The Amazing Race 17

Development and filming

CBS renewed the 17th edition of The Amazing Race on January 25, 2010. The season premiered on September 26, 2010, with a special 90-minute episode; it returned to its regular hour-long format the following week.

This season spanned 32,000 miles (51,000 km) while racing across four continents, with first-time visits to Ghana and Bangladesh. Also for the first time in the show's history, teams crossed the Arctic Circle.

Filming began on May 26, 2010, with the starting line at the Eastern Point Yacht Club in Gloucester, Massachusetts, making this the first season since The Amazing Race All-Stars to start in a city other than Los Angeles. It ended on June 15, 2010, with the finish line in Los Angeles, California.

Prior to the Race's broadcast, CBS posted a short preview video clip from an episode on the Internet, showing Brook and Claire competing at a watermelon launching challenge using an elastic slingshot. The clip showed Claire, working the slingshot, being hit in the face full-on with a watermelon after it failed to launch correctly, leaving her momentarily stunned but otherwise not seriously injured. The clip spread virally on the Internet.

Phil Keoghan began both the season and the video background segments oo the contestants while standing on the grass mall of Castle Hill in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Two new game elements were introduced in season 17. The first was the Express Pass, awarded to the team who finished first on the first Leg. The pass allowed the team to skip any Detour, Roadblock or Route Marker task before Leg 8. Dating couple Jill and Thomas won the Express Pass, which they later used to bypass the Beds Detour on Leg 4. Another new element was the Double U-Turn, where two teams are allowed to use U-Turns in a single race leg. Jill and Thomas U-Turned Brook and Claire, while Nat and Kat U-Turned Chad and Stephanie.

During the Leg 3 Pit Stop in Ghana, teams helped renovate the school they visited during the leg.

Cast

Applications were due on February 4, 2010. Semi-finalist interviews were held in March 2010, and the final casting interviews took place in Los Angeles around March 2010. From there, eleven teams were selected as contestants and filming took place approximately from May to June 2010.

The cast included a team of home shopping hosts, Internet entertainer Kevin Wu – popularly known as "KevJumba" – and his father Michael; Ivy League a cappella singers; and a birth mother and daughter who recently reunited following an adoption over twenty years earlier. This was the first season without a married couple. There were three beauty queens competing: Mallory Ervin, who competed in Miss America 2010, where she placed fourth runner-up; Brook Roberts, who competed in Miss America 2005; and Stephanie Smith, who was Miss South Carolina USA 2009.

Four all-female teams were cast this season, a record for the American edition, which had previously only cast as many as three in the sixteen prior seasons.

Chad Waltrip proposed to Stephanie Smith during the course of the race; they were married on November 20, 2010.

Gary and Mallory raced once again in The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business among a cast of returning teams from seasons 12–17. Mallory returned on the second All-Star edition, racing with Mark from season 20, replacing an ill Bopper.

Results

The following teams participated in the Race, each listed along with their placements in each leg and relationships as identified by the program. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television, owing to the inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order:

A red team placement means the team was eliminated.

A green ƒ indicates that the team won a Fast Forward.

A purple ε indicates that the team decided to use the Express Pass on that leg.

An underlined blue team's placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg and had to perform a Speed Bump in the next leg of the race whereas an underlined and italicized blue placement signifies that there was no Speed Bump on the next Leg due to a production error (see below).

A brown ⊃ or a cyan ⋑ indicates that the team chose to use one of the two U-Turns in a Double U-Turn; ⊂ or ⋐ indicates the team who received it.

Episode title quotes

Episode titles are often taken from quotes made by the racers. However, many of the cited websites do not use episode titles, including the network CBS.

1. "They Don't Call It The Amazing Race For Nothin!" – Brook
2. "A Kiss Saves the Day" – Brook
3. "In Phil We Trust" – Connor
4. "We Should Have Brought Gloves and Butt Pads" – Kevin
5. "Tastes Like a Million Dollars" – Kat
6. "Run, Babushka, Run" – Vicki
7. "I Want to Be in the Circus, That's Where I Belong" – Brook
8. "Ali Baba in a Suit" – Nick
9. "There's a Lot of Nuts and Bullets" – Jill
10. "I Hate Chinese Food" – Vicki
11. "I'm Surrounded by Ninjas" – Brook
12. "Hi. I'm Sorry. I'm in a Race" – Nat

Prizes

The prize for each leg is awarded to the first place team for that leg. All trips are sponsored by Travelocity.

