The Amazing Race 9

Development and filming

The ninth Amazing Race was started and ended at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre outside Denver, Colorado.

The Amazing Race 9 lasted 27 days during which participants traveled over 59,000 miles (95,000 km). Filming ran from November 7 to December 3, 2005. The race visited ten countries on five continents, three of which were new to the race: – Greece, Japan and Oman. Also included as race destinations were Australia, Brazil, Germany, Italy (Sicily), Russia and Thailand. This season of the Race had the second longest course, behind The Amazing Race 5.

Additionally, this season of the race was the first one to start and end at the same location: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the world-famous outdoor concert venue outside Denver. Other seasons have started and ended in the same city (Season 1 in New York City and Season 6 in Chicago), but the location of the start and finish lines were different. The other race to start and end at the same location was the inaugural Norwegian race, which aired in 2012.

This was the first season in which the teams had to drive themselves at least once in every leg.

As a result of scheduling conflicts filming the season finale, runners-up Eric & Jeremy were unable to attend the premiere of The Da Vinci Code at the Cannes Film Festival, which was their prize for securing first place in Leg 6. They later announced that CBS had given them a different prize as compensation.

Cast

Applications for The Amazing Race 9 were closed on July 26, 2005 (a day after the original deadline). Semi-finalist interviews were held sometime in September, 2005; final casting interviews took place in October, 2005.

Following the Family Edition experiment of Season 8, which featured teams of four family members racing in the United States and Central America, this season returned to the traditional format of eleven teams of two competing in a race around the world. The teams included hippie best friends, a couple married for 40 years, and sisters living in different states.

At The Finish Line, Eric announced that he was dating Danielle and had planned to move to New York to be closer to her. Eric & Danielle were also selected to race in The Amazing Race All-Stars among a cast of returning teams from seasons 1-10. Following the All-Stars race, Eric & Danielle said in a post-race interview that they are no longer dating due to distance and are now just friends. Danielle married in 2011 and is now a mother of two young daughters, born in 2009 and 2012.

Ray proposed to Yolanda on The Early Show the morning after the season finale. While it was a total shock to her, Yolanda enthusiastically accepted. This episode also previews their full progress on the final leg of The Amazing Race, including Yolanda's progress on the roadblock.

Joseph & Monica got married a few years after the race ended, but it ended in divorce. Monica remarried Green Bay Packers long snapper Brett Goode.

Lisa Hindson died on August 2, 2017, following a battle with cancer, at the age of 43.

Awards

On August 27, 2006, Season 9 won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, the fourth consecutive award for the series. Producers nominated this season instead of the critically lambasted Family Edition, which was also eligible for the award.

Leg 1 (United States → Brazil)

The historic Estádio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho in São Paulo's district of Pacaembu is the first Pit Stop of the race.

Airdate: February 28, 2006

• Morrison, Colorado, United States (Red Rocks Park – Red Rocks Amphitheatre) (Starting Line)
• Denver (Denver International Airport) to São Paulo, Brazil (Guarulhos International Airport)
• São Paulo (Hotel Unique)
• São Paulo (Viaduto Santa Efigênia) (in Portuguese)
• São Paulo (Caverna Moto Peças or Campo de Marte Airport)
• São Paulo (Santa Cecilia – 114A Rua Frederico Abranches)
• São Paulo (Estádio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho)

The first Detour of the season was a choice between Motor Head or Rotor Head. In Motor Head, teams had to travel to a motorcycle shop named Caverna Moto Peças and assemble a motorcycle using the parts provided with a finished model for reference. When the motorcycle is properly assembled, and the mechanic could start the bike, the team would receive their next clue. In Rotor Head, teams had to travel to Campo 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. The options were: Edifício São Luís Gonzaga (in Portuguese) (2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi)), Atrium V (5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi)) and Hotel Meliá (6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi)). Once they found their destination, the pilot would land the helicopter on the rooftop of that building to search the designated area for their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At Denver International Airport, teams were to book one of the three provided flights to São Paulo, leaving at 1:25 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:31 p.m.
• Upon arriving in São Paulo, teams climbed to the rooftop of Hotel Unique and find their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams were instructed to travel to the district of Santa Cecilia to find the sanctuary at 114A Rua Federico Abranches for their next clue. There, teams had to light a white candle and witness a traditional ceremony known as Candomblé to receive their next clue.

Leg 2 (Brazil)

Teams traveled to the outskirts of Brotas where a choice of Detour tasks required teams to hike to and climb a waterfall.

