The Amazing Race 14

Development and filming

Teams were brought to the race'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 region of Siberia for the first time, as well as: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, India, China, Thailand and Russia (Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk), 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 Race 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 Race's route 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.

Legs 10 and 11 formed a double-length leg which resulted in a combined "superleg", it was a surprise feature of every Race from Season 6 to Season 10 but has not been seen since. 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; 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.

Mel and Mike confirmed in a post-race 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.^[6] This was the first season ever where no team took the Fast Forward option throughout the race.

The Maui finish line was the southernmost finish location in the American version of the 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, is the first deaf contestant in the U.S. series; he relied on his mother Margie Adams to communicate in the race. (The Amazing Race Asia 2 winner Adrian Yap was the only other deaf Amazing Race contestant.)^[7] Margie and 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.^[8] 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 Race.^[9]

Amanda and Kris, Mel and Mike, Kisha and Jen, Margie and Luke, and Jaime and Cara raced again in The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business among a cast made up of returning teams from seasons 12–17. Margie and Luke also competed in the second All-Star edition. In 2018, Mike White would be contesting with the 17 other castaways in Survivor: David vs. Goliath.

As of 2013, Amanda and Kris were married, and Jen is married and has a daughter.

As of 2017, Jaime is married to MLB player Evan Longoria and has a daughter. Cara was married and then divorced, and has since remarried and had a daughter too.

Leg 1 (United States → Switzerland)

While in Switzerland, teams travelled 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 (Zürich Airport) or Milan, Italy (Malpensa International 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 then on to Alpenhof Stechelberg)

The first Roadblock of the race requires one team member to bungee jump off the Verzasca Dam, the second highest commercial bungee in the world, at a height of 70 stories in order to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the Church of Sant'Antonio, teams would sign up for one of three departure times, all of which would depart in the following morning. When they depart in the next morning, teams would be given a picture from the priest (similar to the one pictured at the right), and were left to figure out the 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. Once the cheese was stacked, they would get their next clue. This task would be featured again in Season 22 as a Switchback.
• At the Pit Stop at Hotel Stechelberg, teams would listen to a group of yodelers who would lead the teams to the Pit Stop mat.

Additional note

• Right after the race began, teams make their way to Los Angeles International Airport to reserve one of two flights to Zürich; the first flight (which has room for six teams) were given a direct flight, while the second flight will leave via Milan, Italy 25 minutes later. Depending on which flight the team travelled, teams took a train to Locarno for their first leg of the race.

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

For this 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. In the event of unfavorable winds, they had a choice between waiting an undetermined amount of time for optimal weather conditions or taking a 60-minute hike down the mountain before receiving their next clue.

The first Detour of the race was a choice between Balancing Dolly or Austrian Folly. In Balancing Dolly, teams had to navigate their Segways over a 2-mile (3.2 km) road obstacle course. Once they get through, they could get 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, in which they would be given their next clue.

Additional tasks

• Upon arrival at Munich, they had to drive to the village of Ruhpolding and ride a cable car to Rauschberg for their next clue.
• After completing the Detour, teams made their way to Holzsäger, a woodcutting workshop. Teams had to wait for the Tyrolean woodcutters to cut a piece of wood. Once teams had their piece of wood, it 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 (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 (in Romanian))
• Bucharest (Gara de Nord) to Braşov (Braşov railway station)
• Braşov (Biserica Neagră)
• Bran (Vila Panoramic overlooking Bran Castle)

The Roadblock for this leg was in honor of notable gymnast Nadia Comăneci. For this task, one team member had to go through a series of moves for three gymnastics disciplines: the balance beam, the parallel bars, and floor exercises before receiving their next clue.

The cultured-themed Detour was a choice between Gypsy Moves or Vampire Remains. In Gypsy Moves, teams made their way to a gypsy encampment and 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. Once all of the belongings were stacked, the head of the family would give the team their next clue. In Vampire Remains, teams had to drag a chained coffin to a field of stakes on the land 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 (a reference to Vlad the Impaler, inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula) until they found one containing a flag that they could trade them for their next clue.

