The Amazing Race 25

Production

Development and filming

Filming began in the early morning of May 31, 2014, at Times Square in New York City. CBS invited fans to appear at the starting line to see the teams off. According to host Phil Keoghan, the show's production crew had sought to keep filming secret but included a public start this season due to the ubiquity of social media and fans' excitement. The publicity of the Times Square start led CBS to announce the identities of the competing teams the same day. It was revealed at the public start that instead of the Express Pass, teams would be awarded a new immunity from elimination pass called the Save for finishing first in the first leg. It could be used by that team if they were to finish last on any elimination leg before the ninth leg. The Save was presented once in a non-elimination leg so it was never used. Filming for this season ended in Los Angeles on June 22, 2014.

This season spanned 26,000 miles (42,000 km) and included first-time visits to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Malta, and the Shetland Islands of Scotland.

At various points throughout the filming of the season, teams encountered Phil Keoghan on the course where he explained a task to the home audience while the competition continued behind him.

For the first time in The Amazing Race history, four teams competed in the season's final leg. However, Phil eliminated one team in the middle of the final leg, leaving only three teams racing to the finish line.

Contestants

The cast included married professional surfers Bethany Hamilton, a shark attack survivor whose story was told in her memoirs and the film Soul Surfer, and Adam Dirks; former Survivor: South Pacific contestants and engaged couple Whitney Duncan and Keith Tollefson; and TNA Wrestling stars Brooke Adams and Robbie Strauss.

Future appearances

In 2017, Brooke Adams appeared on the second season of the TLC reality show Rattled. In 2019, Robbie Strauss competed on the second episode of The Titan Games. In 2024, Bethany Hamilton competed on the twelfth season of The Masked Singer as "Macaron".

Results

The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.

A red placement with a dagger (†) indicates that the team was eliminated.

An underlined blue placement with a double-dagger (‡) indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop in a non-elimination leg, and had to perform a Speed Bump task in the following leg.

An italicized and underlined placement indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop, but there was no rest period at the Pit Stop and all teams were instructed to continue racing. There was no required Speed Bump task in the next leg.

A green ƒ indicates that the team won the Fast Forward.

A purple ε indicates that the team used an Express Pass on that leg to bypass one of their tasks.

A brown ⊃ indicates that the team used the U-Turn and a brown ⊂ indicates the team on the receiving end of the U-Turn.

Notes

Race summary

Leg 1 (United States → U.S. Virgin Islands)

Episode 1: "Go Big or Go Home" (September 26, 2014)

Prize: The Save (awarded to Misti & Jim)

Eliminated: Lisa & Michelle

Locations

New York City, New York (Times Square – Duffy Square) (Starting Line)

New York City (Flushing Meadows–Corona Park – Unisphere)

New York City → Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands

Charlotte Amalie (Vendor's Plaza)

Charlotte Amalie (Charlotte Amalie Harbor Seaplane Base) → Saint John (Lovango Cay)

Saint John (Lovango Cay → Carval Rock)

Saint John (Carval Rock) → Hans Lollik Island (Blackbeard's Revenge)

Hans Lollik Island (Beach)

Hans Lollik Island (Beach) → Enighed (Magens Bay)

Charlotte Amalie (Fort Christian)

Episode summary

At Duffy Square, teams were told to travel to the location of the finish line from the first season of The Amazing Race, which they had to figure out was the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. There, they found their next clue, which instructed them to book one of two flight to the island of Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Once there, teams had to travel to Vendor's Plaza in Charlotte Amalie and sign up for one of six chartered seaplane flights to Lovango Cay.

Leg 2 (U.S. Virgin Islands → England)

Episode 2: "When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go" (October 3, 2014)

Prize: A trip for two to Jukkasjärvi, Sweden (awarded to Adam & Bethany)

Eliminated: Dennis & Isabelle

Locations

Charlotte Amalie (Fort Christian)

Charlotte Amalie → London, England

London (Tower Bridge)

London (Somerset House or Victoria Tower Gardens)

London → Oxford

Oxford (Magdalen Bridge – Boathouse)

Oxford (Christ Church College – Tom Quad)

Oxford (Bear Inn)

Woodstock (Blenheim Palace)

Episode summary

At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to London, England. Once there, teams had to travel to Tower Bridge and find the Pearly King and Queen, who gave them their next clue.