Airdate: March 7, 2006

• São Paulo (Edifício Copan – Bloco F)
• São Paulo (Terminal Rodoviário Barra Funda – Terminal Turístico) to Brotas (Terminal Rodoviário de Brotas)
• Brotas (Volkswagen Beetle Terminal Rodoviário de Brotas Parking Lot)
• Brotas (Camping Bela Vista or Usina Jacaré (in Portuguese))
• Brotas (Fazenda Primavera da Serra) (in Portuguese)

In the first Roadblock, one racer from each team had to climb one of three stairwells on the building's fire escape. Once at the top, they would put on a harness and rappel 400 feet (120 m) down the building to receive their next clue. The order which they arrived at the top determined the order of descent.

The Detour was a choice between Press It or Climb It. In Press It, teams had to drive to Camping Bela Vista to process raw sugar cane and distill its juice. Then, teams had to make 500 milliliters of ethanol to fuel their cars as an alternative fuel source. After completing the task, teams poured the newly created ethanol into their cars and the chemist handed them their next clue. In Climb It, teams travelled to Usina Jacaré and hiked to a nearby waterfall. Once there, they climbed 90 feet (27 m) up a waterfall using mechanical ascenders to the top to receive their next clue

Additional tasks

• At the start of the leg, teams traveled to Edificio Copan and have to search for Bloco F for the next clue.
• After completing the Roadblock, teams instructed to travel by bus to Brotas where they went to Terminal Rodoviário Barra Funda and found tickets on one of three charter buses going to Brotas: departing 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m. or 12:15 p.m. Upon arrival, they picked up a Volkswagen Beetle and their next clue.

Leg 3 (Brazil → Russia → Germany)

Teams finished the first half of this double-length leg of the Race in Moscow's famous Red Square, overlooking Saint Basil's Cathedral.

Airdate: March 14, 2006

• Brotas (Kilometer 114 Highway SP-225)
• Brotas (Terminal Rodoviário de Brotas) to São Paulo (Guarulhos International Airport)
• São Paulo (Guarulhos International Airport) to Moscow, Russia (Sheremetyevo International Airport)
• Moscow (Chaika Bassein)
• Moscow (Novodevichiy Monastery – Smolensk Cathedral)
• Moscow (Dubrovka Theatre (in Russian) or 8 Trolley Park)
• Moscow (Red Square – St. Basil's Cathedral)

The Roadblock for the first half of the leg requires one team member to put on a bathing suit and dive off a 10 metres (33 ft) diving platform into the pool below. Once they took the plunge, they had to swim to retrieve the next clue.

The Detour was a choice between Scrub or Scour. In Scrub, teams had travel to a trolley bus depot at 8 Trolley Park to thoroughly wash a Russian public trolley bus inside and out to the satisfaction of the trolley bus attendant. Once the bus was cleaned, a bus driver would hand them their next clue. In Scour, teams had travel to Dubrovka Theatre to search among 1,500 pieces of Russian nesting dolls to find one of 10 microscopic clues hidden inside a doll.

Additional tasks

• At the start of the leg, teams had to head to a marked entrance near kilometer 114 Highway SP-225, then take a 300 feet (91 m) zipline from the top of the hill to the bottom before getting the next clue.
• After completing the task, teams had to travel to Brotas Bus Depot and pick up a ticket for a departure time to São Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport within forty-five minutes apart.

Teams spent the second half of the leg from Stuttgart and ended at Siegestor in Munich, the Pit Stop for the Race.

Airdate: March 21, 2006

• Moscow (Sheremetyevo International Airport) to Frankfurt, Germany (Frankfurt International Airport)
• Frankfurt (Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof station) to Stuttgart (Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof)
• Stuttgart (Mercedes-Benz Headquarters – Mercedes-Benz Werk Untertürkheim)
• Bad Tölz (Ellbach Field)
• Grünwald (Bavaria Film Studios)
• Munich (Siegestor)

In the second Roadblock of this leg, One team member was required to search among 150 hats and feet scattered across a large field for one of eleven hidden Travelocity roaming gnomes containing the next clue.