Leg 1 – The Express Pass – an item that can be used on the race to skip any one task of the team's choosing up until Leg 8.

Leg 2 – A trip for two to Hawaii.

Leg 3 – $5,000 for each team member.

Leg 4 – A trip for two to Belize.

Leg 5 – A trip for two to Costa Rica.

Leg 6 – A trip for two to São Paulo, Brazil.

Leg 7 – $5,000 for each team member.

Leg 8 – A trip for two to Belize.

Leg 9 – $15,000 Discover gift card.

Leg 10 – A trip for two to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Leg 11 – A trip for two to Iguazu Falls, Argentina.

Leg 12 – $1,000,000

Elimination Station

After elimination, the first five eliminated teams were sequestered at a villa in Cancun, Mexico, to await the finale. CBS posted short videos on its website after each episode aired in the Pacific Time Zone to show the eliminated teams interacting at the villa.

After Leg 1, Ron and Tony were the first team eliminated and were sent to the villa. They expressed their disappointment at being the first team eliminated but decided to make the most of their situation. After they settled into the villa, they decided to go kayaking, remarking how much easier it was compared to the coracle that they unsuccessfully manned during the race. Afterward, Ron and Tony sat by the pool and tried to predict who would be the first to join them in the villa; they agreed that it could be anyone.

After Leg 2, Andie and Jenna were the second team eliminated and were sent to the villa. Ron and Tony welcomed them, glad to finally have another team at the villa to keep them company. Andie and Jenna revealed that they had only recently met, which shocked and moved both Ron and Tony. Andie and Jenna talked at length about their relationship over dinner with Ron and Tony, with Andie revealing the circumstances surrounding Jenna's adoption, and that she has ten other children.

Leg 3 was a non-elimination leg; hence, no new teams were sent to the villa. Ron and Tony gave Andie and Jenna salsa dancing lessons. Afterward, Andie and Jenna sat by the pool and discussed their relationship.

After Leg 4, Connor and Jonathan were the third team eliminated and were sent to the villa. Prior to their arrival, Ron, Tony, Andie, and Jenna went on a whale shark watching excursion, but after Andie and Jenna became seasick from the rough waves, everyone returned to the villa without seeing any. Later, Connor and Jonathan arrived and shared the song they sang for Phil when they were eliminated. Connor and Jonathan then recounted what happened on their last leg, claiming that the remaining teams were starting to become more cutthroat – news which disappointed Andie and Jenna.

After Leg 5, Katie and Rachel were the fourth team eliminated and were sent to the villa. Before their arrival, the three eliminated teams went to Kings Bath, where legend holds that the King bathed his children. Afterward, the three teams speculated on who would show up next, wanting another "fun" team to join them in the villa. Katie and Rachel arrived and immediately expressed how angry and disappointed they were to be eliminated, ignoring the other eliminated teams' attempts to console them. This irritated Ron and Tony, who claimed that Katie and Rachel's bitter attitudes were bringing a negative energy to the house. Later, Katie and Rachel admitted that they did enter the villa in a foul mood, but did not regret anything they had said, further bemoaning the fact that they had lost the race.

Leg 6 was a non-elimination leg; hence, no new teams were sent to the villa. The group played a game of water volleyball together in the villa's pool. Afterward, they went to the beach. Katie and Rachel, still bitter about being eliminated, said that they did not want one of the remaining all-female teams to win the race, since they had wanted to be the first all-female winners.

After Leg 7, Michael and Kevin were the fifth team eliminated and were sent to the villa. After the other teams went snorkeling during the day, Katie and Rachel continued to state that they wanted an all-female team (specifically Brook and Claire) to be eliminated next, as they still were upset that they would not be the first all-female team to win; the two girls were disappointed when they saw Michael and Kevin arrive. Kevin stated his disappointment at their elimination because of an hour-long penalty, while Michael joked that he was glad to finally be done with the stresses of racing. While alone, Kevin continued to say he wished they had not been eliminated so they could have potentially gone to Asia (specifically China where they would have had had a linguistic advantage), but Michael told him to just drop the issue. The next day, the eliminated teams visited Punta Sur, where Katie and Rachel spoke with Michael and Kevin about their elimination. Michael told the group that they should not dwell on their loss, and that it should be a learning experience on how to accept even the biggest disappointments in life.