This season's first Detour was a choice between About Face or Pancake Race. In About Face, teams traveled to Somerset House, where they dressed as members of the Queen's Guard and had to perform the Changing of the Guard ceremony to the satisfaction of the parade commander before receiving their next clue. In Pancake Race, teams traveled to the Victoria Tower Gardens to participate in a Parliamentary Pancake Race. Racers had to dress as a chef, cook a pancake, and then complete one lap around the course while constantly flipping their pancakes within 75 seconds before receiving their next clue. If racers dropped a pancake, ran out of time, or did not flip the pancakes enough, they had to start over.

Leg 3 (England → Scotland)

Episode 3: "Get Your Sheep Together" (October 10, 2014)

Prize: A trip for two to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (awarded to Misti & Jim)

Eliminated: Michael & Scott

Locations

Oxford (Walton Street – Oxford University Press)

Oxford → Aberdeen, Scotland

Aberdeen (Union Square Parking Area)

Aberdeen → Lerwick

Lerwick (Royal National Lifeboat Station)

Scalloway (Scalloway Castle)

Scalloway (Peats of Scalloway) or Lerwick (DITT Store, Up Helly Aa Galley Shed & Hay's Dock)

Scalloway (Berry Farm)

St Ninian's Isle (Tombolo)

Episode summary

At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by train to Aberdeen, Scotland, drive to the ferry terminal, and then travel by ferry to the Shetland Islands. After docking, teams had to drive to the Royal National Lifeboat Station and search for a puffin mascot, who gave them their next clue. Teams then drove to Scalloway Castle, where they had to search the castle grounds for a knight and a Scottish Deerhound guarding a room that held their next clue.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Pony Up or Light My Fire. In Pony Up, teams drove to the Peats of Scalloway, where they had to cut fifty blocks of peat from a peat bank. They then had to load up a Shetland pony with two loads of peat and deliver them uphill to a farmer, who gave them their next clue. In Light My Fire, teams had to build a viking torch for Up Helly Aa. Once finished, teams drove to Hay's Dock, where they presented the torch to the guizer jarl, who lit their torch and gave them their next clue.

Leg 4 (Scotland → Denmark & Sweden)

Episode 4: "Thinly Sliced Anchovies" (October 17, 2014)

Prize: A Ford C-Max Hybrid for each team member (awarded to Kym & Alli)

Locations

St Ninian's Isle (Tombolo)

Lerwick → Aberdeen

Aberdeen → Copenhagen, Denmark (Copenhagen Airport)

Malmö, Sweden (Stortorget)

Copenhagen, Denmark (Sankt Jørgens Allé or Det Franske Conditori Bakery & Allegade 10 Restaurant)

Copenhagen (Ida Davidsen)

Copenhagen (VM Houses)

Episode summary

At the start of this leg, teams had to return by ferry to Aberdeen and then fly to Copenhagen, Denmark. Once there, teams had to search the airport for a marked car with their next clue, which instructed them to drive across the Øresund Bridge to Malmö, Sweden. If teams used less than 0.10 US gallons (0.38 L) of gasoline, they were automatically given their next clue. If teams used more than 0.10 US gallons (0.38 L), they had to answer a Scandinavian geography question before receiving their next clue.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Parking Space or Wedding Cake. In Parking Space, teams drove to Sankt Jørgens Allé, where they had to set up one of two types of parklets in a parking spot within 30 minutes so that it matched a photograph before receiving their next clue. If the time expired before they were finished, teams had to move to a new parking space and start over. In Wedding Cake, teams drove to the Det Franske Conditori bakery, where they had to put together a traditional wedding cake known as a kransekage. They then had to transport the cake across town using a cargo bike to the Allegade 10 restaurant, receive a signature from the maître d', and return the receipt to the head baker in exchange for their next clue.

