest bungee jump, suffocating heat in India, and an Olympic-themed challenge that left the teams "gasping for air."^[5]

The show's route map was updated via Google Earth, and according to Bertram van Munster prior to the show's debut, the season included new graphics, a new opening sequence (consequently, the team videos preceding a team's close up are updated throughout the season to reflect tasks that have already been completed), and a tuneup in the musical score (still keeping the key in B flat minor),^[4] as well as the use of a split screen to show several scenes at the same time. This season also changed its main team names and route info font from Microgramma to Bank Gothic.

Season 14 introduced a new twist to the U-Turn: the U-Turn in Leg 4 was a Blind U-Turn, in which the team electing to use it did so anonymously; other U-Turns (and the Yields that were replaced) required teams utilizing them to acknowledge their use to subsequent teams. The U-Turn in the second half of Leg 10 was a normal U-Turn.

Leg 10 was a double-length leg, a surprise feature of every season from Season 6 to Season 10; however, this double-length leg was the first where it was revealed to the teams at a location that was explicitly called a Pit Stop but teams were not warned of an elimination in the clue. In previous seasons, teams were either given some implicit reference to a Pit Stop, such as "go and meet Phil Keoghan at the mat" and were handed their next clue by Keoghan or were given a clue to continue racing at a clue box where a clue directing teams to the Pit Stop would have been expected. This time however, after checking in, teams were told "this leg of the race is not over" and were given a clue to continue racing. This is the last season to feature a double-length leg and only consist of 11 legs until Season 32, which renamed the double-length leg to the mega leg.^[6]

Mel & Mike confirmed in a post-show interview that there was an unaired, unused, Fast Forward in Leg 7 that involved purchasing items for an orphanage using the team's own money.^[7] This was the first season ever where no team took the Fast Forward option throughout the season.

The Maui Finish Line was the southernmost finish location in the American version of The Amazing Race.

Cast[]

Applications were due on May 28, 2008. Semi-finalist interviews were held sometime in June 2008, and the final casting interviews were held in Los Angeles around late June or early July 2008. Scouting for locations was performed during August. Filming took place during November 2008.

One member of the cast, Luke Adams, was the first deaf contestant in the American series and relied on his mother Margie Adams to communicate in the competition.^[8] (The Amazing Race Asia 2 winner Adrian Yap was the only other deaf Amazing Race contestant.)^[9] Margie & Luke had originally applied to be on The Amazing Race 8 (along with two other family members), but ended up being one of the last families cut.^[10] Mike White had originally been chosen to participate on The Amazing Race 13 with director Jon Kasdan, but the latter dropped out before filming. The show's casting director wanted White for Season 14 and he was ultimately paired with his father for the show.^[11]

Amanda & Kris married in 2012.^[12] As of 2015, Jen is married with two children.^[13] In 2015, Jaime Edmondson married MLB player Evan Longoria and has two children.^[14] Cara was married and then divorced, and has since remarried and had a daughter too.

After this season, Jodi Wincheski began working as a casting producer for both The Amazing Race and Survivor.^[15]

Future appearances[]

Amanda & Kris, Mel & Mike, Kisha & Jen, Margie & Luke, and Jaime & Cara raced again in The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business among a cast made up of returning teams from seasons 12–17.^[16] Margie & Luke also competed in the second All-Star edition.^[17]

Outside of The Amazing Race, Jaime Edmondson appeared on The Girls Next Door and The Girls Next Door: The Bunny House.^[18][19] Victoria Hunt appeared on the TLC reality show Extreme Cheapskates in 2012.^[20] Mike White later competed in his third reality TV appearance on the thirty-seventh season of Survivor, entitled David vs. Goliath, and finished as the first runner-up.^[21]

Results[]

The following teams participated in the season, each listed along with their placements in each leg and relationships as identified by the program. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television, owing to the inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order:

Key

• A red team placement indicates that the team was eliminated.
• A green ƒ indicates that the team won a Fast Forward. If placed next to a leg number, this indicates that the Fast Forward was available for that leg but not used.
• An underlined blue team's placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg and had to perform a Speed Bump task in the following leg.
• Italicized results indicate the position of the team at the midpoint of a two-episode leg.
• A brown ⊃ means the team chose to use a U-Turn; ⊂ indicates the team who received it.

