The Amazing Race 2025
ARE YOU READY…?
August 9th, 2025, was the day of the 4th Amazing Beaches of 59 Race!
112 Racers Compete Throughout the Beaches of 59 Area for the ‘CHAMPION’ Title
Inspired by tv show The Amazing Race, this high-octane adventure pushed the 28 teams of 4 to their limits, tested their teamwork, and took them across the sandy shores and hidden gems like never before. The racers proceeded through Victoria Beach, RM Alexander, RM St Clements and finally to Grand Beach. The teams, embarked on the race of a lifetime.
Over the course of the race, teams navigated CHALLENGES that tested their brains, SPRINTS that tested their choices, and ROUTE INFO that sent them traversing across communities, sandy beaches, and paddling their hearts out. And yes—there was even a HEAD-TO-HEAD lurking on the route, so teams were told to choose their alliances wisely!
This race wasn’t just about speed. It was about smarts, stamina, and strategy. Teams explored the beautiful Beaches of 59, from the East Beaches Social Scene in Victoria Beach to hidden cabin corners—teams were advised to read clues carefully, follow directions precisely, and above all—work together if they want to stay ahead of the pack.
Teams wore race bibs and their cars had the matching team number. Teams were told if they were caught speeding on the Highways and streets by the RCMP, VB Police, or one of my trusted volunteers they would be DISQUALIFIED.
The start line and the first challenge was sponsored by the RM Alexander, RM St Clements, RM Victoria Beach, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation.
The last challenge of the day was “The Beach Bucket Relay” sponsored by South Beach Casino & Resort where one team member had to fill their sand pail with water, and each team member sat in a row passing the water over their head to a sand pail behind them, into the large bucket at the end. The volunteers watched for cheaters who looked behind them and would spill out all the water in the bucket and make them start again. Once they got the bucket to the fill line the team could run for the finish line.
A storm rolled in just as the last teams were coming to the finish line. By then many were happy to be cooled off by the rain.
“Teams, the world… or at least this beautiful stretch of Lake Winnipeg… is waiting for you. Good luck. Travel safe. GO!!!”
At each of the Village Scramble stops teams received a coloured slip which they handed in at the Info Booth near the parking lot for their next clue which took them racing down the “Path of Gods”, sponsored by ViBE Stay & Play. Throughout the path were Greek Symbols that spelled the name of the Greek God of Fire once the alphabet key was used to convert the letters. Some teams missed the path entirely and had to run back, others had to go back as they didn’t remember the order of the Greek Symbols… Overall teams arrived next to the VB Fire Department out of breath. Here they suited up in fire fighter boots, gloves and helmets and had to unroll and roll the fire hoses. The hoses had to be kept tight and perfectly rolled to get their next challenge card.
The Birchwood Motor Hotel in Traverse Bay sponsored the next stop where teams had to memorize 8 mocktails and then face Bartenders Bobbie and Barbara and find the correct ingredients and quantities to the requested drink!
On foot they ran to the next sponsor, Base Camp 59 to a challenge named, “Do you got ‘The Balls’?” One team member suited up in the Hula hoop pants while their team mates had to throw balls at them until they caught 10 balls in their pants. Hint on the card told them socks could be useful, meaning to tuck the bottom of the pants into your socks to keep the balls in…., however this didn’t work for those wearing ankle socks!
“Serve, bump, set, spike to Survive” was found at Lakeshore Heights Beach Volleyball court and sponsored by GB Electric. Here teams went HEAD-TO-HEAD with the next team to arrive. First team to win two serves moved on, while the loosing team had to wait for the next team and play again.
On the teams went to park at Grand Marais Community Central and start the Grand Marais Running Mix-Up on foot. Again they could do the three stops in any order:
Lola’s at the Beach sponsored “Captain’s Clue Quest” where teams had to find the words to a Boat Safety story to receive one piece of the puzzle.
Grand Marais Village Store sponsored the “Fuel up and Toss” at the XTR where a corn hole challenge slowed down a lot of teams. Wow who knew throwing a bean bag in a hole can be this hard!
The St Jude’s Church welcomed teams to the Metis Heritage Memory Mission sponsored by Freestyle Landscaping Inc. Here teams had to recite one of 4 different paragraphs about Metis heritage.
“Teams, the world… or at least this beautiful stretch of Lake Winnipeg… is waiting for you. Good luck. Travel safe. GO!!!”
So, from the starting line to the final mat — thank you all for making this an unforgettable adventure. Until next time… the world is waiting for you… travel safe, race hard, and we’ll see you at the next starting line!
Once teams received the 3 puzzle pieces they were to take them to Grand Marais Community Central for their next Challenge Card.
