The Amazing Race 22 is the twenty-second season of the American reality competition show The Amazing Race. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, it featured eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, competing in a race around the world to win US$1,000,000. This season visited five continents and ten countries and traveled over during twelve legs. Starting in Los Angeles, racers traveled through French Polynesia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Botswana, Switzerland, Germany, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England before returning to the United States and finishing in the National Capital Region. A new twist introduced in this season includes awarding the winners of the first leg two Express Passes, one for them and one to give to another team. The season premiered on CBS on February 17, 2013, and concluded on May 5, 2013.
Professional hockey players and brothers Bates Battaglia and Anthony Battaglia were the winners of this season, while newlyweds Max Bichler and Katie Kaczor-Bichler finished in second place, and roller derby moms Mona Hinman-Egender and Beth Bandimere finished in third place.
Production Development and filming
Filming for this season took started on November 13, 2012. On November 18, the show traveled through Christchurch, New Zealand, before leaving for Bali the next day. Filming for this season concluded on December 7. The route spanned through five different continents, with first-time visits to French Polynesia and Northern Ireland.
This season was broadcast in the mid-season of the 2012–13 TV schedule. In an interview with TV Guide, host Phil Keoghan revealed that the Double Your Money prize introduced in the previous season would not be included in season 22. Instead, the twist this season was that the winners of the first leg were awarded two Express Passes: one for themselves and another that had to be given to another team before the end of Leg 4.
Dave O'Leary tore his Achilles tendon near the end of the second leg. Though he and his son, Connor, continued to race for another two legs with Dave being forced to use a medical boot, crutches, and a wheelchair while in airports, they chose to withdraw from the race at the start of the fifth leg after Dave was advised by his physician to have surgery within two weeks of the original injury. Although Dave & Connor traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, with the remaining teams, they did not participate in any tasks in that leg; instead, they went directly to the Pit Stop to be formally eliminated. Dave returned to the United States in time to have the surgery the day before filming of the season was completed and was able to be at the finish line. He and Connor returned to compete in season 24.
The final episode was dedicated to David Gene Gibbs, a member of the camera crew, who died in a helicopter crash while filming a series for Discovery Channel.
Contestants
Teams for this season included Stealing Angels vocalists Caroline Cutbirth and Jennifer Kuhle, professional hockey players and brothers Bates Battaglia and Anthony Battaglia (of the Tulsa Oilers), and YouTube vloggers Joey Graceffa and Meghan Camarena.
Chuck & Wynona were originally cast for the previous season, but had to pull out due to the death of Chuck's father. ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus 25FirefightersGaffney, South CarolinaEliminated 1st(in Motu Piti A'au, French Polynesia) 24 36Twin DoctorsChicago, IllinoisEliminated 2nd(in Motu Tapu, French Polynesia) 36 26DatingHuntington Beach, CaliforniaEliminated 3rd(in Pecatu, Indonesia) 27 58Father & SonSalt Lake City, Utah Withdrew(in Hanoi, Vietnam) 21 29Best FriendsLos Angeles, CaliforniaEliminated 5th(in Maun, Botswana) 29 46MarriedDaphne, AlabamaEliminated 6th(in Grindelwald, Switzerland) 49 21YouTube HostsLos Angeles, CaliforniaEliminated 7th(in Edinburgh, Scotland) 25Caroline Cutbirth 29Country Singers Austin, TexasEliminated 8th(in Belfast, Northern Ireland) 30 Nashville, Tennessee 33Roller Derby Moms Castle Pines, ColoradoThird place 36 Arvada, Colorado 30NewlywedsBuffalo, New YorkRunners-up 24 36Hockey BrothersRaleigh, North CarolinaWinners 33 Future appearances Dave & Connor, Caroline & Jennifer, Jessica & John, and Joey & Meghan returned in The Amazing Race: All-Stars. Caroline & Jennifer appeared as clue givers during the finale of season 34 in Nashville.