After Leg 8, Gary and Mallory were the sixth team eliminated. The teams gathered around a phone, waiting for a call to see who was eliminated. Before the call, Jenna stated that she and Rachel had dreams the previous night that either Gary and Mallory or Brook and Claire were eliminated. Katie and Rachel stated, again, that they wanted Brook and Claire to be eliminated. Everyone was surprised when Gary and Mallory called, and told the teams that it was the hardest leg ever, and that they traveled for sixteen hours and ended up losing to Nat and Kat with minutes to spare. After the call, the teams continued to comment on Katie and Rachel's obsession that an all-female team should not win the race this season. The next day, the eliminated teams went down to the docks to pick up an amberjack and then cook it in the traditional Mayan Tikin Xic style. Once the food was prepared, Andie told everyone that it reminded her of home and being with family, and that the eliminated teams were her substitute family, and Connor joked that she was their substitute birth mom. Later, Ron and Tony spoke with Andie about her relationship with Jenna, and Andie said that whatever Jenna wanted to do from this point on was fine with her.

After Leg 9, Chad and Stephanie were the seventh team eliminated. Connor and Jonathan spoke about how they felt the fact that they did not attend their graduation at Princeton makes it better that they did not have the transition from college student into adulthood. Later, the eliminated teams went to Alux, an underground restaurant inside a natural cavern, and Jenna had everyone around the table say what they learned from their time on the Race.

Leg 10 was a non-elimination leg, but this Elimination Station featured eliminated teams waiting for the phone call with Chad and Stephanie calling the villa after their elimination in Leg 9. They told the other teams how being U-Turned by Nat and Kat led to their elimination, and then shared the news about their engagement. Ron joked with them by asking if the elimination affected their engagement. The eliminated teams discussed who they wanted in the top 3, with Nat and Kat and Brook and Claire both mentioned. Jokes were made about Katie and Rachel's dislike that a girl-girl team might win and that it was not going to be them. Later, all the eliminated teams packed up and prepared for their flight to the final destination city. Michael finally admitted to Kevin that if he were more confident in himself, they might have been able to go farther in the Race. Andie and Jenna were glad that they would be returning home soon, and Jenna expressed how she felt about her relationship with her biological mother. As the eliminated teams left he villa, all of them speculated on what the final destination would be, with guesses ranging from somewhere in Arizona to Seattle to New York City.

After Leg 11, Nick and Vicki were the eighth and final team eliminated. Elimination Station showed the five eliminated teams arriving at the final destination in Los Angeles, California. After arriving in Los Angeles, the teams checked into a hotel, settled into their rooms, and awaited the phone call from the eighth team eliminated. Ron commented that he and Tony were in their home city; Kevin commented that there would be a lot of interesting things to do in Los Angeles, while also saying to his father what it would be like if they were still racing; and Andie and Jenna discussed how their future relationship would develop. Later, the teams gathered to get the call from the field to learn that Nick and Vicki had been eliminated. Vicki mentioned how she had gotten sick in the previous leg and that, coupled with a penalty, contributed to their loss. Nick said that he believed that Jill and Thomas would win the race, as they had been coming in first lately, but Vicki said that she thought Nat and Kat would win. The eliminated teams joked that Rachel would physically attack either Brook and Claire or Nat and Kat if they came across the finish line first; although Rachel said she was no longer upset that a girl-girl team could win this season.

Leg 12 was the final leg of The Amazing Race 17. Elimination Station showed the Finish Line that took place in Greystone Mansion. Gary and Mallory, Chad and Stephanie, and Nick and Vicki reunited with the other eliminated teams. Andie asked to see Stephanie's engagement ring, and she told the others that they had finished in first place that leg and won a trip to Belize for their honeymoon. Tony led the eliminated teams in a dance before waiting for the remaining teams to cross the finish line. All the eliminated teams were waiting to find out who would cross the Finish Line first and win the $1 million. When they found out that Nat and Kat crossed the finish line first and won the $1 million, everyone congratulated them on being the first all-female team to win. Rachel, although still upset that she and Katie were not that team, said she was still happy for their win. The teams then greeted Brook and Claire as they crossed the finish line in 2nd Place, with everyone noting that the top two teams were both female teams. When Jill and Thomas finally crossed the finish line in 3rd Place, Thomas conceded that even though he and Jill were top competitors, Nat and Kat and Brook and Claire were truly the top two teams. Teams expressed their opinions about the final three teams at the Finish Line along with their joys and disappointments about the race, and the learning experiences they could draw from it.