Notes

Episode title quotes[]

Episode titles are often taken from quotes made by the racers.^[22]

1. "Don't Let a Cheese Hit Me" – Mel
2. "Your Target is Your Partner's Face" – Instructions for the "Austrian Folly" Detour option
3. "I'm Not Wearing That Girl's Leotard!" – Luke
4. "It Was Like a Caravan of Idiots" – Mike
5. "She's a Little Scared of Stick, But I Think She'll Be OK!" – Victor
6. "Alright Guys We're at War!" – Mark
7. "Gorilla? Gorilla?? Gorilla???" – Victor
8. "Rooting Around in People's Mouths Could Be Unpleasant" – Phil Keoghan
9. "Our Parents Will Cry Themselves to Death" – Victor in Mandarin Chinese
10. "Having a Baby's Gotta Be Easier Than This" – Cara
11. "No More Mr. Nice Guy" – Victor
12. "This is How You Lose a Million Dollars" – Jaime

Prizes[]

The prize for each leg is awarded to the first place team for that leg. Trips were provided by Travelocity. The prizes were:

• Leg 1 – A trip for two to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Leg 2 – A hybrid go-kart for each team member
• Leg 3 – A trip for two to Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
• Leg 4 – A motorcycle for each team member
• Leg 5 – A trip for two to Saint Lucia
• Leg 6 – An ocean kayak for each team member
• Leg 7 – A trip for two to Oahu, Hawaii
• Leg 8 – A trip for two to the InterContinental San Juan Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Leg 9 – A trip for two to Barbados
• Leg 10
  • Midpoint – A pair of jet skis (Unaired)⁵
  • Pit Stop – A trip for two to the Galápagos Islands
• Leg 11 – US$1,000,000

Elimination Station[]

After elimination, the first six teams eliminated were sequestered at a villa in Ko Samui, Thailand to await the finale. CBS posted short videos on its website after each episode aired in the Pacific time zone to show the eliminated teams interacting at the villa.