Leg 4 (Romania → Russia)

Upon 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 (Yemelyanovo Airport)
• Divnogorsk (Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Dam)
• Divnogorsk (Ovsyanka Village (in Russian) – Church of Saint Innokenty)
• Divnogorsk (Ovsyanka Village – Museum of The Last Bow)
• Sverdlovsk (in Russian) (Bobrovy Log Park (in Russian))
• Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Theater of Musical Comedy (in Russian))

The Detour for the leg was a choice between Stack or Construct. In Stack, teams had to stack wood into a large wall formation in front of an existing stack. If their wall collapsed into the existing one, they would have to rebuild both. Once the wood was properly stacked, a lumberjack would give them their next clue. 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. Once the window was installed, a carpenter would give the teams their next clue.

The Roadblock requires one team member to complete a lap on a bobsled roller coaster in under four minutes while looking for seven letters scattered around the track. They then had to arrange the letters correctly (CHEKHOV) in order to receive their next clue.

Additional task

• Upon arrival at 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 of the Race.

Airdate: March 15, 2009

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

The Detour in this leg was a choice between Russian Bride or Russian Snowplow. For both Detours, teams will have to pick up a Lada car. In Russian Bride, teams drove themselves to a Soviet-era apartment – 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 them 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 they complete the course, they could receive their next clue.

For this Roadblock, one team member had to choose two Russian marathon runners who would help them warm up, before they were stripped 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 along.

Leg 6 (Russia → India)

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

Airdate: March 22, 2009

• Novosibirsk (Tolmachevo Airport) to Jaipur, India (Jaipur 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)

The Roadblock for this leg had to choose group of herding camels belonging to a Maharaja and by using traditional tools, had to load and carry enough hay to the camels so that it could reach a designated marking line, as well as filling a trough with water until it spills out. When they were complete, they received their next clue.

For this leg's Speed Bump, Christie and Jodi would have to make their way to Kala Hanuman Temple. There, they would have to decorate an elephant's face with various paints. Once the mahout was satisfied with their work, they could continue racing.

The Detour was a choice between Movers or Shakers. In Movers, teams headed to the Sanganeri Gate, and have to choose two rickshaws that loaded with barrels of hay. They will then have to transport the hay 1.5 miles (2.4 km) along the City wall of Jaipur. When they reached the Zorawar Singh Gate, they had to search through the hay for a small metal elephant charm which they could then trade it for their next clue. In Shakers, teams make their way to a junction (called Badi Chopar, 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 would have 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 Airport) to Phuket, Thailand (Phuket International Airport)
• Phuket (Phuket Zoo (in Thai) – Gorilla Statue)
  • Phuket (Orphanage)
• Old Phuket (Nguan Choon Tong Herbs Shop)
• Phuket (Pae Yod or Wat Phutta Mongkhon Nimit to King Rama IX Park)
• 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. Once a team bought enough items, they would win the Fast Forward award.^[6]

The 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. They have to choose one of six fishing boats, filled with 47 barrels with water, and loaded the other 53 barrels on the upper deck. Once the fishing boat was loaded, they could receive their next clue. In 2 Miles, teams had to transport a rickshaw (with one team member sitting in it) 2 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.

Additional task

• Upon arrival at Phuket, teams were given a picture on the clue, in particular, depicted a view of gorilla statue and teams were left to figure out that the statue was located at Phuket Zoo. There, teams would pick up their clue and had 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, the tiger handler would hand the teams them their picture, which contained their next clue.
• The clue at the Phuket Zoo instructs teams to travel to Nguan Choon Tong Herbs Shop at Old Phuket. There, teams have to direct by a shopkeeper to search through 99 boxes of herbs for one of six boxes 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 Samphantawong at Yaowarat Road)
• Bangkok (Phaya Thai Palace)

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

The leg's Detour was a choice of Broken Teeth or Broken Record. In Broken Teeth, teams make their way to the "Street of Happy Smiles" where they had to match five patients with their dentures. Once the teams identified the dentures correctly, they could receive their next clue. In Broken Record, teams make their way to travel to Bangkok's Chinatown at Yaowarat Road - Wat Samphantawong. There, teams choose a group of kathoeys and a "party taxi"; then sing karaoke and entertaining with the other travellers while the taxi driver will drive them 5 miles (8.0 km) through the Bangkok traffic to their next destination, where they will get their next clue.