Results The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order. A placement with a dagger () indicates that the team was eliminated. An 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 indicates that the team won the Fast Forward. A indicates that the team used an Express Pass on that leg to bypass one of their tasks. A indicates that the team used the U-Turn and a indicates the team on the receiving end of the U-Turn. +Team placement (by leg) Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Bates & Anthony2nd1st3rd7th4th1st1st1st4th2nd2nd1st Max & Katie9th8th8th3rd2nd6th3rd1st1st1st2nd Mona & Beth5th6th7th6th3rd6th2nd2nd4th3rd3rd Caroline & Jennifer10th7th6th4th5th5th3rd4th3rd3rd Joey & Meghan6th4th5th5th6th4th5th5th2nd Chuck & Wynona7th5th9th8th7th3rd4th Pam & Winnie4th9th4th2nd1st2nd Dave & Connor3rd2nd1st1st Jessica & John1st3rd2nd Idries & Jamil8th Matt & Daniel Notes
Race summary
Leg 1 (United States → French Polynesia)
Episode 1: "Business in the Front, Party in the Back" (February 17, 2013) Prize: Two Express Passes (awarded to Jessica & John) Eliminated: Matt & Daniel Locations Los Angeles, California (Griffith Observatory) (Starting Line) Los Angeles → Bora Bora, French Polynesia (Bora Bora Airport) Anau (Maohi Protestant Church) → Motu Piti A'au (Eden Beach) Motu Piti A'au (Motu Café) Episode summary Teams set off from the Griffith Observatory and drove to Los Angeles International Airport, where they had to book one of two flights to the island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia. The first five teams arrived on the first flight one hour before the remaining six teams on the second flight. Once there, teams found their next clue outside the Bora Bora Airport. In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to sign up for one of six helicopter flights. They then had to perform a tandem skydive from over above the island while their partner traveled via water taxi to the landing zone on Anau. Once the team members reunited, they were given their next clue. After the first Roadblock, teams had to travel by water taxi to Eden Beach, where they found their next clue. In this leg's second Roadblock, the team member who did not perform the previous Roadblock had to search among 400 sandcastles for one with a clue buried beneath it. If a sandcastle didn't have a clue, they had to rebuild it before they could search under another. After the second Roadblock, teams had to assemble a va'a outrigger canoe and then paddle to the Pit Stop: Motu Café. Additional note Katie, Jennifer, and Daniel chose to quit the second Roadblock. Max & Katie and Caroline & Jennifer were issued four-hour penalties that were applied at the start of the next leg, while Matt & Daniel were the last team to arrive at the Pit Stop and were therefore eliminated.
Leg 2 (French Polynesia)
Episode 2: "Loose Lips Sink Ships" (February 24, 2013) Prize: A trip for two to London, England (awarded to Bates & Anthony) Eliminated: Idries & Jamil Locations Motu Toopua (Water Taxi Pier) Motu Toopua (Hilton Bora Bora Nui) Bora Bora (Pofai Bay) Bora Bora (Motu Tapu) Episode summary At the start of this leg, teams had to board a water taxi and travel to the Hilton Bora Bora Nui, where teams had to search for a wedding chapel and find a Polynesian priest, who gave them a traditional blessing and their next clue. This season's first Detour was a choice between Pick a Pearl or Take a Trunk. In Pick a Pearl, teams traveled offshore, where they had to dive down and untie lines of pearl oysters. They then had to open them until they found two red pearls and then swim to an oyster farmer where they could trade them for their next clue. In Take a Trunk, teams dove underwater, wearing special diving helmets, to a series of treasure trunks. They then had to unpack its contents and set up an underwater picnic table in order to receive their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to choose a personal water craft and use a map to guide them to Motu Tapu, where they found their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member participated in a traditional Polynesian test of strength by walking on a pair of stilts while kicking a coconut across a stretch of beach. If they fell, they had to return to the start to resume, but the position of the coconut was not reset. Once they successfully kicked the coconut over the finish line, teams could run to the nearby Pit Stop. Additional note Dave tore his Achilles tendon near the end of this leg while running to the Pit Stop.
Leg 3 (French Polynesia → New Zealand)
Episode 3: "Like James Bond Again" (March 3, 2013) Prize: A trip for two to Bangkok, Thailand (awarded to Dave & Connor) Locations Tevairoa (Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa) Tevairoa → Motu Mute Motu Mute → Christchurch, New Zealand Windwhistle (Rakaia River Gorge) Methven (Mount Hutt Station) Windwhistle (Terrace Downs) Episode summary At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by water taxi back to Motu Mute and then fly to Christchurch, New Zealand. Once there, teams had to drive to the Rakaia River Gorge, where they had to choose a departure time the next day and then camp for the night. At their designated time, teams had to choose a jetboat and navigate the river to find their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Rev It Up or Reel It In. For both Detour tasks, teams had to use provided ATVs to reach their respective task. In Rev It Up, both team members had to drive a modified vintage car through a set of cones in under a combined 83-second time limit in order to receive their next clue. In Reel It In, each team member had to use a rod and reel to catch one fish at least long in order to receive their next clue. Dave & Connor used their Express Pass to bypass this task. After the Detour, teams had to drive to Mount Hutt Station and find their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to run a muddy obstacle course known as a "Shemozzle". They first had to don gum boots, stubbies shorts, and a burlap sack. Then, along with a shepherd and farm dog, they had to run through the course, climb over hay bales, and then finally ride an inner tube down a slide into a manure pond, all while collecting chicken eggs along the way, which they had to put in a basket at the end of the course. Once racers had twelve unbroken eggs, they received their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: Terrace Downs in Windwhistle. Additional notes All teams had to connect through Papeete, Tahiti, on their way to New Zealand. After arriving in Tahiti, Dave & Connor went to a local hospital, where Dave discovered that he had torn both his Achilles tendon and the connecting muscle. Dave & Connor purchased a boot for Dave's leg and they then returned to the airport to continue the race. No team was eliminated at the end of this leg; all teams were instead instructed to continue racing.
Leg 4 (New Zealand → Indonesia)
Episode 4: "I Love Monkeys!" (March 10, 2013) Prize: each (awarded to Dave & Connor) Eliminated: Jessica & John Locations Christchurch → Denpasar, Indonesia Ubud (Ubud Monkey Forest) Gianyar (Ayung River Pura Desa Puseh Temple) Pecatu (Uluwatu Surf Beach)