Leg 1 (United States → United Kingdom)

Airdate: September 26, 2010

Gloucester, Massachusetts, United States (Eastern Point Yacht Club) (Starting Line)

Boston (Logan International Airport) to London, England , United Kingdom (London Heathrow Airport)

Amesbury (Stonehenge)

Ledbury (Eastnor Castle)

At the starting line at the Eastern Point Yacht Club, teams were informed by Phil Keoghan that the winners of the first leg would win an Express Pass which would allow them to skip any task before the end of Leg 8. Their clues were on top of their luggage. Their first destination: London, England. The clue informed them that there was room for only three teams on the American Airlines flight, with the second flight leaving 30 minutes later.

Upon arriving in London, teams had to drive to Stonehenge in Amesbury to pick up their clue and solve a riddle ("the opposite of Nor'easter") to discover that their next route marker was Eastnor Castle. Once at the castle, teams had to climb a ladder on an exterior wall of the castle while peasants standing atop the wall taunted and poured dirty water on them. Once they climbed the wall, they had to retrieve a medieval flag and then use a coracle to cross the castle's moat to bring the flag to a knight in shining armor who gave the team the next clue.

The clue was for the first Roadblock and teams asked, "Who's ready to go and battle with a knight in shining armor?". One team member had to travel on horseback to a tournament area and use a giant slingshot to launch a watermelon towards a suit of armor standing 50 feet (15 m) away. Once they had knocked the armor over, the team had to find a court jester who gave them the next clue - to search the castle grounds for the Pit Stop.

Leg 2 (United Kingdom → Ghana)

Airdate: October 3, 2010

London (London Heathrow Airport) to Accra, Ghana (Kotoka International Airport)

Accra (Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park)

Accra (Makola Market)

Teshie (Peace Motor Spare Parts)

Accra (Adom Electronics or Emmanuel's Woodshop and Hello Coffin Showroom)

Accra (Kaneshie Market)

At Eastnor Castle grounds, teams obtained their next clue which informed them their next destination was Accra, Ghana. On arriving in Accra, teams went to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and located the next clue beside the monument, sending them to Makola Market. Teams searched for the next clue at the main entrance, which was for the Roadblock - teams were asked, "Who thinks they can handle some shady dealings?". One team member had to sell enough sunglasses to make GH₵15 (approx. US$10), (selling no single pair for less than GH₵3) to obtain their next clue.

The clue directed teams to Peace Motor Spare Parts in Teshie for the Detour: a choice between Tune In or Check Out. In Tune In, teams had to travel to Adom Electronics and pick up a television antenna setup, bring it to a marked house, and set it up to the customer's liking. If the television set picked up a proper signal, the house owner would give them their next clue. In Check Out, teams had to bring a fantasy coffin from Emmanuel's Woodshop to a showroom across town to retrieve their next clue. The Detour clues sent teams to Kaneshie Market for the Pit Stop.

Leg 3 (Ghana)

Airdate: October 10, 2010

Jamestown (Akotoku Boxing Academy)

Dodowa (Supply Depot)

Dodowa (Asebi D/A Primary School)

Doryumu (Home of Awusa Ntso)

Teams began the leg in Accra and they had to head to Jamestown's Akotoku Boxing Academy where they encountered the Roadblock which said "You've got a Rocky road ahead of you". One team member had to perform a boxing workout; after first wrapping their hands properly, the team member had to punch a punching bag and then jump rope for 60 seconds. On completion of the workout, their boxing trainer gave them their next clue.

The clue instructed teams to the Supply Depot in Dodowa. Teams had to load up two wheelbarrows with building supplies and deliver them to the Asebi D/A Primary School. Once at the school, teams had to join a geography class studying a map of Africa. While the children located other nations in Africa, the teams had to correctly locate Ghana on the map in order to receive their next clue from the students.

The clue turned out to be for the Detour: a choice between Bicycle Parts or Language Arts. In Bicycle Parts, both team members had to use a stick to roll a bicycle wheel's rim down the length of a soccer field and back (two passes), without touching it with their hands or letting it fall over. Once they completed their two passes, one of the school children would give them their next clue. In Language Arts, teams chose a proverb with eight highlighted phrases that corresponded to a series of eight Adinkra symbols. Using a nearby decoder key, teams had to locate the eight symbols in a massive word search-like puzzle. Once they circled the correct set of Adinkra symbols, one of the school children gave them their next clue. The clue they received directed them to the home of Awusa Ntso in Doryumu for the Pit Stop.

