The Amazing Race 9 is the ninth season of the Americanreality competition showThe Amazing Race. Hosted byPhil 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. After the previous season'sFamily Edition, which had families of four racing around North America, this season returned to teams of two racing around the world. This season visited five continents and ten countries and traveled over 59,000 miles (95,000 km) during twelve legs. Starting inMorrison, Colorado, outside ofDenver, racers traveled throughBrazil,Russia,Germany,Italy,Greece,Oman,Australia,Thailand, andJapan before returning to theUnited States, traveling throughAlaska, and finishing in Morrison, Colorado. The season premiered onCBS on February 28, 2006, and concluded on May 17, 2006.

The Amazing Race 9
Season 9
Region 1 DVD cover
Presented by	Phil Keoghan
No. of teams	11
Winner	BJ Averell &Tyler MacNiven
No. of legs	12
Distance traveled	59,000 mi (95,000 km)
No. of episodes	12
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	February 28 (2006-02-28) – May 17, 2006 (2006-05-17)
Additional information
Filming dates	November 7 (2005-11-07) – December 3, 2005 (2005-12-03)
Season chronology
← Previous Season 8 Next → Season 10
List of episodes

Best friendsB. J. Averell andTyler MacNiven were the winners of this season, while friends Eric Sanchez and Jeremy Ryan finished in second place, and dating couple Ray Whitty and Yolanda Brown-Moore finished in third place.

Filming for this season began on November 7, 2005, with teams spotted atDenver International Airport.^[1] By November 22, 2005, the show was filming in theMiddle East.^[2] The show filmed atCrocodylus Park inDarwin, Northern Territory, on November 25, 2005.^[1]

The Amazing Race 9 lasted 27 days, during which participants traveled over 59,000 miles (95,000 km). Filming ran from November 7, 2005, to December 3, 2005. This season visited ten countries on five continents, three of which were new:Greece,Japan, andOman.

Additionally, this season ofThe Amazing Race was the first (and to date, currently the only) season to begin and end at the same location:Red Rocks Amphitheatre, located outside ofDenver, Colorado.

Following theFamily Edition, this season returned to the traditional format with eleven teams of two. The teams included hippie best friends, a couple married for forty years, and sisters living in different states.^[3]

After the season finale, Eric announced that he and Danielle were dating. After the two participated in theAll-Star season in 2007, Eric & Danielle announced in an interview that they were no longer dating due to the distance and were now just friends.^[4][5]

Ray proposed to Yolanda onThe Early Show the morning after the season finale, and she accepted.The Early Show also showed their full progress on the final leg ofThe Amazing Race, including Yolanda's progress on the final Roadblock.^[6]

Future appearances

Eric Sanchez and Danielle Turner returned inThe Amazing Race: All-Stars.^[7] Jeremy Ryan also appeared in the closing minutes of the season finale.

The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.

• Ared placement with a dagger (†) indicates that the team was eliminated.
• Anunderlined blue placement with a double-dagger (‡) indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop in a non-elimination leg. As a penalty, they were stripped of their money, bags, and possessions other than their passports and the clothes they were wearing upon checking in, and they received no money at the start of the next leg.
• Anitalicized placement indicates a team's placement at the midpoint of a double leg.
• Agreen ƒ indicates that the team won the Fast Forward.
• Abrown > indicates that the team used the Yield and abrown < indicates the team on the receiving end of the Yield.

Notes

• Episode 1: "Here We Go, Baby, Off to Win a Million Bucks!" (February 28, 2006)
• Prize:US$10,000 each (awarded to Eric & Jeremy)
• Eliminated: John & Scott

Locations

• Morrison, Colorado (Red Rocks Park –Red Rocks Amphitheatre) (Starting Line)
•  Denver (Denver International Airport) →São Paulo, Brazil
• São Paulo (Hotel Unique(in Portuguese))
• São Paulo (Viaduto Santa Efigênia(in Portuguese))
• São Paulo (Caverna Moto PeçasorCampo de Marte Airport) 
• São Paulo (Santa Cecília – Vavá Artigos Religiosos E Esotéricos) (Unaired)^[8]
• São Paulo (Santa Cecília – 114A Rua Frederico Abranches)
• São Paulo (Estádio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho) 

