Episode 9: Helsinki, Finland (11/12)
MODELS BACK ON TOP...FOR NOW As the five Teams made their way to Helsinki, models Tyler & James set the pace in the beautiful Finnish countryside with beauty queens Dustin & Kandice always just one step behind. After completing a terrifying forward-facing rappel, the models expected to see a Pit Stop, but instead receive a shocking surprise. CHANGE OF PLANS Departing the Pit Stop in first place at 2:56am, beauty queens Dustin & Kandice opened their clue to discover they need to fly over 6,000 miles to Helsinki, Finland. Once they land, they have to find the Kappeli coffee house and log onto a computer for a surprise from AOL. Due to limited availability of flights out of Madagascar, Teams are provided with tickets to Paris, France, where they would have to make arrangements of their own to connect to Helsinki. However, they are under no obligation to use these tickets. Once the beauty queens notice that the flight to Paris doesn't depart until 9:40pm, nearly nineteen hours later, they decide to look for other options. As models Tyler & James, dating couple Rob & Kimberly, and brothers Erwin & Godwin all gather around Dustin & Kandice, the beauty queens' barrage of questions to the ticket agent pay off as they find a flight through Johannesburg and Frankfurt, leaving at 5:00am, that would land in Helsinki the next day at 10:20am. ALL CAUGHT UP With the four Teams all booking tickets on the 5:00am flight to Johannesburg, the only question remaining is whether last place Lyn & Karlyn, who left the Pit Start at 3:55am, would make it in time. Just as the Cho brothers walk away from the counter with tickets in hand, the single moms arrive at the airport where the brothers filled them in on everyone's flight information. At the counter with only minutes to spare, Lyn & Karlyn initially receive the bad news that the flight is now closed, but they ultimately convince the tickets agents to let them on. Karlyn notes, "We're just really appreciative of them being cooperative about it. I'm really excited!" The Cho brothers are all smiles to see their allies board the plane as Lyn remarks, "Don't count me out." However, the other three Teams appear less than happy by the single moms' last minute arrival. FRICTION Landing in Helsinki, Finland, Dustin & Kandice snag the first taxi out of the airport, but models Tyler & James pass the beauty queens on the freeway, commenting "They're number one on our list of who needs to go." For their part, Dustin & Kandice remark, "It would make it a lot easier for all of us if James & Tyler are out of this competition. They're dangerous." Adding their two cents, Lyn & Karlyn unsurprisingly complain, "The Barbies use their whole image to get ahead. They generally come out of the airports with their boobs hanging out and of course they gain plenty of attention. It makes you upset that you have a disadvantage because of your looks." IMPORTANT DELIVERY Running into the Kappeli coffee shop, models Tyler & James, with beauty queens Dustin & Kandice moments behind, type their screen name into the computer and log onto AOL to hear the familiar voice informing them, "You've got mail." Big smiles come to the faces of all four racers as video messages from their families pop onto their screen. Seeing his mom, Tyler comments, "She is the most important person in my life. Our relationship has grown so much from when I was using drugs to where I am now and sober." When Dustin sees her parents and five brothers, she remarks, "I'm really close with my family and it meant so much to me to see them there telling me that they loved me and that they supported me." Receiving their next clue from the owner of the café, Tyler & James and Dustin & Kandice open it to learn they have to travel by train and taxi to the school, Soppeenharjun Koulu, follow the marked path and search for their next clue. Seeing their children tell them that they miss them brings single moms Lyn & Karlyn to tears. Lyn's son adds, "I am so glad that you got the opportunity to do this." Afterwards, Lyn comments, "It made me feel good to see my babies, because I miss them so much, but then it made it hurt even more because I do miss them." Karlyn adds, "I never expected it. I'm so glad to see her though. I miss her so much." After all the Teams relax on the same train through the Finnish countryside, models Tyler & James and beauty queens Dustin & Kandice again get the quick jump out of the station in taxis while the courteous Cho brothers fall to last place because they don't want to skip ahead of people standing in a taxi queue. Having little issue with cutting off a man ready to enter a taxi, Karlyn comments, "They're innocent bystanders, but at the same time, you're in a race." A frustrated Godwin notes, "Being polite sucks sometimes." A MUDDY ADVENTURE Arriving at Soppenharjun Koulu together, beauty queens Dustin & Kandice and models Tyler & James open their clue to discover a Detour, having to choose between Swamp This and Swamp That. In Swamp This, Teams had to put on a pair of cross-country skis and trudge through a one-mile course of a muddy field. This task required skill and finesse, but Teams that could master the technique of