Leg 4 (Ghana → Sweden)

Airdate: October 17, 2010

Accra (Kotoka International Airport) to Kiruna, Sweden (Kiruna Airport)

Jukkasjärvi (Icehotel)

Poikkijärvi (Swedish) (Fjellborg's Lodge)

Riksgränsen (Vassijaure Railway Station (Swedish))

Riksgränsen (Swedish–Norwegian Border)

At the start of the leg, teams were informed they were going to Kiruna, Sweden, in Lapland high above the Arctic Circle. Due to limited flights from Ghana, they had to book a flight to Frankfurt, Germany, and take two separate flights to Kiruna. On arrival, they headed to Jukkasjärvi's Icehotel. Michael and Kevin, had to do the Speed Bump and sat on chairs made of ice in the Icehotel for 10 minutes before they could take their next clue and continue racing with the others.

Once teams arrived at the Icehotel, they had to find the storage room and pick up the next clue from a block of ice. Teams had to figure out the next location which was written in Swedish: Pietaras Järvivägen Fjellborgs Vid Väkkäräjärvi. This translates to Fjellborg's Lodge in Poikkijärvi, where they encountered the Roadblock, asking "Who's feeling kind of mushy?". One team member had to choose a sled dog team and hitch it to a summer training sled. They then had to take the dogs on a course and collect five different flags along the way. These were traded for fur pelts at the end, which they brought back to camp for their next clue. If they missed a flag, they had to take a penalty lap for each missed flag.

The clue teams received sent them to Vassijaure Train Station in Riksgränsen where they picked up their Detour clue: a choice between Sleds or Beds. In Sleds, teams had to use TechSleds to race down a mountain course in less than 1 minute and 58 seconds. If they failed to reach the end before the allotted time, they had to repeat the run. In Beds, teams had built a traditional Sami dwelling known as a goahti, and then furnished the inside with furs and a fire pit. A Sami elder gave the team their next clue when the goahti was built and furnished to their liking. The next clue sent the teams to the Pit Stop at Swedish–Norwegian Border.

Leg 5 (Sweden → Norway)

Airdate: October 24, 2010

Narvik, Nordland, Norway (Fagernesfjellet Mountain)

Narvik (Stornaustet)

Narvik (Skjomen Bridge)

Sandtorg, Troms (Hårvika)

Narvik (Ankenes Marina)

At the start of the leg, teams were given their next clue and had to enter Norway and drive to the city of Narvik. Upon arrival, teams were told to head to Fagernesfjellet Mountain, where they had to ride the gondola to the top of the mountain to receive their next clue.

Once ascend at the mountain, teams could choose the Fast Forward. The team had to go to the Stornaustet immersive restaurant in Vidrek to take part with the traditional Christmas ritual, and eat an entire serving of smalahove, a dish made of a boiled sheep's head, between the two of them and receive the Fast Forward clue. Other teams had to do the Roadblock, describing "Strength, stamina, and guts: you've got to have all three." One team member had to rappel off the Skjomen Bridge and then signal for one of two waiting boats to give them their next clue. After retrieving the clue from the boat, the team member had to use a mechanical ascender to return to the bridge deck.

The clue teams received instructing them to Harvika where they found the Detour clue, giving teams a choice between Bike or Boat. In Bike, teams had to ride a bicycle along a course to a sign, where combinations of numbers and colors were shown. Teams then had to memorize the combination of the color that matched the color on their bike, return to the starting point, and then use the combination to unlock their next clue. In Boat, teams had to use a reference map to navigate a boat to a specific location. They then had to deliver two cod and a chainsaw to a summer lodge to receive their next clue. The clues they received directing them to the Pit Stop in Ankenes Marina.

Leg 6 (Norway → Russia)

Airdate: October 31, 2010

Narvik (Narvik Station) to Uppsala, Sweden (Uppsala Central Station)

Stockholm (Stockholm-Arlanda Airport) to Saint Petersburg, Russia (Pulkovo Airport)

Saint Petersburg (Vasilievsky Island – Rostral Columns)

Saint Petersburg (Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace or Lenfilm)

Saint Petersburg (Palace Square)

Saint Petersburg (Alexandrovskaya – Neighborhood Store)

Saint Petersburg (Alexander Garden overlooking Saint Isaac's Cathedral)

At the start of the leg, teams were informed their next destination was Saint Petersburg, Russia. They traveled first by train to Stockholm, Sweden; then they took a flight to Saint Petersburg. Upon arrival, they went to the Rostral Columns on Vasilievsky Island and picked up the next clue.