The second Detour for the leg was a choice of Break It or Slap It. In Break It, teams broke stunt bottles over each other's heads until they found prost, the German word for cheers written on the back of the label. However, they could only smash one bottle per cuckoo from a traditional German cuckoo clock. In Slap It, teams had to learn a traditional Schuhplattler dance and correctly perform it. When the folk dance was properly completed, the team would get their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the flagship Mercedes-Benz headquarters, teams have to receive their next clue. There, where they had to choose a Mercedes-Benz vehicle and chose a driver for their thrilling ride on the test course known at the factory as the Wall of Death. After riding the high-speed course at over 170 kilometers per hour (110 miles per hour), they would receive their next clue.
• After completing the second Roadblock, teams have to drive to Grünwald and find Bavaria Film Studios and get the next clue at the gate.
• After completing the second Detour, teams had to drive to the city of Munich and park their cars at Leopoldstraße to find the next Pit Stop, Siegestor.

Leg 4 (Germany → Italy)

The Segesta Amphitheatre on the island of Sicily was the site of the Leg's Roadblock.

Airdate: March 28, 2006

• Munich (Munich International Airport) to Palermo, Sicily, Italy (Palermo International Airport)
• Palermo (Teatro Massimo)
• Castellammare del Golfo (Fortress - Seaside Terrace)
• Castellammare del Golfo (Premiata Fonderia Birrione Campane and Via Don Leonardo Zangara or Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi)
• Segesta (Teatro di Segesta)
• Segesta (Tempio di Segesta)

The Detour was a choice of Foundry or Laundry. In Foundry, teams had to walk a nearby metal works called Premiata Fonderia Birrione Campane at 8 Via Renda to carry a 110-pound (50 kg) iron-cast bell. Then, teams have to use Ape to drive the bell, drop-off at Via Don Leonardo Zangara and delivered it to Chiesa Maria SS. Del Soccorso to a priest to receive their next clue. In Laundry, teams needed to find Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi to search through over 2,400 items of laundry for one of sixteen items of clothing bearing a red and yellow tag. Once the red and yellow tag was found, a laundry lady gave teams their next clue.

The Roadblock requires one team member to correctly piece together a classical Greek statue, while the racers were not told that there were two extra pieces that did not belong until they went to an archaeologist to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At Teatro Massimo, teams have to search the grounds for their next clue. The clue then instruct teams to travel to the town of Castellammare del Golfo to find the Seaside Terrace and their next clue.
• The post-Detour clue instructed teams to travel to the ancient city of Segesta and find the Amphiteater with the Yield board and their next clue.
• After completing the Roadblock, teams were told to travel on-foot to Tempio di Segesta for the Pit Stop.

Leg 5 (Italy)

While in Catania, teams get involved in South Italian infamous fisheries.

Airdate: April 5, 2006

• Catania (Anfiteatro Romano)
• Catania (Il Mercato Storico la Pescheria (in Italian))
• Siracusa (Ponte Umbertino (in Italian))
• Siracusa (Fonte Aretusa)

The Detour was a choice between Big Fish or Little Fish. In Big Fish, teams had to travel by foot to a street vendor in Via Alessi and pick up a 32-kilogram (71 lb) swordfish, then carry it for another sixth of a mile to Il Mercato Storico la Pescheria. At the market, teams had to find Jagino, the fish market vendor, to receive their next clue. In Little Fish, teams had to travel by foot to the same fish market and sell 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) of a small fish known as triglia. After selling the fish, the vendor would give teams their next clue.

The Roadblock had one racer to participate in a popular Italian sport: kayak polo. Teams joined a professional team and participate in an ongoing match. When the team member scored one goal, a coach would give them their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the start of the leg, teams had to drive to the city of Catania. There, they had to find Anfiteatro Romano and search within the ruins of this amphitheater to receive their next clue.
• At the amphitheater, teams had to count the statue heads on the fence posts surrounding its grounds. Once teams counted the heads they found the groundskeeper, and provided the correct number (41), they received their next clue.

Leg 6 (Italy → Greece)

For the Roadblock in Corinth, one team member had to complete a 240 feet (73 m) bungee jump off a bridge over the Corinth Canal.

Airdate: April 12, 2006

• Siracusa (Siracusa railway station) to Rome (Roma Termini station)
• Rome (Trevi Fountain)
• Rome (Spanish Steps)
• Rome (Leonardo da Vinci International Airport) to Athens, Greece (Athens International Airport)
• Athens (Ancient Agora)
  • Athens (Stamatopoulos Taverna)
• Athens (Agioi Anargyroi Railway Station) to Corinth (Isthmos Railway Station)
• Corinth (Corinth Canal – Zulu Bungy)
• Nemea (Ancient stadium)
• Rio (Fortress of Rion)

The Fast Forward had teams travel on foot less than a mile to Stamatopoulos Taverna and take part in a traditional Greek method of dispelling mischievous spirits: plate breaking. Teams had to break plates to find a little yellow and red flag that was baked onto one plate. Once the team found the flag, they would win the Fast Forward.