Episode summary

• Teams set off fromRed Rocks Amphitheatre and drove toDenver International Airport, where they had to book one of the three flights toSão Paulo, Brazil. While the three flights were scheduled to arrive within 30–35 minutes of one other, some of those arrival times changed due to flight delays. Once in São Paulo, teams had to travel to the rooftop of the Hotel Unique in order to find their next clue, which directed them to the Viaduto Santa Efigênia.
•   This season's first Detour was a choice betweenMotor Head orRotor Head. InMotor Head, teams had to travel to a motorcycle shop and assemble amotorcycle using the parts provided along with a finished model for reference. When the motorcycle was properly assembled and the mechanic could start the bike, teams received their next clue. InRotor Head, teams had to travel toCampo de Marte Airport, where they had to use a flight directory to locate one of three buildings from a helicopter; each location varied in distance with only a limited number of tickets provided for each. Once teams found their destination, the pilot landed the helicopter on the rooftop of that building so that teams could search a designated area for their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to find a sanctuary on Rua Federico Abranches and light a candle as part of a traditional ceremony known asCandomblé in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop at theEstádio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho.

Additional note

• After the Detour, the clue instructed teams to travel to the district ofSanta Cecília and find the Vavá store to purchase the white candle they were later shown lighting in the sanctuary; this portion of the task was unaired.^[8]

• Episode 2: "I'm Filthy, and I Love It" (March 7, 2006)
• Prize: A trip toTahiti (awarded to BJ & Tyler)
• Eliminated: Lisa & Joni

Locations

• São Paulo (Estádio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho) 
• São Paulo (Edifício Copan) 
•   São Paulo (Terminal Rodoviário Barra Funda) →Brotas (Terminal Rodoviário de Brotas)
• Brotas (Camping Bela VistaorUsina Jacaré) 
• Brotas (Fazenda Primavera da Serra) 

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel toEdificio Copan and search for Bloco F in order to find their next clue.
•   In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to climb one of three stairwells on the building's fire escape. Once at the top, they had to put on a harness and rappel 400 feet (120 m) down the building in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams traveled to theTerminal Rodoviário Barra Funda and had to find tickets for one of three charter buses leaving the next day toBrotas. Once there, teams had to search the bus terminal for a marked car with their next clue.
•   This leg's Detour was a choice betweenPress It orClimb It. InPress It, teams had to drive to Camping Bela Vista to process rawsugar cane anddistill its juice. Teams then had to make 500 milliliters ofethanol to fuel their cars as analternative fuel source. After completing the task, teams received their next clue. InClimb It, teams had to drive toUsina Jacaré and hike to a nearby waterfall. Once there, they climbed 90 feet (27 m) to the top of the waterfall using mechanical ascenders in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the Fazenda Primavera da Serra coffee plantation.

• Episode 3: "I'm In Russia Playing With Dolls" (March 14, 2006) & Episode 4: "It's Not Over Until the Phil Sings" (March 21, 2006)
• Prize: A trip toAfrica (awarded to Eric & Jeremy)
• Eliminated: Wanda & Desiree

Locations

• Brotas (Fazenda Primavera da Serra) 
• Brotas (Kilometer 114 HighwaySP-225)
•   Brotas (Terminal Rodoviário de Brotas) →São Paulo
•   São Paulo →Moscow, Russia
• Moscow (Chaika Bassein(in Russian)) 
• Moscow (Novodevichiy Monastery – Smolensky Cathedral)
• Moscow (8 Trolley ParkorDubrovka Theatre(in Russian)) 
• Moscow (Saint Basil's Cathedral) 
•   Moscow →Frankfurt, Germany
•   Frankfurt →Stuttgart
• Stuttgart (Mercedes-Benz Headquarters – Mercedes-Benz Werk Untertürkheim)
• Bad Tölz (Ellbach Field(in German)) 
• Grünwald (Bavaria Film Studios) 
• Munich (Siegestor) 

Episode summary (Episode 3)