The clue was for the Detour, giving teams a choice between Classical Music and Classic Cinema. In Classical Music, teams traveled to Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace and listened to three different compositions (Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, and Tchaikovsky's Troika) playing on three numbered gramaphones. They then entered a music hall full of pianists playing several different compositions and had to take a copy of the sheet music from the pianists playing each of the three compositions. Teams received their next clue from the maestro after putting the correct compositions in the correct order. In Classic Cinema, teams traveled to Lenfilm and searched through several hundred filmstrips until they found one matching the film playing in the theater (Sergei Eisenstein's October). When they showed the correct filmstrip to the projectionist, he gave the teams their next clue.

The clue received at the Detour, was a record or a film canister that featured a photo of the next destination: Palace Square where they had to locate their next clue. This clue instructed teams to travel to Alexandrovskaya for the Roadblock, asking "Who's ready for a Russian Drag Race?". One team member had to dress up like a babushka, pick up a sack of 50 potatoes, and fill a wheelbarrow with cow manure. A babushka then showed them how to properly plant the potatoes, and she gave them the next clue once the planting was completed. The clue sent teams to the Pit Stop at Saint Isaac's Cathedral overlooking Alexander Garden.

Leg 7 (Russia)

Airdate: November 7, 2010

Saint Petersburg (Avtovo Circus)

Saint Petersburg (Bank Bridge)

Saint Petersburg (1 Vladimirsky Prospekt Tower)

Saint Petersburg (Church of the Savior on Blood)

Saint Petersburg (Peter and Paul Fortress – Gorodki Courts)

Saint Petersburg (Peter and Paul Fortress – Naryshkin Bastion)

Teams started the leg in Saint Petersburg and had to head to Avtovo Circus, where they discovered circus-inspired Detour tasks: Circus Band and Circus Clown. In Circus Band, team members had to learn a Russian folk song (Ivan Larionov's Kalinka) for the accordion. Once they played the song correctly, the band leader gave them their next clue. In Circus Clown, teams had to learn plate spinning and get ten plates to spin without falling to receive their clue from a clown.

Following the Detour, teams began a "Russian mystery" task. The first clue was to find the canal bridge guarded by four creatures with golden wings: Bank Bridge, where the next clue told teams to head on foot (without their taxi leading them) to 1 Vladimirsky Prospekt's Tower. At the top of the tower, only two team members at a time were allowed to look around for a clue to the next location - a figurine of the Church of the Savior on Blood. After locating the Church on the skyline, teams then had to walk to the Church to get the next clue. Once they arrived at the Church, teams picked up the clue which said - "What am I? Peter the Great is buried inside me". Teams were instructed to find the burial site of Peter the Great: Peter and Paul Fortress.

Once teams arrived inside the Fortress they discovered the Roadblock, asking "Between the two of you, who is the 'real' player?". One team member had to clear three gorodki pin formations before the pins were reset to receive their next clue that sent them to Naryshkin Bastion at the Fortress for the Pit Stop.

Leg 8 (Russia → Oman)

Airdate: November 14, 2010

Saint Petersburg (Pulkovo Airport) to Muscat, Oman (Muscat International Airport)

Muscat (Riyam Park – Burj Al Mubkharah)

Al Hamra (Jebel Shams)

Nizwa (Stack of Books)

Muttrah (Muttrah Souq)

Muscat (Al Alam Palace)

At the start of the leg, teams opened their next clue, instructing them to travel to the city of Muscat, Oman. Upon arrival, they had to head to Burj Al Mubkharah in Riyam Park, where teams given small silver ingots with three separate times for the following morning. This time at which they would be allowed to climb the fort's watchtower.

The next morning, teams picked up the next clue above the watchtower instructing them to drive themselves to the highest point of Oman, Jebel Shams. At this point teams picked up the Roadblock clue, which asked "Who wants to add a little magic to their life?". One team member rappelled 500 feet (150 m) down the side of the mountain to a field of hundreds of oil lamps, a handful of which held Aladdin's magic ring. Once they found a lamp with the ring, they had to turn it in for their next clue.

