This is the first season of Amazing Race Suomi (English: Amazing Race Finland), a Finnish reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. Hosted by Heikki Paasonen, it featured twelve teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship and including at least one celebrity contestant, in a race around Southeast Asia to win €30,000.[1] This season visited two continents and seven countries and travelled over 26,000 kilometres (16,000 mi) during twelve legs. Starting in Helsinki, racers travelled through Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore before returning to Finland and finishing in Helsinki. The season premiered on 30 September 2023 on Nelonen and concluded on 16 December.
Friends and biathletes Kaisa Mäkäräinen and Mari Eder won this season, while father-son duo Tuukka & Sami Ritokoski finished in second place, and friends and work partners Janne Lehtonen and Robin Hendry finished in third place.[2]
Production
Development and filming
The first-ever Amazing RaceSuomi began from Töölönlahti, a neighbourhood in Helsinki.
The casting for the celebrity teams of the first season finished in early 2023. On 12 April 2023, it was announced that filming would occur during the summer with contestants traveling around the world.[1] On 25 May 2023, it was announced that Heikki Paasonen would host the show, filming of which would start in late July.[4][5] On 24 July 2023, the teams were announced as the race began from Töölönlahti.[6] Filming lasted for roughly four weeks and concluded on 16 August 2023 back in Helsinki, Finland.[7]
Release
Broadcast
The first trailer of the first season was released on 29 August, which featured a sneak peek about the season, some tasks and locations.[8]
Each team is composed of two individuals who have some type of relationship to each other. In the first season, there are 12 Finnish celebrity teams competing.[6][10][11]Green League MP Fatim Diarra was asked to participate but declined.[12]
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. A dagger without a placement indicates that the team was eliminated without competing in the leg.
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.
The team that finished last on the seventh and tenth legs had to perform a Speed Bump task in the subsequent leg.
^The third and fourth legs were combined to a "Super Leg", whereby all of the remaining teams were instructed to continue racing immediately after the third leg without a rest period.
^Noora & Lotta left the competition at the start of the third leg after they both exhibited health difficulties.
Race summary
Destinations
Air travel Rail travel Water travel Bus travel Helicopter travel Bicycle travel Gondola travel
Teams set off from Töölönlahti in Helsinki. After retrieving their first clue, teams had to match the names, flags and currencies of several countries in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to travel by taxi or train to Helsinki–Vantaa Airport with only 40 euros, less than what would be normally required for a typical taxi ride to the airport, and fly to Bangkok, Thailand.
In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to find a wrapped paper instructing them to receive their next clue inside one of the hundreds of bells at Wat Saket.
After the Roadblock, teams had to travel to the So Heng Tai Mansion and fish lotus flowers from a pond until they found one with a miniature Amazing Race flag in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to travel by long-tail boat to Pak Khlong Talat with only a photograph of a relief as a hint in order to find their next clue.
This season's first Detour was a choice between Flowers (Kukat ) or Cartons (Kennot ). In Flowers, teams had to string flowers in order to make two phuang malais and receive their next clue. In Cartons, teams had to deliver 20 cartons of intact chicken eggs to a vendor and eat a century egg in order to receive their next clue.
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel to Phuket. Once there, teams were released from Cassia Phuket in the order that they finished the previous leg and were instructed to travel by songthaew to Wat Sri Sunthon and find their next clue by the reclining Buddha. Teams then travelled to the Elephant Retirement Park in order to find their next clue. There, teams had to memorise a recipe for rice balls, choose the correct ingredients from an array and prepare nine rice balls for the elephants in order to receive their next clue directing them to Layan Beach.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Cutting (Hakkuu) or Sand (Hiekka). In Cutting, teams had to use hammers to crack open coconuts until they found one with red dye in order to receive their next clue. In Sand, teams had to dig in a marked area of beach until they found a miniature wooden turtle in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to travel to Wat Mai Khao in order to find their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to remain still for 10 minutes while balancing a stack of coins on their backhands and head in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop at Sai Kaew Beach; otherwise they had to start the task again.