• At the start of this leg, teams had to drive to a marked entrance near kilometer 114 HighwaySP-225, and then ride a 300-foot (91 m)zip-line from the top of the hill before receiving their next clue. Teams were instructed to return toSão Paulo on one of three buses departing forty-five minutes apart to São Paulo'sGuarulhos International Airport, and then fly toMoscow, Russia.
•   In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to put on a swimsuit, dive off a 10-metre (33 ft)diving platform into the pool below, and then swim to retrieve their next clue.
• After the first Roadblock, teams had to travel to theNovodevichiy Monastery and locate the Smolensky Cathedral in order to find their next clue.
•   This leg's first Detour was a choice betweenScrub orScour. InScrub, teams had to travel to atrolleybus depot and thoroughly wash a Russian public trolleybus inside and out to the satisfaction of the attendant in order to receive their next clue. InScour, teams had to travel to the Dubrovka Theatre to search among 1,500 Russiannesting dolls in order to find one of ten with a microscopic clue hidden inside.
• After the first Detour, teams had to travel toRed Square and then search behindSaint Basil's Cathedral for Phil, who told them that the leg was not over before handing them their next clue.

Episode summary (Episode 4)

• Teams were instructed to fly toFrankfurt, Germany, and then travel by train toStuttgart. Once there, teams had to travel to the flagshipMercedes-Benz headquarters, where they had to choose a car and driver who took them on a ride through a test course at the factory known as the Wall of Death. After riding the high-speed course at speeds over 170 kilometers per hour (110 miles per hour), teams received their next clue. Teams then had to drive to Ellbach Field in order to find their next clue.
•   In this leg's second Roadblock, one team member had to search among 150 hats and feet scattered across a large field for one of eleven hiddenTravelocityRoaming Gnomes, which had their next clue printed on its base.
• After the second Roadblock, teams had to drive toGrünwald and find their next clue at the gate ofBavaria Film Studios.
•   This leg's second Detour was a choice betweenBreak It orSlap It. InBreak It, teams brokestunt bottles over each other's heads until they foundprost (the German word forcheers) written on the back of the label in order to receive their next clue. However, they could only smash one bottle per cuckoo from a traditional Germancuckoo clock. InSlap It, teams had to correctly perform a traditionalSchuhplattler dance in order to receive their next clue.
• After the second Detour, teams had to drive toMunich and check in at the Pit Stop: theSiegestor.

Additional notes

• The prize was given to the first team who brought a Travelocity gnome to the Pit Stop.^[9] Eric & Jeremy won the prize.
• Leg 3 was a double leg that was aired over two episodes.

• Episode 5: "Good Thing I Took That Human Anatomy Class in High School" (March 28, 2006)
• Prize: Digital imaging package (awarded to BJ & Tyler)
• Eliminated: Danielle & Dani

Locations

• Munich (Siegestor) 
•  Munich →Palermo, Italy
• Palermo (Teatro Massimo)
• Castellammare del Golfo (Seaside Terrace)
• Castellammare del Golfo (Premiata Fonderia Birrione Campane & Via Don Leonardo Zangaraor Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi) 
• Calatafimi-Segesta (Amphitheater)  
• Calatafimi-Segesta (Tempio di Segesta) 

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly toPalermo on the Italian island ofSicily. Once there, teams had to travel to theTeatro Massimo, where they had to search the grounds for their next clue. Teams were then instructed to travel toCastellammare del Golfo and find their next clue at the Seaside Terrace overlooking theCastello Normanno Lighthouse.
•   This leg's Detour was a choice betweenFoundry orLaundry. InFoundry, teams had to walk to a nearby foundry to pick up a 110-pound (50 kg) iron-castbell. Teams then had to load the bell onto anApe, drive to Via Don Leonardo Zangara, and deliver the bell to a priest at Chiesa Maria SS. Del Soccorso in order to receive their next clue. InLaundry, teams had to search through over 2,400 pieces of laundry for one of sixteen pieces of clothing bearing a red and yellow tag, which they could exchange for their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to drive toCalatafimi-Segesta and find their next clue at theAmphitheater.
•   In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to correctly piece together a classicalGreek statue in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to travel on foot to the nearbyTempio di Segesta in order to check in at the Pit Stop.

Additional note

•   Lake & Michelle chose to Yield Danielle & Dani.