cross-country skiing could slide ahead. In Swamp That, Teams had to slog through an obstacle course in the mud. They would need to jump, crawl, climb, carry each other, and finally run across the finish line to receive their clue. This task required brute force rather than skill, but even strong Teams could find themselves sucked into the wet ground and stuck in the mud. While Dustin & Kandice opt to don cross-country skis for Swamp This, models Tyler & James jump full force into the mud obstacle course of Swamp That. As they crawl through mud, the models have one thing on their mind: beat the beauty queens who begin skiing across the swamp. This goal seems less likely when James became emerged waist-deep in the mud after jumping over a fence, but Tyler's strong back and legs help as he carries James through a stretch of the course. As both Teams near the end their respective courses, only a run across the swamp remains. Tyler & James prove triumphant as they open their next clue learning they have to travel by train 104 miles to the city of Turku and drive themselves another 78 miles to the town of Lohja, find the Tytri Limestone Mine, and take a tram into the mine where their next clue awaits. BAD BLOOD At the train station, the models and beauty queens catch a huge break by boarding the 3:11pm train that is departing in mere moments. The foursome hold their collective breaths, hoping that no other Team would make it. Just as the train begins pulling away, dating couple Rob & Kimberly arrived at the station, just missing a golden opportunity to pull ahead of the Cho brothers and Lyn & Karlyn. A frustrated Rob said, "That was a race breaker right there." Now, the dating couple, on a train an hour behind their allies, endure a frosty ride with the remaining members of the six-pack who announced to the train passengers that Rob & Kimberly are not their friends. ALL MINE After arriving in Turku, models Tyler & James and beauty queens Dustin & Kandice drive together to the town of Lohja in their continually uneasy alliance built on a mutual distrust. In the parking lot of the Tytri mine, the Teams part ways when the models spot the marked entrance while the beauty queens keep circling around. This allows Tyler & James to take the first tram deep into the dark, cavernous mine to find a Roadblock. In this Roadblock, one team member has to ride a bike down a steep incline more than a mile into the Earth and search for a marked dig site. Then, after attaching a chunk of limestone to their bike, they need to bring it back to the start point and use tools provided to break open the limestone to reveal a clue hidden inside. Finally performing a Roadblock for his Team, James has no issue biking down into the darkness, but realizes the steep road back up is infinitely more difficult with a heavy limestone rock attached to his bike. Out of breath, James begins walking his bike up rather than riding, panting, "This is brutal." Passing Kandice who was beginning her journey down, James warned, "Coming up's a bitch." After reaching the start point, an exhausted James announces, "It's hammer time," before cracking open the limestone to a clue that instructs them to drive 39 miles back to Helsinki and find Olympic Stadium. After Kandice cracks open her clue, she told her partner, "I hate that we're going to come in second to those boys right now." After a wrong turn put dating couple Rob & Kimberly in last place, Lyn & Karlyn and the Cho brothers all cheered for coalminer David as they descend into his workplace. Karlyn and Godwin begin their bike ride through the darkness as Rob elects to perform the task for his Team in hopes of catching up. Shouting and hollering, "I'm coming for ya", Rob gains ground on the duo crossing paths with them as he reaches the bottom. With the heavy limestone burdening her bike, Karlyn can't move quickly up the incline as Rob continues to gain ground shouting every step of the way. In the end, all three Teams crack open the limestone almost simultaneously as they share a tram back to daylight. NOT OVER YET Arriving at the Olympic Stadium in first place, models Tyler & James open their clue to discover they have to climb to the top of 236-foot Olympic Tower and rappel face first off of the building. Tyler is all laughs as he begins his descent, staring at the ground a long distance away. James appears more worried as he waited for his turn with the task. After completing the rappel, Tyler worried, "James is gonna have a rough time. James is definitely afraid of heights and he knew that he'd have to try to conquer some of that on the race and it happened to come right now when we're in first." After peering over the ledge, James begins inching down the side of the building very gingerly. With fear controlling his actions, James doesn't lean forward enough in his descent causing him to get stuck while Tyler tried to give advice from below. Eventually James' concern dissipated, turning into a huge grin after his feet touches the ground once again only moments before the other Teams pulled into the parking lot. Opening their next clue expecting a Pit Stop, the pair receive a shock when they read, "Keep racing." The leg is not over. Stay tuned!