• After Leg 1, Preston & Jennifer were the first team eliminated and were sent to the villa. They expressed their disappointment at being eliminated first and believed that Steve & Linda would be eliminated next. They also discussed who they believe are strong teams and got into an argument over the factors that led to their elimination.
• After Leg 2, Steve & Linda were the second team eliminated and were sent to the villa. Steve openly complained about Preston & Jennifer refusing to form an alliance with him and Linda during the first leg, which irritated Preston. Later in the day, the two eliminated teams decided to take a trip to a local snake farm, and then went out to eat. They then predicted that either Christie & Jodi or Jaime & Cara would be the next team eliminated.
• After Leg 3, Brad & Victoria were the third team eliminated and were sent to the villa. Their arrival surprised the other two eliminated teams. While recounting the events leading to her and Brad's elimination, Victoria broke down into tears. Tensions developed between Steve & Linda and Preston & Jennifer during the conversation, as Jennifer was perceived as an incessant talker, even interrupting Linda at one point. The next morning, the three eliminated teams visited a Buddhist temple, receiving a blessing of good luck from a monk.
• After Leg 4, Amanda & Kris were the fourth team eliminated and were sent to the villa. They talked about what happened during the Leg, erroneously deducing that it was either Christie & Jodi or Kisha & Jen who had U-Turned them. Afterward, the four eliminated teams went to the beach to celebrate Loy Krathong.
• Leg 5 was a non-elimination leg, hence no new teams were sent to the villa. The eliminated teams received Thai massages and went ziplining.
• After Leg 6, Christie & Jodi were the fifth team eliminated and were sent to the villa. They first told Amanda & Kris that it was Margie & Luke who U-Turned them, which came as a shock to everyone. Tension developed between Steve and the rest of the group, especially Preston & Jennifer. Steve accused the group of shunning him and Linda, leading to an argument.
• After Leg 7, Mel & Mike were the sixth team eliminated and were sent to the villa. They noted how the remaining teams on the season are becoming more competitive. Afterward, everyone went shopping at a nearby marketplace. Tension continued to grow between Preston & Jennifer when Preston became irritated with her over her buying another purse.
• Leg 8 was a non-elimination leg, so no new teams were eliminated. Due to their constant arguing, Preston & Jennifer chose to spend some time away from each other. The eliminated teams spent the day snorkeling and kayaking at an island.
• After Leg 9, Mark & Michael were the seventh team eliminated. Before receiving a phone call from the latest team that was eliminated, the eliminated teams at the villa went on a safari, most notably riding an elephant. Afterward, Mark & Michael called the villa to inform the other teams of their elimination and told them of the time penalties that led to their elimination. All teams agreed that they wanted to see Jaime & Cara eliminated next.
• Leg 10 was a double-length leg, shown over two episodes. A new episode of Elimination Station was posted after each half aired:
  • The first half ended with a Virtual Pit Stop (no elimination). Elimination Station showed the sequestered teams on their last day at the Elimination Station, where the teams discussed their time together and who they wanted to see win The Amazing Race. As the eliminated teams packed for their trip to the End City, each of the teams further reminisced about their stay at the Elimination Station.
  • After the second half of the leg, Kisha & Jen were the eighth and final team eliminated. Elimination Station showed the six eliminated teams arriving at the End City in Maui, Hawaii. After arriving in Maui, the teams checked into a hotel. Once they checked in, they swam and snorkeled at the beach, then returned to the hotel to await a phone call from the eighth team eliminated. The six eliminated teams at the hotel were shocked and disappointed to hear about Kisha & Jen's elimination, especially Preston & Jennifer who wanted them to win. Kisha & Jen told them about what went wrong during the second half of Leg 10 and on the part where they were U-Turned by Tammy & Victor. Kisha & Jen said they wanted to see either Jaime & Cara or Tammy & Victor win, despite having been U-Turned by the latter. Kisha and Jen then told the other eliminated teams that they would meet again at the Finish Line before hanging up. The eliminated teams then shared their thoughts about the upcoming final leg of The Amazing Race, many of them expressing their shock over the fact that Jaime & Cara were one of the final three teams.
• Leg 11 was the final leg of The Amazing Race 14. Mark & Michael and Kisha & Jen reunited with the other eliminated teams at the Finish Line at King Kamehameha Golf Club. Many teams believed that Tammy & Victor would win, while Kisha & Jen noted that Margie & Luke had gotten more tense with each other. Teams expressed their opinions about the final three teams at the Finish Line along with their joys and disappointments.

Race summary[]

The route of the Race

Destinations	Air travel    Rail travel    Water travel    Bus travel Helicopter travel    Bicycle travel    Gondola travel
Route Markers	Detour    Roadblock    Fast Forward    U-Turn    Speed Bump    Pit Stop
Icons placed after a location indicate the clue was picked up at this location, while icons placed before a location indicate that the clue was picked up at a prior location.

Leg 1 (United States → Switzerland)[]

While in Switzerland, teams traveled to Verzasca Dam near Locarno to perform the second-highest commercial bungee jump in the world.

Airdate: February 15, 2009

• Los Alamitos, California, United States (Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base) (Starting Line)
• Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport) to Zürich, Switzerland (Zurich Airport) or Milan, Italy (Milan Malpensa Airport)
• Kloten (Zürich Airport Railway Station) or Chiasso (Chiasso Railway Station) to Locarno (Stazione di Locarno)
• Locarno (Church of Sant'Antonio) (Overnight Rest in Parco Robinson)
• Tenero-Contra (Verzasca Dam)
• Locarno (Stazione di Locarno) to Interlaken (Interlaken Ost)
• Interlaken (Kleine Rugen Wiese)
• Stechelberg (PostAuto Stop – Hotel Stechelberg)
• Stechelberg (Alpenhof Stechelberg)

In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to bungee jump off the Verzasca Dam, the second highest commercial bungee in the world at a height of 70 stories, to receive their next clue. This task was later revisited on Season 33 as a Switchback.