Additional task

• After completing the Roadblock, teams will have to navigate the waterways of Bangkok in their long-tail boat using the map provided to find the Peninsula Pier for the 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)^[12]
• Guilin (Qing Xiu Lu Hair Salon)
• Guilin (Li River – #24 Bridge)
• Guilin (Ancient South Gate)
• Guilin (Banyan Lake – Sun and Moon Pagodas)

For this leg's Speed Bump, Mark and Michael have to go inside the Qing Xiu Lu Hair Salon to and dry the hair of two waiting women 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 they retrieved 10 fishes, they could receive their next clue.

The Detour was a choice of Choreography or Calligraphy. In Choreography, teams had to perform a traditional dance routine. If their dance was to the satisfaction of two judges, they could 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 they acquired all four stamps, they were given their next clue.

Additional tasks

• An unaired task at the Folded Brocade Mountains requires teams to climb to the Peak of the Luminous Moon and strike the "Drums of Life" before receiving their next clue.
• After completing the Detour, teams were instructed to travel by foot to Sun and Moon Pagodas in Banyan Lake (provided from the picture in the clue) for the Pit Stop.

Leg 10 (China)

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

Airdate: April 26, 2009

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

For the first Roadblock, one team member had to drink a cup of Chinese medicinal tea, then endure a traditional therapeutic foot massage for ten minutes. After the massage and another cup of tea, they received their next clue. In the event teams were unable to bear the painful part of the massage, they would 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.

The first Detour involving swimming was a choice between Sync or Swim. In Sync, teams jumped off three-meter springboards and attempt to touch the water in unison. Teams had to score a five from the judges to receive their next clue. In Swim, teams donned a pair of Speedo LZR Racer suits, the same type of suit worn by Michael Phelps (pictured) in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, and then teams had to swim eight lengths of the pool (400 meters) with each team member alternating after two lengths (100 meters). When they swam the whole eight lengths, they received 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 superleg 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)
• Beijing (Dongdan Station)
• Beijing (Huguang Guild Hall)
• Beijing (Huguang Guild Hall – Wenchang Pavilion)
• Beijing (Donghuamen Night Market)
• Beijing (Beijing National Stadium)

The leg's second Detour requires teams to travel to Huguang Guild Hall before performing either Detours: Beijing Opera or Chinese Waiter. In Beijing Opera, teams make their way to the Huguang Huiguan Opera House; there, they had to apply make-up on each other exactly like the two models next to them. When their makeup was approved, they had to go to the stage and bow to the master, who handed them their next clue. After completing the 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; once there, they had to record five customer orders, spoken in Mandarin. Then, teams had to take their pad to a chef and pronounce the Mandarin orders correctly to have the chef prepare them. When teams served the plates to the customers, they received their next clue.

The second Roadblock of this leg requires one team member to eat a plate of four fried Chinese delicacies: a grasshopper, beetle larvae, a scorpion, and a starfish. When they finished eating, they could get their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the midpoint, teams were instructed to travel to Beihai, where they had to find throughout the street mall and 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.
• The clue after Beihai instructs teams to make their way to the Northwest corner of the Forbidden City. There, teams have to locate the electric bicycles, then transport themselves past the Forbidden City and across Tiananmen Square to Dongdan Station where they would find their next clue.

Leg 11 (China → United States)

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

Airdate: May 10, 2009

• Beijing (Beijing Capital International Airport) to Kahului, Maui, Hawaii, USA (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 the final Detour, they 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 luau. At the luau, they had to properly cover the pig for traditional kalua cooking to receive their next clue. Although the planned Detour was changed into an additional task.

The final Roadblock of the Race required one team member 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 of the race—one from each of the first nine legs, and two for the tenth leg (the remaining surfboards had pictures depicting unrelated objects, some of which were pictures showing tasks from previous seasons). Then, they must arrange the surfboards along a fence in chronological order of their appearance during the Race:

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

Additional tasks

• At McGregor Point where 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. Teams have 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.^[13]

US Nielsen ratings

Canadian ratings