Leg 5 (Denmark → Morocco)

Episode 5: "Morocc'and Roll" (October 24, 2014)

Prize: US$5,000 for each team member (awarded to Kym & Alli)

Eliminated: Keith & Whitney

Locations

Copenhagen (VM Houses)

Copenhagen → Marrakesh, Morocco

Marrakesh (Jemaa el-Fnaa)

Marrakesh (Le Cadeau Berbère & Riad Monceau)

Marrakesh (Bab Debbagh Tannery)

Marrakesh (Ben Youssef Madrasa)

Marrakesh (Bob Magic Music & Jemaa el-Fnaa or Le Paradis du Thée & Palais Gharnata)

Marrakesh (Le Grand Balcon du Café Glacier)

Marrakesh (Al Matjar Carpet Shop)

Episode summary

At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Marrakesh, Morocco. Once there, teams had to travel to Jemaa el-Fnaa, find the food cart garage, bring a cart to the marketplace, and set up the cart to the satisfaction of the cart owner before receiving their next clue, which directed them to the Bab Debbagh Tannery.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to collect three unfinished goat skins and remove the remaining hairs from the skins. They then had to load three bundles of finished hides onto a bike and deliver them to a nearby cobbler. After getting a receipt, they had to return to the tannery and trade it for their next clue.

Leg 6 (Morocco)

Episode 6: "I Feel Like I Just Kissed a Goat" (October 31, 2014)

Prize: A trip for two to Iguaçu Falls in Brazil (awarded to Misti & Jim)

Eliminated: Shelley & Nici

Locations

Marrakesh (Al Matjar Carpet Shop)

Marrakesh (El Massi)

Marrakesh (Koutoubia Mosque)

Amizmiz (Abdessadek Boufoulouss Pottery Stand)

Oumnass (Oumnasse Casbah)

Tahannaout (Terres d'Amanar)

Hajar (Casbah d'If)

Episode summary

At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to search for a feed station at El Massi, pick up two bags of hay, and then deliver them to a horse stable across town. They then picked a horse-drawn carriage that took them back into the center of Marrakesh and had to feed their horses an apple before they were given their next clue. Then, from the Koutoubia Mosque, teams had to drive to the Abdessadek Boufoulouss pottery stand in Amizmiz and search for their next clue hidden amongst the pots.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Camp or Cream. In Camp, teams had to set up a traditional Berber tent to the satisfaction of the judge before receiving their next clue. In Cream, teams had to milk a goat so as to fill a pail. They then had to use a goat skin to churn the goat milk until they made at least three ounces (85 g) of butter before receiving their next clue.

After the Detour, teams had to drive to Terres d'Amanar in Tahannaout, which had their next clue.

Leg 7 (Morocco → Italy)

Episode 7: "Pretty Fly For a Food Scientist" (November 7, 2014)

Prize: A trip for two to Ocho Rios, Jamaica (awarded to Misti & Jim)

Locations

Hajar (Casbah d'If)

Marrakesh → Palermo, Italy

Palermo (Teatro di Verdura)

Palermo (Villa Costanza)

Palermo (Mondello – Antico Stabilimento Balneare)

Palermo (Tonnara Florio or Teatro Politeama Garibaldi)

Palermo (Villa Niscemi)

Episode summary

At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Palermo on the island of Sicily. Once there, teams found a series of tambourines marked with one of three departure times the next morning at the Teatro di Verdura. Teams then had to travel to Villa Costanza, which had their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to drive a go-kart along the old route of the Targa Florio around Mount Pellegrino within 4:07 minutes before receiving their next clue from Nino Vaccarella. If unsuccessful, they had to follow a pace car back to the starting line and try again. Once racers got their next clue, they were driven back down the mountain to reunite with their partner at Antico Stabilimento Balneare.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Painters or Posers. In Painters, teams had to travel to the Tonnara Florio and restore a fresco while lying on their backs on a high scaffolding to the satisfaction of the restoration artist before receiving their next clue. In Posers, teams had to travel to the Teatro Politeama Garibaldi and watch a series of opera performers. They then had to go backstage, identify the costumes worn by the performers, and write down the characters' names and their operas in the order the performers appeared on stage in a playbook before receiving their next clue.