• Episode 6: "Sleep Deprivation Is Really Starting to Irritate Me" (April 5, 2006)
• Prize: Cruise for two toMexico (awarded to Eric & Jeremy)
• Eliminated: Dave & Lori

Locations

• Calatafimi-Segesta (Tempio di Segesta) 
• Catania (Anfiteatro Romano)
• Catania (Il Mercato Storico la Pescheria(in Italian)) 
• Syracuse (Ponte Umbertino(in Italian)) 
• Syracuse (Fonte Aretusa) 

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams had to drive to theAnfiteatro Romano inCatania and search within the ruins of the amphitheater for their next clue, which instructed them to count the statue heads on the fence posts surrounding the grounds. Once teams counted the heads, they had to find the groundskeeper and give him the correct number in order to receive their next clue.
•   This leg's Detour was a choice betweenBig Fish orLittle Fish. InBig Fish, teams had to travel on foot to a street vendor in Via Alessi, pick up a 30-poundswordfish, and then carry it another1⁄3 mile (0.54 km) to Il Mercato Storico la Pescheria. At the market, teams had to find the fish vendor and exchange their swordfish for their next clue. InLittle Fish, teams had to travel on foot to the same fish market and sell 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) of a small fish known astriglia in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to drive to the Ponte Umbertino inSyracuse in order to find their next clue.
•   In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to participate inkayak polo. They had to join a professional team and participate in an ongoing match. When racers scored one goal, they could receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: theFonte Aretusa in Syracuse.

• Episode 7: "Herculean Effort for Some Herculean Dudes" (April 12, 2006)
• Prize: A trip to the premiere ofThe Da Vinci Code inHollywood, California (awarded to Eric & Jeremy)
• Eliminated: Lake & Michelle

Locations

• Syracuse (Fonte Aretusa) 
•   Syracuse →Rome
• Rome (Trevi Fountain)
• Rome (Spanish Steps)
•   Rome →Athens, Greece
• Athens (Ancient Agora)
• Athens (Plaka – Stamatopoulos Taverna) 
•   Athens →Corinth (Isthmos Railway Station)
• Corinth (Corinth Canal) 
• Nemea (Ancient Stadium) 
• Rio (Fortress of Rio) 

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by train toRome. Once there, teams had to travel to theTrevi Fountain and find a man with a yellow and red scooter, who gave them their next clue and one half ofLeonardo da Vinci's drawing of theVitruvian Man. Teams were then instructed to travel to theSpanish Steps and find carriages with black leather portfolios containing the other half of theVitruvian Man and their next clue, which instructed them to fly toAthens, Greece, and travel to theAncient Agora in order to find their next clue.
•   This season's first Fast Forward required one team to travel on foot to Stamatopoulos Taverna in Athens andsmash plates. Teams had to find a route marker flag baked into only one out of hundreds of plates. Eric & Jeremy won the Fast Forward.
• Teams who chose to not attempt the Fast Forward had to travel by train from Athens and exit at the Isthmos railway station inCorinth in order to find their next clue.
•   In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had tobungee jump 240 feet (73 m) into theCorinth Canal in order to receive their next clue.
•   For thisAncient Greek-inspired Detour, teams drove to theAncient Stadium inNemea and had to choose between eitherHerculean Effort orIt's All Greek To Me. InHerculean Effort, teams had to complete three events from theAncient Olympic Games. One team member had to throw thediscus, the other team member had to do thejavelin throw, and both team members had to participate inGreco-Roman wrestling and push an opponent out of a 20-foot (6.1 m) circle in order to receive their next clue. InIt's All Greek To Me, teams entered an archaeological site and searched for nine pieces ofpottery containingGreek letters. Teams then had to translate the letters fromGreek to English and unscramble them to spell out a location on a Greek map –Dimitsana (Δημητσανα) – in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: theFortress of Rio, overlooking theRio–Antirrio Bridge, inRio.

Additional notes

• The bungee jump into the Corinth Canal was later revisited onseason 29 as a Switchback.
• In the spirit ofThe Da Vinci Code, teams had to figure out how to arrange the two parchments of theVitruvian Man in order to reveal a message. The first team to bring the solution to the Pit Stop would win the prize. Eric & Jeremy, who were the first to arrive at the Pit Stop, were able to put the message together and were awarded the prize.