Additional tasks

• At Los Angeles International Airport, teams had to book one of two flights. The first flight on Lufthansa, which had room for six teams, would travel to Zürich, while the second flight traveled to Milan, Italy 25 minutes later on Air France. After arriving in either city, teams had to take a train to Locarno.
• At the Church of Sant'Antonio, teams had to sign up for one of three departure times for the following morning. Four teams would depart at 7:15 a.m., three teams would depart at 7:30 a.m., and four teams would depart at 7:45 a.m. At their departure, teams would be given a picture from a priest and were left to figure out that their next clue was located at Verzasca Dam.
• At Kleine Rugen Wiese in Interlaken, teams had to transport four 50-pound (23 kg) wheels of cheese from a shed to the bottom of a hill using traditional Swiss cheese carriers and stack the wheels to receive their next clue. This task was later revisited on Season 22 as a Switchback.
• Once in Stechelberg, teams had to listen for a group of yodelers, who would lead them to the Pit Stop mat.

Leg 2 (Switzerland → Germany → Austria)[]

While in Germany, teams visited the lake town of Schönau am Königsee deep in the Bavarian Alps.

Airdate: February 22, 2009

• Zürich (Zurich Airport) to Munich, Bavaria, Germany (Munich Airport)
• Ruhpolding, Traunstein (Rauschberg)
• Schönau am Königssee, Berchtesgadener Land (Bobsled Track)
• Schönau am Königssee (Holzsäger)
• Salzburg, Austria (Schloss Hellbrunn)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose an instructor and tandem paraglide off a mountain 6,000 feet (1,800 m) below to a landing area, where their partner was waiting with their next clue. In the event of unfavorable winds, they had a choice between waiting an undetermined amount of time for optimal conditions or taking a 60-minute hike down the mountain.

This season's first Detour was a choice between Balancing Dolly or Austrian Folly. In Balancing Dolly, both team members had to navigate a Segways over a two-mile (3.2 km) road obstacle course to receive their next clue. In Austrian Folly, teams had to enter a party tent and throw Bavarian pies at a target, unaware that their target would be their partner's face. They had to take turns smacking each other in the face until they found a pie with cherry filling to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• Upon arrival in Munich, teams had to drive to the village of Ruhpolding and ride a cable car to Rauschberg to their next clue.
• After completing the Detour, teams had to make their way to Holzsäger, a woodcutting workshop, and wait for the mechanical Tyrolean woodcutters to cut a piece of wood, which would be stamped with their next destination.

Leg 3 (Austria → Romania)[]

Teams ended the leg in Romania in the shadow of Bran Castle in Transylvania, the fabled home of Dracula.

Airdate: March 1, 2009

• Salzburg (Sound of Music Pavillion) (Pit Start)
• Salzburg (Salzburg Hauptbahnhof) to Oberding, Germany (Munich Airport Terminal Station)
• Munich (Munich Airport) to Bucharest, Romania (Henri Coandă International Airport)
• Bucharest (Lia Manoliu National Sports Complex)
• Bucharest (Gara de Nord) to Brașov (Brașov Railway Station)
• Brașov (Biserica Neagră)
• Bran (Vila Panoramic overlooking Bran Castle)

In this leg's Roadblock, which homaged gymnast Nadia Comăneci, one team member had to complete a series of moves for three gymnastics disciplines – the balance beam, the parallel bars, and floor exercises – to receive their next clue.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Gypsy Moves or Vampire Remains. In Gypsy Moves, teams made their way to a gypsy encampment and had to help a family of gypsies move from one camp to another by loading their belongings on a traditional horse-drawn cart and unloading them at another location to receive their next clue from the head of the family. In Vampire Remains, teams had to drag a chained coffin to a field of stakes in the shadow of Bran Castle. There, they had to undo the coffin's chains to find several antique frames which they then had to impale them by smashing the stakes, referencing Vlad the Impaler, who inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula, until they found one containing an Amazing Race flag that they could trade for their next clue.