The next challenge was “Paddle & Perform” sponsored by Kemp Appraisal Ltd. in the Grand Beach lagoon. From the Boat launch a team member paddled a kayak to the East Beaches Fire & Rescue boat and received a secrete word or phrase. They paddled back and had to act out the word to their team using no words, sounds or sign language.
The race was not over yet, next up was the Chasing Rays challenge sponsored by Gray’s Food Service. They stopped first at Gray’s Box Car to collect the circle of their sun. Then had to find the 5 rays at 5 other vendors on Grand Beach. It was a busy beach day with line ups at some of the vendors when the first teams arrived. On each sun ray was a true or false statement about the race, the teams had to tape them on their sun with all true rays facing up to get their next challenge.
Beaches of 59 would like to thank our incredible volunteers — you were our pit stops, our compass, our clue givers, and our smiling check-in mats. Without you, the race simply wouldn’t have been possible.
To our racers — you brought the energy, the laughter, and the determination that made every checkpoint come alive. You are the heart of this race, and you made the journey just as amazing as the finish line.
And to our sponsors — you’re the fuel that kept our race running. Your support made every clue card, every detour, and every celebration possible.
Thank you to South Beach Casino and Resort for being our main sponsor this year and buying us tents, and a race archway and for providing the first-place prize today.
Thank you to the following Sponsors: Saffies General Store, Moonlight Inn, ViBE Stay & Play, Birchwood Hotel, Base Camp 59, GB Electric, Lola’s at the Beach, Grand Marais Village Store/XTR, Freestyle Landscaping, Kemp Appraisal, Gray’s on the Beach, and South Beach Casino & Resort.
Thank you to the following Prize Sponsors: South Beach Casino & Resort, Village Green Bakery, Gray’s on the Beach, Cabin46, Beachstickers, Endless Summer, Ke Lindo, Hippie Trail Beach Co., Wilderness Supply, Juan More Thing, Spirit Rock, and Yucatan Tacoman.
Special thanks also to the Victoria Beach Fire Department, East Beaches Fire & Rescue, and Grand Marais Community Central!
The top 5 teams to finish received prizes:
1 RCMG – 2:42 pm
Prize: Stay and Play Packages (South Beach Casino), Bandanas (Beaches of 59), Free Entry into Next Year’s Race (Beaches of 59), Ice Cream Coupons (Gray’s, Grand Beach)
2 Gutter Guys - 2:56pm
Prize: $20 Gift Card, bucket hats, beach wallet (Endless Summer), Stickers (Beachstickers), Bandanas (Beaches of 59)
3 Jet 2 Holiday - 3:10pm
Prize: $25 Gift Cards (Wilderness Supply), Fedoras (Ke Lindo Beachwear), Stickers (Beachstickers), Bandanas (Beaches of 59)
4 Greasy Goons of the North- 3:15pm
Prize: Beach bag and towel (RM of Alexander), $10 Gift Card (Village Green Bakery), Stickers (Beachstickers), Bandanas (Beaches of 59)
5 Bay Watch - 3:15pm
Prize: Hot sauce (Yucatan Tacoman), Stickers (Beachstickers), Bandanas (Beaches of 59)
1 The Saints of Clements
Prize: Beach cover up and hat (Hippie Trail Beach Co.), Ice Cream Coupons (Gray’s, Grand Beach), Bandanas (Beaches of 59)
2 Good time Grannies
Prize: Outdoor Mats (Cabin46), $10 Gift Card (Village Green Bakery), Stickers (Beachstickers), Bandanas (Beaches of 59)
3 Average Joes
Prize: Goodie bag (Juan More Thing), Shot glasses and coaster(Spirit Rock Cafe & Inn), Stickers (Beachstickers), Bandanas (Beaches of 59)
And just like that they were off at the sound of the airhorn.
The first challenge was “The Fire Hunt”. Teams searched for small signs with fire safety tips, then by taking the first letter of each tip and unscrambled them they found “Smoky the Bear” where volunteers quizzed them on their fire safety knowledge and gave them their next challenge card.
Teams raced on foot to the VB Village Scramble at the VB Village Green where they split in any order to three challenges:
“Secret Shopper” at the Victoria Beach Store (sponsored by Saffies) where they had to find the hidden Beaches of 59 Postcard,
“Mystery Flavour of the Day” at the Moonlight Inn where blindfolded they had to guess the icecream flavour, the hardest being “Caribou”! Guess wrong and the team was sent to the back of the line.
And “Cookie Stack Attack” at the Village Green Bakery where teams had to stack 10 cookies in one steady tower.