This clue sent the teams to Stack of Books in Nizwa for the Detour. a choice between Water Table and Wedding Table. In Water Table, teams pumped water from a well into a water truck and then drove back into town to deliver the water to their assigned house in the neighborhood of Aswat Al Eid. After delivering the water, the customer gave them their next clue. In Wedding Table, teams traveled to an Arab market and purchased twenty-five chickens and several other ingredients needed to serve the traditional Omani dish maqbous. Once the dish was complete, they gave the maqbous to a bride and groom who gave them their next clue.

The clues after the Detour instructed teams to go to Muttrah Souq. They had to find the frankincense vendor, and then search the marketplace for "Ali Baba" to trade the frankincense for their next clue. This clue sent the teams to the Pit Stop in Muscat's Al Alam Palace.

Leg 9 (Oman → Bangladesh)

Airdate: November 21, 2010

Muscat (Muscat International Airport) to Dhaka, Bangladesh (Shahjalal International Airport)

Dhaka (Sundarban Square Supermarket)

Dhaka (Dhaka Harbor)

Dhaka (Sadarghat)

Dhaka (Nazira Bazaar – Tekka Mistiri Rickshaw Garage)

Dhaka (Lalbagh Fort)

At the start of the leg, teams flew to Dhaka, Bangladesh and were informed of a U-Turn on this leg. On arriving in Dhaka, they had to head to Sundarban Square Supermarket, find the marked sugarcane stall, and press sugarcane to collect its juice. One team member then drank the juice to receive the next clue.

This clue instructed teams to travel to Dhaka Harbor for the Detour: a choice between Balanced Meal or Balanced Bricks. In Balanced Meal, teams picked up thirty filled tiffin carriers and took them by boat to a larger boat in the harbor. After lifting the lunches onto this boat, teams took ten empty carriers back to shore where exchanged them for the next clue. In Balanced Bricks, teams had to unload bricks from a supply barge and carry them in baskets on their head to a shop in the market. Once they delivered one hundred unbroken bricks, the shop manager gave them their next clue.

The clue after the Detour instructed teams to go to Sadarghat for a new U-Turn twist, which was a Double U-Turn. Then they traveled by cycle rickshaw to Nazira Bazaar for the Roadblock, asking "Who's got it all together?" One team member had to properly assemble a cycle rickshaw using the parts provided in order to receive their clue. This clue directed the teams to the Pit Stop at historic Lalbagh Fort.

Leg 10 (Bangladesh → Hong Kong, China)

Airdate: November 28, 2010

Dhaka (Shahjalal International Airport) to Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong , China (Hong Kong International Airport)

and Central (Central Piers) to Cheung Chau, Islands District (Cheung Chau Ferry Pier)

Cheung Chau (Cheung Po Tsai Cave)

Cheung Chau (Cheung Chau Ferry Pier) to Kowloon (Kowloon Public Pier)

Jordan (Majesty Chinese Restaurant)

Tsim Sha Tsui (Avenue of Stars – Statue of Bruce Lee)

Hong Kong Tramways or Aberdeen (Aberdeen Harbour)

Central (Statue Square)

At the start of the leg, teams flew to Hong Kong. Upon arrival, they took a bus and ferry to Cheung Chau and search for Cheung Po Tsai Cave to find the next clue. Teams then traveled by ferry to Kowloon where they had to locate Majesty Chinese Restaurant to obtain their next clue.

The clue was a Roadblock asking "Who's feeling peckish?" One team member had to use chopsticks to search among several plates of food on a buffet for one of five pieces of fake food normally used for display. If the racer picked up a real piece of food, they had to eat it before moving on. Once they found the fake food, they received their next clue. Teams traveled to Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui to locate the Statue of Bruce Lee to find their next clue.

This clue was a Detour and a choice between Ding Ding and Sampan. In Ding Ding, teams rode the Hong Kong Tramways, colloquially known as the "Ding Ding", looking for three signs (reading "Pit Stop", "Statue", and "Square") which revealed the location of the Pit Stop. In Sampan, teams went to the Jumbo Kingdom's dock and took a pair of budgerigars in a birdcage on a sampan, searching Aberdeen Harbour for a boat with the registration number matching the number on their birdcage. They then traded the birdcage for the location of the Pit Stop: Statue Square.