The Roadblock requires one team member had to bungee jump. 240 feet (73 m) into the Corinth Canal organized by the Zulu Bungy . Once it was completed, they received their next clue from the bungee master. This task would be revisited again on Season 29 as a switchback.

For the Ancient Greek-inspired Detour, teams drive to the Ancient Stadium in Nemea and choose either Herculean Effort or It's All Greek To Me. In Herculean Effort, teams had to complete three events from the Ancient Olympic Games. One team had to throw the discus a competitive distance. While the other team had to do the javelin throw the same distance. Finally, both teams had to participate in Greco-Roman wrestling in a 20-foot (6.1 m) circle. When all the events are completed, teams received their next clue. In It's All Greek To Me, teams entered an archaeological site to search a specific section for nine pieces of pottery containing Greek letters. Then, teams have to translate from Greek to English letters and unscramble them to spell a location on a Greek map, Dimitsana.

Additional tasks

• At Trevi Fountain, teams had to find a man with a yellow and red scooter, who would give them their next clue.
• The clue at Trevi Fountain contained the first half of Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man drawing in a Manila envelope and were instructed to travel to the famous Spanish Steps where they found horse carriages and searched for a black leather portfolio to find their next clue. Teams had to find the other half of the drawing for the movie based on The Da Vinci Code.
• At the Spanish Steps, given the two images from the Vitruvian Man drawing, teams had to crack the code. Teams were also told that the first team arriving at the Pit Stop, along with the entire drawing, would win the prize.

Additional note

• Teams who chose not to compete for the Fast Forward were required to travel by train from Agioi Anargyroi Railway Station and exit at the correct station at Isthmos Railway Station in Corinth, and not at nearby Corinth Railway Station.

Leg 7 (Greece → Oman)

Upon arriving in Muscat, teams visited Riyam Park for a clue.

Airdate: April 19, 2006

• Rio (Rio–Antirrio bridge – Chartered Bus) to Athens (Athens International Airport)
• Athens (Athens International Airport) to Muscat, Oman (Seeb International Airport)
• Muscat (Riyam Park)
• Sur (Baith Al Battha)
• Al Hawiyah (Shuwa Area)
• Jabrin (Jabreen Castle)

The Detour was a choice of Camel or Watchtower. In Camel, teams first had to make their way across the creek on a ferry to opposite bank, where they had to lift a camel into a pickup truck using a winch. Then, they had to use a map to drive 1 mile (1.6 km) to a Bedouin Camp and deliver the camel to receive their next clue. In Watchtower, teams had to cross the river and search in three watchtowers for an Arabian message box scroll. However, not every watchtower had a scroll. After they found it, they had to travel 1 mile (1.6 km) to a silver shop (Al-Sayegh Gold and Silversmith) to Mubarek to receive their next clue.

The Roadblock requires one team member to search and dig any of 117 sand dunes to find one of 6 Omani underground ovens called shuwa. Inside it was a woven pouch with a meal of lamb wrapped in a dried palm leaf bag and steamed in the oven, which they would have for dinner. Once they found the shuwa, the Bedouin would give teams their next clue.

Additional task

• Upon departing, teams had to cross the Rio–Antirrio bridge on foot, go to the visitor center and sign-up for a charter bus to the airport. On arrival at Muscat, teams were told to go to Riyam Park and find the Giant Incense Burner to find their next clue.
• At the port city of Sur, teams took a ferry crossing in Baith Al Battha where they receive their next clue.

Leg 8 (Oman → Australia)

Upon arriving in Perth, teams travelled to the Kings Park War Memorial to get their next clue directing them to Fremantle.

Airdate: April 26, 2006

• Muscat (Seeb International Airport) to Perth, Western Australia, Australia (Perth Airport)
• Perth (City Centre – Kings Park War Memorial and Eternal Flame)
• Fremantle (Rottnest Express) to Rottnest Island
• Rottnest Island (Wadjemup Lighthouse)
• Rottnest Island (Salmon Bay)
• Rottnest Island to Fremantle or Hillarys
• Fremantle (Fremantle Prison)
• Fremantle (South Breakwater, Fremantle Sailing Club)

The Detour for the leg took place at Salmon Bay, was a choice between Sand or Sea. In Sand, teams had to drag 40 branches 126-yard (115 m) to a marked sand dune, an activity known as "brushing the beach," which helps to prevent erosion. Once the pile is completed, teams received their next clue. In Sea, teams had to dive in the waves and searched among 50 underwater crayfish traps on the ocean floor for those with live Western rock lobsters, each team member had to retrieve one rock lobster. Once the lobster crates were given to a fisherman, they received their next clue.

