Meet the Cast of AMAZING RACE 25

CBS announced today the 11 teams racing around the globe for the opportunity to win the $1 million dollar prize, on the new season of THE AMAZING RACE. The show premieres on its New Day and time, Friday, Sept. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Phil Keoghan (@philkeoghan) is the host.

This season of THE AMAZING RACE, which marks the 25th edition of the 10 time Emmy Award-winning series, will feature 11 new teams, including professional surfer Bethany Hamilton and her husband Adam Dirks, Boston firefighters Michael Ward and Scott Strazzullo and professional wrestlers Robbie E. Strauss and Brooke Adams.

The Race kicked off in May with the first-ever public start from Times Square in New York City where Phil Keoghan introduced a new game-changing element, "The Save." The team that finishes first in the premiere episode will be awarded "The Save," which they can use to rescue themselves if they come in last on a leg and face elimination.

Teams this season will be put to the test as they travel through eight countries and 20 cities, spanning more than 26,000 miles. For the first time in the show's history, the Race will visit St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where teams will fly high in the sky; Valletta, Malta, where they'll rappel 200 feet into a breathtaking Blue Grotto sea cave; and the Shetland Islands, Scotland, to test their sheep-herding skills.

Following are the 11 teams, listed in no particular order:

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Name: Adam Dirks
Age: 26
Hometown: Princeville, Hawaii
Connection to teammate: Married

Name: Bethany Hamilton
Age: 24
Hometown: Princeville, Hawaii
Connection to teammate: Married
Follow on Twitter: @bethanyhamilton

Follow on YouTube: TheBethanyHamilton

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Name: Maya Warren
Age: 29
Hometown: Madison, Wis.
Connection to teammate: Food scientist and friend/co-worker
Follow on Twitter: @MayaWarren

Name: Amy DeJong
Age: 24
Hometown: Madison, Wis.
Connection to teammate: Food scientist and friend/co-worker
Follow on Twitter: @AmyEDeJong

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Name: Dennis Hour
Age: 30
Hometown: Tustin, Calif.
Connection to teammate: Dating
Follow on Twitter: @DennisHour

Name: Isabelle Du
Age: 28
Hometown: Tustin, Calif.
Connection to teammate: Dating
Follow on Twitter: @isabelledu

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Name: Brooke Adams
Age: 29
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Connection to teammate: Dating
Follow on Twitter: @realbrookeadams

Name: Robbie E. Strauss
Age: 30
Hometown: Woodbridge, N.J.
Connection to teammate: Dating
Follow on Twitter: @robbieeimpact

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Name: Whitney Duncan
Age: 29
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Connection to teammate: Engaged
Follow on Twitter: @whitneyduncan

Name: Keith Tollefson
Age: 29
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Connection to teammate: Engaged
Follow on Twitter: @keithtollefson

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Name: Kym Perfetto
Age: 30
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Connection to teammate: Friends
Follow on Twitter: @kymnonstop
Follow on YouTube: KymNonStop

Name: Alli Forsythe
Age: 26
Hometown: New York
Connection to teammate: Friends
Follow on Twitter: @alliforsythe

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Name: Lisa Thomson
Age: 28
Hometown: Miami Beach, Fla.
Connection to teammate: Sisters
Follow on Twitter: @LisaAThomson

Name: Michelle Thomson
Age: 22
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Connection to teammate: Sisters
Follow on Twitter: @IsellMiami

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Name: Michael Ward
Age: 40
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Connection to teammate: Friend and fellow firefighter

Name: Scott Strazzullo
Age: 39
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Connection to teammate: Friend and fellow firefighter

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Name: Misti Raman
Age: 36
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Connection to teammate: Married

Name: Jim Raman
Age: 37
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Connection to teammate: Married

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Name: Shelley Porter
Age: 42
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
Connection to teammate: Mother

Name: Nici Porter
Age: 24
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
Connection to teammate: Daughter
Follow on Twitter: @PrettyEyesRTB

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Name: Timothy Tsao
Age: 23
Hometown: Pasadena, Calif.
Connection to teammate: Dating

Name: Te Jay McGrath
Age: 24
Hometown: Pasadena, Calif.
Connection to teammate: Dating

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CHEAT TWEET: #AmazingRace is celebrating 25th trip around the world! The adventure begins Fri., Sept. 26 @ 8/7c! Meet the new cast! http://bit.ly/1zKvfhv

The Amazing Race sends 11 teams on a trek around the world. Each Team is comprised of two people who have a pre-existing relationship with one another. At every destination, each Team competes in a series of challenges - some mental and some physical - and when the tasks have been completed, they learn their next destination. Teams who are farthest behind will gradually be eliminated as the Contest progresses, with the first team to arrive at the final destination winning at least $1 million.

Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Elise Doganieri and Mark Vertullo are the executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Earthview Inc. in association with ABC Studios and Amazing Race Productions. The Amazing Race was created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri.

For more detailed information on The Amazing Race and the Racers' bios, log on to http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/.
Website: www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amazingrace
Twitter: www.twitter.com/amazingrace_cbs
CBS Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/CBSTweet
Phil Keoghan: https://twitter.com/PhilKeoghan