Leg 8 (Italy → Malta)

Episode 8: "Hot Sexy Knights" (November 21, 2014)

Prize: US$10,000 for each team member (awarded to Adam & Bethany)

Eliminated: Tim & Te Jay

Locations

Palermo (Villa Niscemi)

Pozzallo → Valletta, Malta

Valletta (Bridge Bar & Upper Barrakka Gardens)

Qrendi (Żurrieq Valley Sea Inlet – Boathouse)

Qrendi (Blue Grotto)

Birgu (Church of St. Scholastica – Triq Antika)

Birgu (Saint Lawrence's Church Oratory)

Birgu (Birgu Harbour or Gate of Provence)

Gżira (Manoel Island – Fort Manoel)

Episode summary

At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by ferry to Valletta, Malta. Once there, teams were given a drink order at the Bridge Bar and had to carry the order on a tray up Saint Ursula Street's staircase to a group of the Knights of Malta at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in exchange for receive their next clue. If racers dropped anything along the way, they had to clean up the mess before the bartender replaced their broken items. Teams were then directed to the boathouse at the Żurrieq Valley Sea Inlet, where they found a series of Maltese cross necklaces with departure times the next morning.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to rappel twenty stories down into the water of the Blue Grotto, swim into the cave, and retrieve their next clue. They then rejoined their partner in a waiting boat and were taken ashore.

Leg 9 (Malta → Singapore)

Episode 9: "You're Taking My Tan Off" (November 28, 2014)

Prize: A trip for two to Bali, Indonesia (awarded to Adam & Bethany)

Eliminated: Kym & Alli

Locations

Valletta (City Gate)

Valletta → Singapore

Singapore (Changi Village & Pulau Ubin – Coconut Stand)

Singapore (Sentosa – Wave House)

Singapore (Marina Bay Sands)

Singapore (Raffles Place – Centre Square)

Singapore (Hong San See Temple or Robertson Quay – Red House)

Singapore (Fort Canning Park)

Singapore (Mount Faber – Merlion Statue)

Singapore (The Fullerton Pavilion)

Episode summary

At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Singapore. Once there, teams took a bumboat to Pulau Ubin, where they had to find a coconut stand and drink the coconut water before receiving their next clue.

For this season's only Fast Forward, teams had to surf on an artificially-generated wave at Sentosa's Wave House for two minutes without falling. Adam & Bethany won the Fast Forward.

Teams who chose to not attempt the Fast Forward had to travel to the observation deck of the Marina Bay Sands, which had their next clue.

Leg 10 (Singapore → Philippines)

Episode 10: "Smells Like Dirty Tube Socks" (December 5, 2014)

Prize: A trip for two to Ninh Vân, Vietnam (awarded to Misti & Jim)

Locations

Singapore (The Fullerton Pavilion)

Singapore → Manila, Philippines

Parañaque (Baclaran Church) → Rosario (Rosario Municipal Plaza – Salinas Specials)

Rosario (Manila Bay – Rosario Fish Port or RGC Side Car and Welding Shop)

Naic (Sitio Maname – Rice Fields)

Episode summary

At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Manila, Philippines. Once there, teams had to pick up their clue from the flower vendor at Baclaran Church the next morning. This clue instructed teams to then travel by jeepney to Salinas Specials at Rosario Municipal Plaza, where they found their next clue.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Catch or Coach. In Catch, teams had to wade into Manila Bay to a pump boat offshore. They then had to fill a bucket with fish and transport it back to shore until they filled three large buckets with 300 pounds (140 kg) of fish before receiving their next clue. In Coach, teams had to properly assemble and attach a side car onto a motorcycle using the provided tools, making sure to match the motorcycle to their provided side car, before receiving their next clue.

After the Detour, teams had to travel to the rice fields in Naic, where they took part in a Switchback from season 5. Teams had to use a plow attached to a water buffalo to dredge up their next clue hidden within the mud of a rice paddy. Teams then had to search on foot for the nearby Pit Stop.