For the Roadblock, one racer had to search a block of Fremantle Prison for one of several cells within Division 4 that contained Duracell Copper-Top batteries and a flashlight. They would use the flashlight to search for an entrance to a darkened cavern, and descend underground to wet and dry tunnels for the next clue.

Additional tasks

• At Kings Park War Memorial and Eternal Flame, teams had to search the grounds of the monument for their next clue.
• Upon arriving at Rottnest Island, teams had to pick up a tandem bike from a bike shop and rode themselves from Wadjemup Lighthouse for their next clue.
• The clues teams received at the Detour instructed them to ride the tandem bikes back to the bike shop and travel by ferry back to the mainland.

Leg 9 (Australia)

The magnetic termite mounds of Litchfield National Park near Darwin, was the locale for this Leg's Detour.

Airdate: May 3, 2006

• Perth (Swan Bells Tower)
• Perth (Perth Airport) to Darwin, Northern Territory (Darwin International Airport)
• Darwin (Crocodylus Park) (Overnight Rest)
• Batchelor (Batchelor Airstrip – Darwin Parachute Club)
• Litchfield National Park (Magnetic Termite Mounds)
• Litchfield National Park (Buley Rockhole or The Lost City)
• Darwin (Lake Bennett Wilderness Resort)

For this Roadblock, one team member had to choose a plane with an altitude of 12,000 feet (3,700 m) tandem skydive. The instructor hands over to get their next clue.

The Detour was a choice of Wet or Dry. In Wet, teams drove 6 miles (9.7 km) to a swimming hole called Buley Rockhole, then hiked and swam 1 mile (1.6 km) down a river infested with "spiders and poisonous plants". When they complete the trek, they would receive their next clue. In Dry, teams drove 6 miles (9.7 km) on-road, then another 6 miles (9.7 km) off-road to a rock formation known as The Lost City. Once there, teams had to select a didgeridoo and following the sound of music in the air to locate a nearby Aborigine. Then, they had to find an Aboriginal musician with a matching didgeridoo and each team member had to play a note to receive the next clue.

Additional tasks

• At Swan Bells Tower, teams had to climb to find their next clue inside at the top of the building.
• Upon arriving Darwin, teams picked up a marked Mercedes-Benz vehicle and head to Crocodylus Park where they had to wade into a pond full of crocodiles to retrieve their next clue above.
• At the town of Batchelor, teams have to find Batchelor Airstrip where they searched Darwin Parachute Club with their next clue and the upcoming Yield board.
• At Litchfield National Park. teams have to find the Magnetic Termite Mounds where they could locate their next clue.

Leg 10 (Australia → Thailand)

Upon arrival in Lopburi, teams visited the historic Prang Sam Yot, where they faced the Roadblock.

Airdate: May 10, 2006

• Darwin (Darwin International Airport) to Bangkok, Thailand (Don Mueang International Airport)
• Bangkok (Mo Chit Bus Terminal) to Lopburi
  • near Lopburi (Restaurant)
• Lopburi (Prang Sam Yot (in Thai))
• Pak Kret (Wat Sanam Nua Pier) to Ko Kret Island (Wat Poramaiyikawas Pier)
• Ko Kret Island (Buddha Garden)
• Bangkok (Marble Temple)

The Fast Forward requires teams to travel to a town outside of Lopburi to try a favorite local after-school activity at a nearby restaurant, eating a bowl of fried crickets and grasshoppers. The first team to clear the bowl would win the Fast Forward and the right to go directly to the Pit Stop.

Other teams had to take the Roadblock, where one team member had to assemble a properly-carved and arranged fruit ceremonial feast for monkeys at the temple and give it to them during an annual festival, as shown in a given example. When the feast was complete, they receive their next clue.

The Detour was a choice between Move It or Altar It. In Move It, teams made their way on foot to Jom Jam Pottery Factory to transport 72 clay pots through the streets of a market to a docked boat. Teams had to carry these clay pots on wooden boards balanced on their shoulders. Once teams delivered the 72 clay pots, a merchant will give them their next clue. In Altar It, teams made their way by foot to Wat Chimphi temple and made a shrine. They assembled a shrine then apply gold leaf to a statue of Buddha. Once they were finished, teams received their next clue.