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Once there, teams were released from the New World Saigon Hotel in the order that they finished the previous leg and were instructed to travel by taxi to Thanh Đa Island and find their next clue on a cyclo. Teams had to pedal the cyclo along a marked course then travel by taxi to Thanh Đa Restaurant. There, teams had to catch one prawn from the restaurant's indoor pool in order to receive their next clue directing them to Bình Quới Village.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Paddle (Mela) or Sling (Linko). In Paddle, teams had to paddle a basket boat and retrieve ten specifically coloured coconuts from a pond in order to receive their next clue. In Sling, teams had to play a folk game called ném còn and throw a toy through a hoop in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to travel to The Bali Coffee & Tea in order to find their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to make a clay bowl using a potter's wheel in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: Bình An Wharf.
Additional notes
Once in Ho Chi Minh City, Noora & Lotta withdrew from the race under medical advice after they both exhibited health difficulties.[13]
Although the last team to arrive at the Pit Stop was eliminated, there was no rest period at the end of the leg and all remaining teams were instead instructed to continue racing.
In this leg's Roadblock, teams had to travel to Ốc Chị Em Restaurant, where one team member had to eat a plate of mealworms, grasshoppers, silkworms, a scorpion, a tarantula and cobra in order to receive their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Kicks (Potkut ) or Rhythms (Rytmit ). In Kicks, teams had to play đá cầu, a game similar to hacky sack and Vietnam's national sport, and volley a shuttlecock six times in order to receive their next clue. In Rhythms, teams had to perform a lion dance drum routine in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to carry ten sugarcane stalks to a vendor, press them until they could extract enough sugarcane juice to fill a pitcher and then both team member had to drink a glass of juice in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: Lam Sơn Square, overlooking the Saigon Opera House.
Additional note
This was a non-elimination leg.
Leg 5 (Vietnam → Philippines)
In Manila, teams visited the Manila Zoo, where they faced this leg's Roadblock.
Episode 5: "Buzzing Market" / "Markettipöhinää" (28 October 2023)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Manila, Philippines. Once there, teams were released from The Manila Hotel in the order that they finished the previous leg and were instructed to travel by taxi to Victory Food Market, where they had to purchase school supplies for a charity in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Manila Zoo.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to go inside a snake exhibit and figure out within five minutes that four boxes corresponded to a combination needed to open a locked box containing their next clue; otherwise, they had to wait out a time penalty before trying again.
After the Roadblock, teams had to travel to Rizal Park in order to find their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Screws (Ruuvit ) or Pots (Ruukut ). In Screws, teams had to correctly assemble a scooter so that it matched an example in order to receive their next clue. In Pots, teams had to perform a banga dance, which involved balancing a stack of two banga pots on their heads without dropping them, in order to receive their next clue.
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by hired car to the Angeles City Flying Club in the province of Pampanga. There, teams had to wait until 6:00 am when the gates of the airport opened in order to retrieve their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to fly in an ultralight plane and hit a target below on the ground with one of two colored bags in order to receive their next clue; otherwise, they had to go to the back of the line before trying again.
After the Roadblock, teams had to travel by jeepney to the barangay of Pandacaqui in order to find their next clue. There, teams had to perform karaoke of a local children's song, "Tatlong Bibe", in Filipino to an audience in order to receive their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Frogs (Konnat ) or Baskets (Korit ). In Frogs, teams took part in a San Fernando Frog Festival and had to find ten rubber frogs in a rice field while handcuffed to each other in order to receive their next clue. In Baskets, teams had to score two baskets in a five-minute basketball game against local teenagers in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to travel to the gate of Gintung Pakpak Eco Park and receive their next clue directing them to the nearby Pit Stop.
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Denpasar, Indonesia on the island of Bali. Once there, teams were released from the Hotel Santika Seminyak Bali in the order that they finished the previous leg and were instructed to travel by taxi to the Taman Werdhi Budaya Art Centre, where they had to unscramble the name of their next destination – MERTASARI – in order to receive their next clue. Teams could ask for additional hints, but would receive a five-minute penalty for each hint. After travelling to Pantai Mertasari, teams found their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Appeasing (Hyvittely) or Craving (Havittelu). In Appeasing, teams had to assemble an offering known as a Banten Tegeh so that it matched an example and place it atop one team member's head before bringing it to the judge in order to receive their next clue. In Craving, teams had to attach an outrigger to a jukung, paddle out to a series of fishing traps, and find one with their next clue.