Leg 4 (Romania → Russia)[]

After arriving in the city of Krasnoyarsk in Siberia, teams were only given a 10 ruble bill and were told to head to the location featured on the banknote: the Krasnoyarsk Dam.

Airdate: March 8, 2009

• Bucharest (Henri Coandǎ International Airport) to Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia (Krasnoyarsk International Airport)
• Divnogorsk (Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Dam)
• Ovsyanka Village (Church of Saint Innokenty)
• Ovsyanka Village (Museum of The Last Bow)
• Krasnoyarsk (Bobrovy Log Park)
• Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Theater of Musical Comedy (in Russian))

This leg's Detour was a choice between Stack or Construct. In Stack, teams had to properly stack wood into a large wall formation in front of an existing stack to receive their next clue from a lumberjack. If their wall collapsed into the existing one, they would have to rebuild both. In Construct, teams had to travel to a workshop and assemble a local-style window frame, then they have to look for a house marked with a "Repairs Needed" sign and install the window to receive their next clue from a carpenter.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to complete a three-mile (4.8 km) lap on a bobsled roller coaster with a speed of up to 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) in under four minutes while looking for seven letters scattered around the track. They then had to arrange the letters to spell the name of a famous Russian playwright (CHEKHOV) to receive their next clue.

Additional task

• Upon arrival in Krasnoyarsk, teams were only given a 10 Russian ruble note provided in their first clue (pictured) and were told to figure out that their next clue was illustrated on the bill: the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Dam.

Leg 5 (Russia)[]

The Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre in the city of Novosibirsk was the fifth Pit Stop.

Airdate: March 15, 2009

• (Trans-Siberian Railway) Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Railway Station) to Novosibirsk (Novosibirsk Main Railway Station)
• Novosibirsk (Punkt Tekhnicheskogo Osmotra)
• Novosibirsk (Komsomolskaya Street and Voznesensky Cathedral or Stadium Spartak)
• Novosibirsk (Gosudarstvennaya Publichnaya Nauchnaya Tekhnicheskaya Biblioteka)
• Novosibirsk (Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Russian Bride or Russian Snowplow. In Russian Bride, teams drove themselves to the Soviet-era apartment building 4 on Komsomolskaya Street to fetch a Russian bride and bring her to the Voznesensky Cathedral, where her groom was waiting. Once the team had a picture taken with the couple, the groom would give teams their next clue. In Russian Snowplow, teams headed to Stadium Spartak, where each team member took turns driving a snowplow through a marked course while being directed by their partner. When both team members completed the course, they would receive their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose two Russian marathon runners, who would help them warm up for ten minutes before they had to strip down to their underwear and run a 1.4-mile (2.3 km) course to the Pit Stop at Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, where their partner, who was transported there separately, would join them.

Additional task

• At the start of the leg, teams had to travel by Trans-Siberian Railway to Novosibirsk and then travel to Punkt Tekhnicheskogo Osmotra to find their next clue and a Lada car, which would serve as their transportation until the Roadblock.

Leg 6 (Russia → India)[]

One of the Detour choices in the 'Pink City' of Jaipur had teams transporting hay alongside its famous city wall, including Zorawar Singh Gate.

Airdate: March 22, 2009

• Novosibirsk (Marins Park Hotel Novosibirsk) (PIt Start)
• Novosibirsk (Tolmachevo Airport) to Jaipur, India (Jaipur International Airport)
• Dhula Village (Sacred Tree – Peepli Ka Pedh)
• Jaipur (Amber Fort – Gaura Parvati Parking)
• Jaipur (Johari Bazar – Ramniwas Ramgopal Puppet Store)
  • Jaipur (Kalla Hanuman Temple)
• Jaipur (Sanganeri Gate to Zorawar Singh Gate or Badi Chopar Intersection)
• Jaipur (Jaigarh Fort)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose group of herding camels belonging to a Maharaja and use traditional tools to load and carry enough hay to the camels so that it could reach a designated marking line, as well as fill a trough with water until it spills out to receive their next clue from the camel master.