Additional note

• The clue at Prang Sam Yot contain one of the envelopes inside per team, and they told not to open the envelope until on one point where they arrive at the Pit Stop.

Leg 11 (Thailand → Japan)

The Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo and its various display screens were featured in a task on this leg.

Airdate: May 17, 2006

• Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (Royal Elephant Kraal)
• Bangkok (Don Mueang International Airport) to Tokyo, Japan (Narita International Airport)
• Narita (Hotel Nikko Narita)
• Shibuya (Shibuya Scramble Crossing)
• Shibuya (Hachikō Statue)
• Chūō (Hamarikyu Gardens or Sankusu Street)
• Shibuya (Capsule Land Hotel) (Overnight Rest)
• Fujiyoshida (Fujikyu Highland Amusement Park)
• Yamanakako (Lake Yamanaka)

The Detour was a choice of Maiden or Messenger. In Maiden, teams travelled to Hamarikyu Gardens and used a traditional Japanese palanquin to transport a young Japanese woman ¹⁄₃ mile (540 m) to a tea ceremony pavilion for the next clue. In Messenger, teams travelled by foot 200-yard (180 m) to a parking lot where they picked-up a pair of foldable bicycles as well as messenger bags each containing a parcel. Teams then have to assemble the bikes, and ride them through the streets of Tokyo to deliver the packages to Shinjuku Park Tower and Shinjuku Chuo Koen buildings in Shinjuku. When they were done, teams returned to the bike parking lot to receive their next clue.

For the Roadblock, one team member had to ride on three extreme rides in the following order: The Pizza, Dodonpa, and Fujiyama. While riding, they had to spot a man holding a message somewhere along one of the rides. After their third ride, they had to tell the park manager what message they saw to receive their next clue; if not, they would have to go on all three rides again.

Additional tasks

• At the start of the leg, teams had to travel to Royal Elephant Kraal. There, teams received T-Mobile Sidekicks from the elephants that would display their next clue.
• Upon arriving at Tokyo, teams made their way to the parking lot at the Hotel Nikko and searched for the marked car, then drive in the streets of Shibuya to Sakamoto Building. They then walked to a Scramble Crossing and scanned the big flashing screens to find their next clue "Find Hachiko!". They had to figure out that the namesake dog is a statue where they could search for their next clue.
• At Capsule Land Hotel, teams have to choose one of three departure times fifteen minutes apart for their overnight rest depending on their arrival. Upon departure, they received their clue told the teams to drive their car at nearly 80 miles (130 km) to Fujikyu Highland in Fujiyoshida, where they get the next clue.
• After completing the Roadblock, teams picked up a swan boat and paddle out to the Pit Stop at Lake Yamanaka.

Leg 12 (Japan → United States)

Denver's skyline as seen from the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the start and finish line of The Amazing Race 9.

Airdate: May 17, 2006

• Tokyo (Narita International Airport) to Anchorage, Alaska, USA (Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport)
• Anchorage (Mirror Lake)
• Anchorage (Kincaid Park)
• Anchorage (Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport) to Denver, Colorado (Denver International Airport)
• Golden (Clear Creek History Park)
• Morrison (Red Rocks Park – Red Rocks Amphitheatre)

The race's Final Detour was a choice between Drill It or Deliver It. In Drill It, teams had to drill 10 holes in the ice, push an ice fishing shack to their holes, and properly position the shack over at least two of the holes. Once completed, the ice fisherman would hand them their next clue. In Deliver It, teams had to load a bush plane with medical supplies, fly with a pilot over 75 miles (121 km) to Girdwood to deliver the supplies, receive their next clue and fly back.^{[lower-alpha 4]}

The final Roadblock of the race requires one team member to retrieve one of 285 flags for the nine foreign countries they visited during the race and place the flags in the order in which they visited each country. Teams had a reference board with the flags of each destination country along with three extra flags. Their teammate could guide them but were not allowed to assist physically. Once teams got the correct order of correct flags, teams were allowed to go to the Finish Line.

Additional tasks

• After arriving Anchorage, teams choose a marked car where they found their next clue, instructing teams to drive to Mirror Lake where they could find their next clue.
• After completing the Detour, teams have to travel to Kincaid Park where they had to search the park's chalet for snowshoes and hike to their next clue using the directions provided.
• Upon arriving at Denver, teams make their way to Clear Creek History Park in Golden and searched the grounds to find their next clue. Their clue told teams to "Go Back to Where You Started". Teams had to figure out that their next destination was at the Starting Line: Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

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