Leg 11 (Hong Kong, China → South Korea)

Airdate: December 5, 2010

Chek Lap Kok (Hong Kong International Airport) to Seoul, South Korea (Incheon International Airport)

Cheorwon (Seung-il Bridge)

Dongducheon (Camp Casey)

Dongducheon (Dongducheon Station) to Seoul (World Cup Stadium Station)

Seoul (Seoul World Cup Stadium)

Seoul (Mok-dong Ice Rink or Namdaemun Market)

Seoul (Yeouido Hangang Park – Airplane Statue)

Seoul (Temple of Heaven)

At the start of the leg, teams flew to Seoul, South Korea. On arrival, they had to drive toward North Korea to Seungil Bridge. Teams had to whitewater raft down the Hantan River and board a Humvee that drove them to Camp Casey in Dongducheon.

Once the teams arrived in Camp Casey, they encountered both a Speed Bump and the Roadblock. For the Speed Bump, Nick and Vicki had to clean one of the M109 Self-Propelled Howitzers at the camp. For the Roadblock, asking "Who's ready to be all you can be?” One team member chose a headband and then searched among two hundred soldiers practicing taekwondo for the one wearing a matching headband. Once they found the right soldier, the soldier broke open a wooden board that contained the next clue. If they picked the wrong soldier, the soldier took their the headband, and they had to retrieve another headband and start over.

The next clue directed them to take a train back to Seoul and find Seoul World Cup Stadium to locate their Detour clue: a choice between Full Throttle or Full Bottle. For both Detours, teams were instructed to travel by subway or foot to the specified location. In Full Throttle, teams traveled to the Mok-dong Ice Rink and put on short track speed skating suits and completed a two-person skating relay of twenty-four laps of the rink before they were given their next clue. In Full Bottle, teams traveled to Namdaemun Market to put on delivery uniforms and then deliver six large glass jars of ginseng roots to a holistic wellness store without breaking any of them. The both team members had to drink a bottle of ginseng tonic before they received the next clue. Teams then made their way to Yeouido Hangang Park to find the Airplane Statue to locate their next clue. Teams then traveled to the Pit Stop at Wongudan, also known as "Temple of Heaven".

Leg 12 (South Korea → United States)

Airdate: December 12, 2010

Seoul (Incheon International Airport) to Los Angeles, California, USA (Los Angeles International Airport)

Long Beach (Port of Long Beach – Pier J 266)

Pasadena (Rose Bowl)

Los Angeles (Quixote Studios)

Beverly Hills (Greystone Mansion)

At the start of the leg, teams flew to the final destination city: Los Angeles, California. Upon arriving in the city, they headed to Pier J at the Port of Long Beach to obtain their next clue. Teams rode an elevator to the top of one of the pier's gantry cranes where they received their clue. They were then dropped from the crane on a tandem bungee swing over the water. Once they were on the pier they read the clue which advised them they would be riding a helicopter to a surprise destination: the Rose Bowl.

Once teams arrived there, they got the clue which was the Roadblock asking "Who's bright enough to float?" One team member had to decorate three sections of the theme float for the Tournament of Roses Parade: gluing chrysanthemums to one section, placing roses in special vials of water and then placing them in a section of the float, and then covering a giant cardboard rose with finely ground straw to cover it with "natural materials" as stated in the rules for decorating the floats. When they completed the float sections correctly, the floral director told them that they could obtain their next clue from 2009 Rose Queen Courtney Lee.

Teams had to solve a series of riddles in the clue — "I am Sancho Panza's master" (Don Quixote), "I am the place to hear The Symphony in the Glen" (Griffith Park), "Monroe's Year of the Itch" (The Seven Year Itch) — to figure out their next destination: Quixote Studios' Stage 7 located in Griffith Park.

Upon arriving at Quixote Studios, teams were put in front of a large game show-like board that flashed videos of forty-eight people wearing different kinds of hats, eleven of which were the greeters that welcomed them to the Pit Stops. Teams used a control panel to pick the greeters and place them in the order they appeared during the race. Once they had the correct individuals in the correct order, they could obtain their final clue from game show host Bob Eubanks, instructing them to the finish line at Beverly Hills: Greystone Mansion.

US Ratings

Episode 6, "Run, Babushka, Run", aired on Halloween when viewership was down for all shows and where it went up against Sunday Night Football and Game 4 of the World Series.

Canadian Ratings

Canadian broadcaster CTV also aired The Amazing Race on Sundays at 8pm Eastern, Central, & Atlantic (9pm Pacific & Mountain).

Episode 3, "In Phil We Trust", aired on the Sunday before Canadian Thanksgiving Day.