For their Speed Bump, Christie & Jodi had to make their way to Kala Hanuman Temple, where they had to decorate an elephant's face with various paints to the satisfaction of the mahout before they could continue racing.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Movers or Shakers. In Movers, teams traveled to the Sanganeri Gate and had to choose two rickshaws loaded with barrels of hay. They then had to transport the hay 1.5 miles (2.4 km) along the city wall of Jaipur to the Zorawar Singh Gate, where they had to search through the hay for a small metal elephant charm which they could then trade for their next clue. In Shakers, teams travel to the Badi Chopar junction at the intersection of Johari Bazar, Tripoli Bazar, Ramganz Bazar and Sireh Deori Bazar Roads. They would be dressed in traditional costumes and joined a local dance troupe to collect ₹100 (around US$2) worth of tips. They then gave the money they had earned to the band leader for their next clue.

Additional task

• At the Sacred Tree in Dhula Village, teams had to pick up one of two telephones and calling one of the four telephone numbers provided. The person on the line will then tell the teams the location of their next clue was at Amber Fort.

Leg 7 (India → Thailand)[]

At the Phuket Zoo, teams had to participate in an elephant show.

Airdate: March 29, 2009

• Jaipur (Jaipur International Airport) to Phuket, Thailand (Phuket International Airport)
• Mueang Phuket (Phuket Zoo – Gorilla Statue)
  • Phuket (Orphanage)
• Mueang Phuket (Old Phuket – Nguan Choon Tong Herbs Shop)
• Mueang Phuket (Pae Yod or Wat Phutta Mongkhon Nimit to King Rama IX Park)
• Mueang Phuket (Wat Thep Nimit Temple)

There was an unaired Fast Forward which involved going to a market and buying items for a local orphanage using the team's own cash resources. The first team to buy enough items would win the Fast Forward award.^[7]

This leg's Detour was a choice between 100 Barrels or 2 Miles. In 100 Barrels, teams had to travel to Pae Yod to prepare a fishing boat for ten days out at sea by filling 47 barrels with water and loading the other 53 barrels on the upper deck to receive their next clue. In 2 Miles, one team member had to pull a rickshaw, with their partner sitting in it, two miles (3.2 km) from Wat Phutta Mongkhon Nimit to King Rama IX Park to find their next clue. Bike pumps were provided with the rickshaws in the event of a flat tire, and teams cannot hire anyone to guide them.

Additional task

• Upon arrival in Phuket, teams had to find their next clue using only a photograph of gorilla statue leaving them to figure out that it was located at Phuket Zoo. There, teams would find their clue and were instructed to take a picture with zoo's main mascot, Esso the tiger, then participate in an elephant show, which involved being lightly stepped and squatted on by elephants. When the elephant show concluded, teams had to return to the tiger handler, who would hand them their picture with their next clue.
• At Nguan Choon Tong Herbs Shop in Old Phuket, teams had to direct by a shopkeeper to open one of 99 boxes of herbs at a time until they found a box that contained their next clue.

Leg 8 (Thailand)[]

Thailand's traditional long-tail boats were featured in this leg, as teams traveled along Bangkok's series of canal.

Airdate: April 12, 2009

• Phuket (Phuket International Airport) to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport)
• Bangkok (Chareonyont 007 Boat Yard)
• Bangkok (Chao Phraya River – Peninsula Pier)
• Bangkok (Street of Happy Smiles or Wat Samphanthawong)
• Bangkok (Phaya Thai Palace)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to properly attach a propeller on a traditional Thai long-tail boat to receive their next clue.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Broken Teeth or Broken Record. In Broken Teeth, teams made their way to the "Street of Happy Smiles", where they had to search through 50 sets of dentures match five patients with the correct set of dentures to receive their next clue. In Broken Record, teams had to travel to Wat Samphanthawong and choose a group of kathoeys and a "party taxi". Then, teams had to sing karaoke with the other travelers while the taxi driver drove them five miles (8 km) through the traffic of Bangkok's Chinatown until they returned to the temple to receive their next clue.