Leg 11 (Philippines)

Episode 11: "Hooping It Up" (December 12, 2014)

Locations

Bacoor (Molino Boulevard)

Bacoor (Molino Boulevard) → Manila (Rajah Sulayman Park)

Manila (Manila Baywalk)

Manila (Malate Neighborhood)

Manila (Divisoria Market)

Manila (Intramuros – Baluarte de San Diego)

Episode summary

At the start of this leg, teams had to travel by jeepney to Rajah Sulayman Park in Manila, which had their next clue.

For their Speed Bump, Brooke & Robbie had to unload the items from a man's broken padyak and load them onto a second padyak before they could continue racing.

This season's final Detour was also a Blind Detour and was a choice between This or That. In This, teams traveled on foot to the intersection of Bocobo and Malvar Streets, where they had to play street basketball against a neighborhood team and score 21 points before receiving their next clue. In That, teams traveled on foot to the intersection of Pedro Gil Street and Pilar Hidalgo Lim, where they had to race padyaks around a marked course for four laps with each teammate pedaling the bicycle for two laps each. If teams finished four laps of the course within 17:55 minutes, they would receive their next clue.

After the Detour, teams had to travel to the intersection of Santo Cristo Street and San Nicolas Street within the Divisoria Market and find their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to deliver specified quantities of two coconut-based products – bunot (a coconut shell used to clean floors) and walis tingting (a broom made of palm fronds) – to three different addresses within the Divisoria Market, collect a receipt from each delivery, and then return all three receipts before receiving their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the Baluarte de San Diego in Intramuros.

Leg 12 (Philippines → United States)

Episode 12: "All or Nothing" (December 19, 2014)

Prize: US$1,000,000

Winners: Amy & Maya

Runners-up: Misti & Jim

Third place: Adam & Bethany

Eliminated (at the episode's midpoint): Brooke & Robbie

Locations

Manila → Los Angeles, California (Los Angeles International Airport)

Los Angeles (Downtown City Hall)

Los Angeles (Terminal Island – Southwest Marine Warehouse) (Elimination Point)

Los Angeles (Terminal Island – United States Coast Guard Base)

Los Angeles (ConGlobal Industries)

Rancho Palos Verdes (Point Vicente Lighthouse)

Episode summary

At the start of this leg, Phil Keoghan gave teams a manila envelope along with their clue, which instructed them to travel to the "City of Angels": Los Angeles. At the airport, teams had to find a marked vehicle and use its voice control feature to listen to their next clue, which directed them to drive to Los Angeles City Hall. There, teams met the city's film clerk, who stamped the filming permit in their manila envelope and directed them to the Southwest Marine Warehouse, where they had to hand the permit to an assistant director in exchange for their next clue.

In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to learn how to jump out of a third story window from a stunt coordinator. When ready, they had to pick up a satchel, jump through a window made of breakaway glass, and land safely on a pile of boxes below. Once completed, they could retrieve their next clue inside their satchel. Brooke & Robbie were the last team to arrive at this midpoint and were eliminated before being allowed to complete the Roadblock.

Reception

Critical response

The Amazing Race 25 received positive reviews. Jodi Walker of Entertainment Weekly called this season a "good underdog story". Daniel Fienberg of HitFix was critical of some structural decisions but was positive towards this season overall. Daron Aldridge of Box Office Prophets called it an "otherwise enjoyable season" and wrote, "I think it was very entertaining and most of the challenges were fun to watch because they were actually challenging." Alex Morella of "Survivor Oz" said "Well…it started really well…went bland in the middle for a bit…but finished strongly! I enjoyed this season and The Amazing Race put out a good product for its Silver Anniversary! I enjoyed the teams…quite a few of the challenges (although several better detours are needed in some legs…and no Morocco!)" In 2016, this season was ranked 7th out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents. In 2023, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant ranked this season as the fourteenth-best season. In 2024, Taguiam's ranking was updated with this season ranked 17th out of 36.

Ratings

U.S. Nielsen ratings

Canadian ratings

Canadian broadcaster CTV also airs The Amazing Race on Fridays. Episodes air at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Central (9:00 p.m. Pacific, Mountain and Atlantic).

Canadian DVR ratings are included in Numeris' count.