• Episode 8: "Here Comes the Bedouin" (April 19, 2006)
• Prize: A trip toRome, Italy (awarded to Fran & Barry)

Locations

• Rio (Fortress of Rio) 
•  Antirrio (Antirrio Visitor Center) →Athens
•   Athens →Muscat, Oman
• Muscat (Riyam Park)
• Sur (Baith Al Battha) 
• Al Hawiyah (Shuwa Area) 
• Jabrin (Jabreen Castle) 

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly toMuscat, Oman. Teams first had to sign up for one of two charter buses departing an hour apart that took them to theAthens International Airport, where they then flew to Muscat. Once there, teams had to go to Riyam Park and find a giant incense burner in order to find their next clue. Teams then had to drive to Baith Al Battha in order to find their next clue.
•   This leg's Detour was a choice betweenCamel orWatchtower. InCamel, teams had to travel by ferry across a creek to the opposite bank, where they had to lift a camel into a truck using awinch. They then had to use a map to drive one mile (1.6 km) to aBedouin camp and deliver the camel in order to receive their next clue. InWatchtower, teams had to cross the river and search three watchtowers for an Arabian message box scroll, although not every watchtower had a scroll. After they found it, they had to travel one mile (1.6 km) to Al-Sayegh Gold and Silversmith and exchange their scroll for their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to drive to the shuwa area inAl Hawiyah in order to find their next clue.
•   In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to dig into 117 sand dunes until they found one of six Omani underground ovens with ashuwa, a woven pouch with a meal oflamb wrapped in a dried palm leaf bag and steamed in the oven, in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: Jabreen Castle inJabrin.

Additional note

• This was a non-elimination leg.

• Episode 9: "Do You Know How Much Running I Did Today, Phil?" (April 26, 2006)
• Prize: A trip toHong Kong (awarded to Eric & Jeremy)
• Eliminated: Fran & Barry

Locations

• Jabrin (Jabreen Castle) 
•  Muscat →Perth, Australia
• Perth (Kings Park –State War Memorial)
•  Fremantle →Rottnest Island
•   Rottnest Island (Wadjemup Lighthouse)
•   Rottnest Island (Salmon Bay) 
•   Rottnest Island → Fremantle or Perth
• Fremantle (Fremantle Prison) 
• Fremantle (Fremantle Sailing Club –South Breakwater) 

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly toPerth, Australia. Once there, teams had to travel toKings Park and search for theState War Memorial in order to find their next clue. Teams were instructed to travel by ferry toRottnest Island. Once there, teams had to pick up atandem bicycle from a bike shop and pedal three miles (4.8 km) toWadjemup Lighthouse in order to find their next clue.
•   This leg's Detour was a choice betweenSand orSea. InSand, teams had to drag 40 branches 126 yards (115 m) to a sand dune, an activity known as "brushing the beach", which helps to preventbeach erosion, in order to receive their next clue. InSea, teams had to dive into the waves and search among 50 underwater crayfish traps on the ocean floor for those with liveWestern rock lobsters. Each team member had to retrieve one lobster and deliver them to a fisherman in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to pedal back to the bike shop, travel by ferry back to the mainland, and then travel toFremantle Prison in order to find their next clue.
•   In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to search Division No. 4 of Fremantle Prison for one of several cells that contained a flashlight. They then had to search for an entrance to a darkened cavern, descend underground, and use the flashlight to search for a set of either wet or dry tunnels for their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: theSouth Breakwater at the Fremantle Sailing Club.

• Episode 10: "Man, They Should Have Used Their Fake Names" (May 3, 2006)
• Prize: Two one-year leases forMercedes ML350s (awarded to Ray & Yolanda)

Locations

• Fremantle (Fremantle Sailing Club –South Breakwater) 
• Perth (City Centre –Swan Bells Tower)
•   Perth →Darwin
• Darwin (Berrimah –Crocodylus Park)
• Batchelor (Batchelor Airfield – Darwin Parachute Club)  
• Litchfield National Park (Magnetic Termite Mounds)
• Litchfield National Park (Buley RockholeorThe Lost City) 
• Lake Bennett (Lake Bennett Wilderness Resort) 