Additional task

• After the Roadblock, teams had to navigate the waterways of Bangkok in their long-tail boat using a provided map to find the Peninsula Pier for their next clue.

Leg 9 (Thailand → China)[]

The Roadblock in Guilin required teams to get involved in traditional Chinese method of cormorant fishing in Li River.

Airdate: April 19, 2009

• Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport) to Guilin, China (Guilin Liangjiang International Airport)
• Guilin (Folded Brocade Mountains – Peak of the Luminous Moon) (Unaired)^[24]
• Guilin (Qing Xiu Lu Hair Salon)
• Guilin (Li River – #24 Bridge)
• Guilin (Ancient South Gate)
• Guilin (Banyan Lake – Sun and Moon Pagodas)

For their Speed Bump, Mark & Michael had to wash and dry the hair of two waiting women outside the Qing Xiu Lu Hair Salon before they could continue racing.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to direct a cormorant to retrieve fish they had thrown in the Li River. Once the cormorant retrieved 10 fishes, teams would receive their next clue.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Choreography or Calligraphy. In Choreography, teams had to perform a traditional dance routine. If their dance was to the satisfaction of two judges, teams would receive their next clue. In Calligraphy, teams had to copy Chinese characters written by a calligrapher at four stations. Once the calligrapher was satisfied with the teams' calligraphy, he stamped their paper, and they proceeded to find the next station, which was named in the characters they had just copied. Once teams acquired all four stamps, they were given their next clue.

Additional tasks

• In an unaired task at the Folded Brocade Mountains, teams had to climb to the Peak of the Luminous Moon and strike the "Drums of Life" to receive their next clue.^[25]
• After completing the Detour, teams had to travel by foot to the Sun and Moon Pagodas in Banyan Lake (provided from the picture in the clue) to find the Pit Stop.

Leg 10 (China)[]

Both Detour choices in this leg paid tribute to the 2008 Summer Olympics, which was hosted by the city of Beijing, including the usage of swimsuit that was worn by Michael Phelps.

Airdate: April 26, 2009

• Guilin (Guilin Liangjiang International Airport) to Beijing (Beijing Capital International Airport)
• Beijing (Jianguomen Outer Street – Liangzi Foot Massage Palace)
• Beijing (Beijing Muxiyuan Sports Technology School – Guangcai Natatorium)
• Beijing (Drum Tower – North Gate)

In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to drink a cup of Chinese medicinal tea, endure a traditional therapeutic foot massage for ten minutes, and drink a second cup of tea to receive their next clue from the masseuse. In the event the racer was unable to bear the painful part of the massage, they could tap one side of their chair and say "uncle" to signal the masseuse to stop; however, the consequence of doing so would result in restarting the massage from the beginning.

This leg's first Detour was a choice between Sync or Swim. In Sync, teams had to synchronized dive from three-metre (9.8 ft) springboards and score a five from both of the judges by hitting the water in unison to receive their next clue. In Swim, teams had to don a pair of Speedo LZR Racer suits, the same type of suit worn by Michael Phelps (pictured) in the 2008 Summer Olympics, and then swim eight lengths of the pool (400 meters) with each team member alternating after two lengths (100 meters) to receive their next clue (Phelps' world record time of 4:03.84 at the 400m individual medley from the 2008 Summer Olympics was shown for comparison, but teams were not required to beat it).