After the Detour, teams were instructed to complete a traditional Indonesian pole climb known as Panjat Pinang, where both team members had to climb to the top of a Pinang palm tree pole and retrieve a toy marked with an Amazing Race flag in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to Sari Wisata Budaya.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to perform a Balinese dance in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: Pantai Jerman in Kuta.
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Yogyakarta on the island of Java. Once there, teams retrieved their next clue at Landhuis Resto in the order that they finished the previous leg.
For their Speed Bump, Peter & Anna had to order two cups of Java coffee and snacks in Indonesian and enjoy those, before they could continue racing.
Teams were instructed to travel by taxi to the Prambanan Temple compound in order to find their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Bows (Jouset ) or Gods (Jumalat ). In Bows, teams had to take part in a traditional form of Javanese archery called Jemparingan, where both team members had to hit a target with an arrow while sitting down in order to receive their next clue. In Gods, teams would have had to memorise the names and locations of the Hindu deities inside the temple. Then, they had to correctly label the locations of the deities by their names on a temple map in order to receive their next clue. All teams chose Bows.
After the Detour, teams had to travel to Pasar Beringharjo, where they had to make ten takeaway bags of bakso, deliver them to a mosque and return to the market in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to travel to Batik Ndalem Sri Rejeki and find a batik shirt that matched the textile sample in their clue in order to receive their next clue. After travelling to Alun-Alun Selatan, teams had to pedal a cart called an odong-odong around the square until they could inflate a bunch of balloons in order to receive their next clue, which instructed them to travel by odong-odong to the Pit Stop: nDalem Ngabean.
Leg 9 (Indonesia)
In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to traverse a tightrope over the Goa Jomblang.
Episode 9: "On the Wire" / "Vaijerin varassa" (25 November 2023)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by taxi to Goa Jomblang in order to find their next clue.
In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to tightrope walk 50 metres (160 ft) above Goa Jomblang, climb down a ladder to retrieve a flag, return to their partner and exchange the flag for their next clue.
After the first Roadblock, teams had to travel to Desa Jlatren in order to find their next clue. There, teams had to transfer rice by hand across a rice paddy by hand until they could fill a bucket while avoiding two kebo-keboan, humans dressed as bulls who would attempt to block their path, in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Sonobudoyo Museum.
In this leg's second Roadblock, one team member, regardless of who performed the previous Roadblock, had to play "Lancaran Manyar Sewu" on a saron alongside a gamelan without using sheet music in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: Fort Vredeburg.
Additional note
Marcus & Timo elected to quit the second Roadblock and receive a two-hour penalty.
Leg 10 (Indonesia → Malaysia)
Racers had to ascend the stairs of Batu Caves and deliver an offering while in Kuala Lumpur.
Episode 10: "The Temple Gift" / "Temppelilahja" (2 December 2023)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Once there, teams were released from the airport in the order that they finished the previous leg and were instructed to travel by train to Kuala Lumpur Sentral station and then by taxi to BookXcess RexKL in order to find their next clue. Inside their clue, teams found a small photograph depicting the corner of a book cover and had to find the matching book in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to Batu Caves.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to ascend 330 stairs up to Batu Caves with a fruit offering while counting the number of steps and avoiding the monkeys. Once at the top, they had to give their offering to a Hindu priest and provide the correct number of steps in order to receive their next clue.
After the Roadblock, teams had to travel by taxi to the Saloma Link in order to find their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Scent (Tuoksu) or Burn (Polte). Only two teams could complete each Detour task. In Scent, teams had to peel open and package 15 durians. Then, teams had to sample some durian before receiving their next clue. In Burn, teams had to sample two spice blends and then recreate them in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to memorise a local greeting (Jom makan angin), travel to the KH Tower and then use the greeting in order to gain access to the Pit Stop: the Heli Lounge Bar.
Additional note
This was a non-elimination leg.
Leg 11 (Malaysia)
In Penang, teams visited the Han Jiang Ancestral Temple and performed a Chinese opera fight routine.
Episode 11: "Street Art and Stick Fighting" / "Katutaidetta ja keppitaistelua" (9 December 2023)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by train to the state of Penang. Once there, teams received their next clue at the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal and were instructed to travel by ferry to the city of George Town and find their next clue at the Hean Boo Thean Temple.
For their Speed Bump, Kaisa & Mari had to fold a series of joss papers and burn them in the fire for a local spiritual ritual before they could continue racing.