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams had to drive toPerth and climb to the top of theSwan Bells Tower in order to find their next clue. Teams were instructed to fly toDarwin. Once there, teams drove toCrocodylus Park, where they had to wade into a pond full of crocodiles in order to retrieve their next clue directing them to theBatchelor Airfield.
•   In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had choose an airplane, climb to an altitude of 12,000 feet (3,700 m), and then perform a tandemskydive with an instructor. Once on the ground, they received their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to theLitchfield National Park and search for their next clue among themagnetic termite mounds.
•   This leg's Detour was a choice betweenWet orDry. InWet, teams had to drive six miles (9.7 km) to a swimming hole calledBuley Rockhole, and then hike and swim one mile (1.6 km) down a river infested with spiders and poisonous plants in order to retrieve their next clue. InDry, teams had to drive six miles (9.7 km) on-road, and then another six miles (9.7 km) off-road, to a rock formation known asThe Lost City. Once there, teams had to select adidgeridoo and follow the sound of music in order to locate a nearbyAboriginal musician with a matching didgeridoo, who taught each team member to play a note so they could receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: theLake Bennett Wilderness Resort.

Additional notes

•   BJ & Tyler chose to Yield Joseph & Monica.
• This was a non-elimination leg.

• Episode 11: "I Think This Monkey Likes Me" (May 10, 2006)
• Prize: A cruise aroundSydney Harbour with visits to theHunter Valley wine district and theGreat Barrier Reef, and a stay at a luxury hotel while at the Pit Stop (awarded to Ray & Yolanda)
• Eliminated: Joseph & Monica

Locations

• Lake Bennett (Lake Bennett Wilderness Resort) 
•  Darwin →Bangkok, Thailand
•   Bangkok →Lopburi
• Lopburi (Prang Sam Yot) 
• Pho Kao Ton (Bo Ngoen Pla Pao Restaurant) 
•  Pak Kret →Ko Kret Island
• Ko Kret Island (Buddha Garden)
• Ko Kret Island (Jom Jam Pottery Factoryor Wat Chimphli) 
• Bangkok (Marble Temple) 

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly toBangkok, Thailand. Once there, teams had to travel by bus toLopburi and find their next clue atPrang Sam Yot.
•   In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to recreate a properly arrangedceremonial feast of fruit and give it to the monkeys at Prang Sam Yot in order to receive their next clue.
•   This season's second Fast Forward required teams to travel to a restaurant and eat a bowl of friedcrickets andgrasshoppers. BJ & Tyler won the Fast Forward.
• After the Roadblock, teams were instructed to travel by ferry toKo Kret Island and find their next clue at the Buddha Garden.
•   This leg's Detour was a choice betweenMove It orAltar It. InMove It, teams had to go to the Jom Jam Pottery Factory and then transport a total of 72 clay pots on wooden boards balanced on their shoulders through the streets of a market to a boat in order to receive their next clue. InAltar It, teams had to go to the Wat Chimphli temple, where they had to properly assemble a shrine and then applygold leaf to a statue ofBuddha in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: theMarble Temple in Bangkok.

Additional note

• The clue at Prang Sam Yot contained an additional envelope inside that informed teams to not open it until they reached the Pit Stop. The prize on this leg was awarded to the team who had a picture of a golden gnome in their envelope. Ray & Yolanda won the prize.

• Episode 12: "5 Continents, 9 Countries, More Than 59,000 Miles" (May 17, 2006)
• Prize: TwoT-Mobile Sidekicks with three years of free service (awarded to BJ & Tyler)

Locations

• Bangkok (Marble Temple) 
• Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (Royal Elephant Kraal)
•   Bangkok →Tokyo, Japan
•   Tokyo (Narita International Airport) →Narita (Hotel Nikko Narita)
• Tokyo (Shibuya Scramble Crossing)
• Tokyo (Hachikō Statue)
• Tokyo (Hama-rikyū Gardensor Sankusu Street) 
• Tokyo (Capsule Land Hotel)
• Fujiyoshida (Fujikyu Highland) 
•  Yamanakako (Lake Yamanaka –The Big Swan) 