Teams finished this double-length leg in Beijing at Beijing National Stadium, known locally as the 'Bird's Nest', the main venue of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Airdate: May 3, 2009

• Beijing (Beihai Street Mall)
• Beijing (Forbidden City – Northwest Corner to Dongdan Station)
• Beijing (Huguang Guild Hall)
• Beijing (Huguang Guild Hall – Wenchang Pavilion)
• Beijing (Donghuamen Night Market – Stall №68)
• Beijing (Beijing National Stadium)

This leg's second Detour at Huguang Guild Hall was a choice between Beijing Opera or Chinese Waiter. In Beijing Opera, teams made their way to Huguang Huiguan Opera House. There, they had to apply make-up on each other exactly like the two models, a princess and a gentleman, next to them. After their makeup was approved, teams had to go to the stage and bow to the master to receive their next clue. After completing this task, teams were required to stay in costume for the duration of the leg. In Chinese Waiter, teams had to travel to Huguang Huiguan restaurant. There, they had to choose a table of customers and record five orders spoken in Mandarin – Good Luck Fish, Vegetarian Noodles, Fried Chicken, New Taste Beef, and Golden Pork Spare Ribs. Then, teams had to pronounce the Mandarin orders correctly to a chef to have the orders prepared and serve the plates to the customers to receive their next clue.

In this leg's second Roadblock, one team member had to eat a plate of fried Chinese street food that included grasshoppers, beetle larvae, a scorpion, and a starfish to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At Beihai Street Mall, teams had to search several stores for a Travelocity Roaming Gnome, which had their next clue written on the bottom of its base. Teams had to keep the gnome with them for the duration of the leg.
• At the northwest corner of the Forbidden City, teams had to locate the electric bicycles parked across the moat, then navigate themselves past Tiananmen Square to Dongdan Station, where they would find their next clue near one of the station entrances.

Leg 11 (China → United States)[]

While in Maui, teams prepared puaʻa kālua, a pig roasted in the traditional kālua method.

Airdate: May 10, 2009

• Beijing (Beijing Capital International Airport) to Kahului, Maui, Hawaii, United States (Kahului Airport)
• Keokea (Beach Access 118 – Keokea Beach Homestead)
• Maalaea (McGregor Point)
• Peahi (Kaohu Farms – Surfboard Fence)
• Waikapu (King Kamehameha Golf Club)

In the one aired choice for this season's final Detour, teams had to season a 145-pound (66 kg) pig with island flavoring, then carry it suspended on a bamboo pole 200 yards (180 m) along the beach to a Hawaiian lūʻau. At the lūʻau, they had to properly cover the pig for traditional kālua cooking to receive their next clue.

In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to search through a pile of more than three hundred surfboards for eleven that displayed a picture depicting a task, location, or person related to the ten previous legs – one from each of the first nine legs, and one for each half of the tenth leg (the remaining surfboards had pictures depicting unrelated objects, some of which were pictures showing tasks from previous seasons). Then, they had to arrange the surfboards along a fence in chronological order of their appearance during the season:

When all eleven surfboards were displayed in the correct order, teams would receive their final clue.

Additional tasks

• At McGregor Point, teams had to get on a personal water craft and ride 1 mile (1.6 km) along a marked path in search of a field of one hundred buoys, where they had to search the buoys for one of four that had their next clue attached.
• There was an unaired task before the Finish Line that required teams to search for a statue.^[26]

Reception[]

Critical response[]

The Amazing Race 14 received mixed-to-positive reviews. Andy Dehnart of reality blurred praised the reduction of time in airport, the cast, and improvements in editing and said that the season finished with "a strong end to an even stronger season."^[27][28] Michael Hewitt of the Orange County Register wrote that the season was "another excellent edition of 'The Amazing Race.'"^[29] Michael Russnow of The Huffington Post criticized this season's route as the show "didn’t travel in as diversified a fashion, and wherever the teams wound up they stayed in the immediate region a lot longer than in earlier years."^[30] Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger wrote that his "interest in the season dropped rapidly after Mel and Mike were eliminated" and that he "lacked either an emotional investment in another team or an admiration for them as pure Racers."^[31] In 2016, this season was ranked 12th out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents.^[32] In 2021, Val Barone of TheThings ranked this season as the show's 9th best season.^[33] In 2022, Jason Shomer of Collider ranked this season among the show's top seven seasons.^[34]

Ratings[]

U.S. Nielsen ratings[]

Canadian ratings[]

References[]

External links[]

• Official website