From Hean Boo Thean Temple, teams had to travel to the Central Fire Station in order to find their next clue. Teams then had to find three different murals along Armenian Street and photograph themselves in front of them with locals in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Han Jiang Ancestral Temple. There, teams had to perform a Chinese operastick fighting act. After receiving their next clue, teams had to travel by funicular to the top of Penang Hill, where they had to replicate a platter of kuih and fruit in order to receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to shoot three pieces of fruit with a Malaysian blowpipe in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the nearby Pit Stop: the Penang Botanic Gardens.
Leg 12 (Malaysia → Singapore → Finland)
The first season of Amazing Race Suomi concluded at the Helsinki Velodrome.
Episode 12: "The Final Squeeze" / "Viimeinen puristus" (16 December 2023)
At the start of this leg leg, teams were instructed to fly to Singapore. Once there, teams were released from Istana Park in the order that they finished the previous leg and were instructed to travel to Marina Barrage in order to find their next clue.
In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to choose one of two keys, use a mechanical ascender to climb a tall crane at the Port of Singapore and use the key to release a bag of puzzle pieces. If racers chose the wrong key, they had to rappel back down, get the other key and climb back up again. Racers then had to assemble the puzzle, which depicted their next destination, in order to receive their next clue.
After the Roadblock, teams had to travel to Smith Street in Chinatown in order to find their next clue.
This season's final Detour was a choice between Dance (Tanssi ) or Tea (Tee). In Dance, teams had to learn the choreography for a traditional Chinese lion dance in order to receive their next clues. In Tea, teams had to correctly identify seven different types of Chinese tea and then deliver them to a local tea shop in order to their next clue. If teams broke a tea cup, they had to switch tasks.
After the Detour, teams had to travel to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, find the orchid amongst hundreds that was named after former Finnish Prime MinisterMatti Vanhanen and reiterate the date that the prime minister visited Singapore listed on the placard in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to ride a reverse bungee at Clarke Quay and locate a sign with Finnish text – KOTIA KOHTI (TO HOME) – in order to receive their next clue, which instructed them to fly to Helsinki, Finland. Teams were released from Helsinki–Vantaa Airport in the order which they arrived at Changi Airport and found their next clue. Teams had to travel to Håkansböle Manor and solve a puzzle by recalling essential facts of the season in order to receive their final clue, which directed them to the finish line: the Helsinki Velodrome.
The Finnish season drew criticism for including Left Alliance politicians (Nurminen, Pekonen and Modig), who have advocated for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, on a show that includes air travel.[14] Filming of the show also began after the 2023 Greece wildfires on Rhodes, leading to more vocal criticism.[15][16] Prior to the start of filming, producer Pauliina Koutala from Moskito Television stated that the show was made with climate change in mind and that they would be offsetting emissions used for filming, which included having teams fly on airlines that use sustainable aviation fuel and rainforest reclamation at the Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve on Borneo.[3] In addition, the production team planned a route in such a way to minimise air travel with alternative forms of transportation on land.[17] In total, all the contestants who reached the final leg travelled about 26,000 kilometres (16,000 mi) by airplanes, roughly corresponding to approximately two round trip flights from Helsinki to New York City.[18] On 14 September 2023, Nurminen, Pekonen and Modig stated at a press event that they understood the criticism and agreed to compete after learning about the flight compensations.[19]
Despite the negative social feedback, many Finnish television consumers were positive towards the first season's contestants with many praising the new and varied faces that have not been on reality television programs before.[20] The fast-paced action and comedic elements of the show were praised, and the Finnish version was very similar and relatable to its original American counterpart.[21] Even though the first season took place almost entirely in Southeast Asia and did not feature "flight drama", consumers were overall positive about how this huge format was made in Finland and expressed interest for another season.[22]
According to Nelonen, the first season got a very respectful reception, with the program reach of the whole season reached the total of 2.9 million viewers from 4+ age group, if included all the streaming services and platforms. The average viewership for the season reached 429,000,[2] with season finale picking up the highest average figures of the season for a single episode: 580,000.[23] Prior to the season finale, the season was nominated for a Golden Venla Award in the category of "Competition Reality" and the Best Director (Jussi Korva & Olli Horttana).[24]
.jpg)
_with_Crystal_Globe_IBU_2018_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