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams traveled to theRoyal Elephant Kraal, where they receivedsmartphones from the elephants that displayed their next clue instructing them to fly toTokyo, Japan. Once there, teams had to travel to the parking lot of theHotel Nikko Narita, search for a marked vehicle, and then drive to the Sakamoto Building inShibuya. They had to walk to ascramble crossing and scan the big flashing screens in order to find their next clue:Find Hachiko! They had to figure out that they had to find a statue of thenamesake dog, where they found a man wearing a red and yellow scarf with their next clue.
•   This leg's Detour was a choice betweenMaiden orMessenger. InMaiden, teams had to travel toHama-rikyū Gardens and carry a traditional Japanesepalanquin with a young Japanese woman1⁄3 mile (540 m) to atea ceremony pavilion in order to receive their next clue. InMessenger, teams had to travel 200 yards (180 m) to a parking lot and pick up a pair offolding bicycles as well as messenger bags, which each contained a parcel. Teams then had to assemble the bikes and ride through the streets of Tokyo to deliver the packages toShinjuku Park Tower andShinjuku Chuo Koen inShinjuku. When they were done, teams returned to the bike parking lot in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to travel to theCapsule Land Hotel, where they received one of three departure times fifteen minutes apart the next day based on the order they arrived. The next morning, teams were directed to drive toFujikyu Highland inFujiyoshida in order to find their next clue.
•   In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to ride on three extreme rides in the following order: The Pizza,Dodonpa, andFujiyama. While riding, they had to spot a man holding a message somewhere along one of the rides. After the third ride, they had to relay the message to the park manager in order to receive their next clue. If they could not, they had to go on all three rides again.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to drive toLake Yamanaka and pedal aswan boat to the Pit Stop:The Big Swan.

Additional note

• This was a non-elimination leg.

• Episode 12: "5 Continents, 9 Countries, More Than 59,000 Miles" (May 17, 2006)
• Prize: US$1,000,000
• Winners: BJ & Tyler
• Runners-up: Eric & Jeremy
• Third place: Ray & Yolanda

Locations

• Yamanakako (Lake Yamanaka –The Big Swan) 
•  Narita (Hotel Nikko Narita) →Tokyo (Narita International Airport)
•   Tokyo →Anchorage, Alaska (Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport)
• Anchorage (Mirror Lake) 
• Anchorage (Kincaid Park)
•   Anchorage →Denver, Colorado
• Golden (Clear Creek History Park)
• Morrison (Red Rocks Park –Red Rocks Amphitheatre)  

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly toAnchorage, Alaska. Once there, teams had to search theairport for a marked car with their next clue, which directed them to drive to Mirror Lake.
•   This season's final Detour was a choice betweenDrill It orDeliver It. InDrill It, teams had to use anice auger to drill 10 holes in the ice, push anice fishing shack to the holes, and properly position the shack over at least two of the holes in order to receive their next clue. InDeliver It, teams would have had to load abush plane with medical supplies, fly with a pilot over 75 miles (121 km) toGirdwood, deliver the supplies, receive their next clue, and then fly back. Due to poor weather conditions, this option was subject to an indefinite delay, so all teams performedDrill It.
• After the Detour, teams drove toKincaid Park, where they had to search the park's chalet forsnowshoes and then hike to their next clue. Teams were then instructed to fly toDenver, Colorado. Once there, teams traveled toClear Creek History Park inGolden and searched the grounds for their next clue, which instructed teams to "Go Back to Where You Started", leaving them to figure out that their next destination was the starting line:Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
•   In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to search a field of 285 flags, find the nine flags representing each of the countries that they visited, and place them in chronological order. Teams had a reference board with the correct flags along with three decoy flags. Unlike normal Roadblocks, the non-participating team member could provide guidance, but could not physically assist. Once teams got the order of the flags correct, they could run to the nearby finish line.

Order	Flags
1	Brazil
2	Russia
3	Germany
4	Italy
5	Greece
6	Oman
7	Australia
8	Thailand
9	Japan

Additional note

• Legs 11 and 12 aired back-to-back as a special two-hour episode.

The Amazing Race 9 received mixed reviews.Linda Holmes ofTelevision Without Pity was negative towards this season due to it being dominated by two "obnoxious" teams writing "Dear This Season: Boo."^[10]Andy Dehnart ofreality blurred wrote that this season rebounded from the previous "lame" Family Edition.^[11]Heather Havrilesky ofSalon wrote "all in all, this was a really lively, fun season of 'The Amazing Race,' the kind that strengthens my undying commitment to watch every second of every hour of every season of this show".^[12] In 2016, this season was ranked 21st out of the first 27 seasons by theRob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents.^[13] In 2021, Jane Andrews ofGossip Cop ranked this season as the show's 10th best season.^[14] In 2024, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant placed this season within the bottom 13 out of 36.^[15]

Canadian ratings

On August 27, 2006, season 9 won aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, the fourth consecutive award for the series.

• Official website