The Amazing Race 10, Episode 9: Their Name is Mud by Jenn Brasler -- 11/13/2006 The teams have to engage in tasks that focus heavily on mud, but that’s not the dirtiest thing that happens this week: one team cuts in line to grab a taxi from an “innocent bystander.” Which racers are the offenders? Could it be the so-called nasty Dustin & Kandice? Previously on Lips That Touch Lips Will Never Touch Mine: Six teams traveled from Mauritius to Madagascar, where instead of a Yield, they found an Intersection. While Zoolander and Rob & Kimberly teamed up, Kandice & Dustin paired with ErGo for the Detour. Dustin & Kandice came in first for the second leg in a row while Zoolander and Kimberly & Rob struggled with the longest Fast Forward ever. Also struggling were Dublyn and Mary & David. David & Mary were eliminated but are still awesome. Five teams are left: Dustin & Kandice - Friends/I hope they win Tyler & James (Team Zoolander) - Models/recovering drug addicts/James’ main talent is, apparently, eating cow lips Rob & Kimberly - Dating/Finally figured out how to not fight Erwin & Godwin (Team ErGo) - Brothers/Will probably get screwed over by Dublyn Lyn & Karlyn (Team Dublyn) - Friends/The least committed members of the Six Pack alliance Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. That’s right, not just a movie! Will the rest of the Six Pack get ahead of the other teams? Dustin & Kandice leave at 2:56 a.m., getting a clue that tells them to fly to Helsinki, Finland. There, they have to find a coffee house and long on to AOL (bleh) to get a “surprise” in an e-mail. Yeah, they ruined the “surprise” in the previews last week. Thanks, CBS. Since there aren’t a ton of flights from Madagascar, the teams are being given tickets to France; they have to get their own tickets to Helsinki from there. However, they don’t have to use the gifted tickets if they don’t want to. Dustin interviews that the others think things come easy to them, but they actually work hard. It’s a good thing the teams don’t have to use the tickets because the flight to Paris doesn’t leave until 9:40 that night. Dustin confuses Finland with the Netherlands. Zoolander leave second. Tyler interviews that he thinks James appreciates his friendship and knows that when he gives criticism, it’s from a place of love. Um, okay. Rob & Kimberly leave third, happy to be going to Europe. Rob says that every night, they think about what they have to do to finish the leg as fast as possible. Maybe that’s why they stopped fighting. He continues that they want to keep together with Zoolander, partly because they don’t trust Kandice & Dustin. Rob & Kimberly also don’t think the prearranged flight is a good idea. ErGo leave fourth, saying they want to run this leg “in memory” of Mary & David. Erwin laughs that that sounds like they’re dead. The guys are wearing shirts I remember David & Mary wearing in a previous leg. They don’t like the 9:40 flight either. At the airport, Kandice & Dustin look for an earlier flight, telling an agent they’ll go through any country. That’s a bad idea – what if she says, like, China? Zoolander catch up to Kandice & Dustin, interviewing that they all know they’re using each other and no one knows who’s going to stab who first. Why does there have to be stabbing? Stabbing is bad, people. Rob & Kimberly catch up to everyone at the airport. Kandice & Dustin still haven’t found an earlier flight. Rob notices a flight boarding right now and says that there has to be something leaving now. The teams learn about a flight to Johannesburg leaving at 5 a.m. Kandice asks if there’s a flight from there to Paris. As ErGo arrive, the other teams learn that they could get to Helsinki by 10:20 a.m. They all start to get tickets, hoping that they’ll make it. Rob notes that there’s no way Dublyn will make that flight. Indeed, Dublyn are leaving at 3:55 a.m. Karlyn has been gifted David’s hat and claims that the Six Pack alliance (now the Four Pack alliance) is still going strong. The four teams at the airport get tickets to Johannesburg just as Dublyn are arriving. ErGo fill them in on the flight (which also connects in Frankfurt) and send them to the ticket counter. Check-in is closed. After some pleading and negotiating, Dublyn get tickets anyway. Once again, everyone is on equal footing. The other four teams are surprised to see Dublyn board the plane, but only ErGo are happy. Okay, so the flight goes from Johannesburg to Addis Ababa to Frankfurt to Helsinki. Phew! Kandice & Dustin get out of the airport first, followed by Zoolander, Dublyn, and ErGo. They all get cabs before Rob & Kimberly even get outside. They bicker in their cab. ErGo pass Dublyn as Lyn predicts that things are going to get cutthroat. She thinks Dustin & Kandice use their image to get ahead. Karlyn doesn’t like being disadvantaged because of her looks. I am so, so sick of her. Zoolander pass Dustin & Kandice, both teams wishing the other would be eliminated. Zoolander find the coffee shop first and log on to a computer as Kandice & Dustin arrive. Zoolander are greeted by a message from Tyler’s mom, who he says is the most important person in his life. James gets a message from his sisters. Kandice gets one from her mom, who’s sending her positive energy, and Dustin gets one from what looks like her parents and… holy crap, five brothers? She and Megan Linz would probably get along well. She says it meant a lot to see them and hear them saying they support her and love her. ErGo are next to the coffee shop. Tyler’s mom and Dustin’s cute brother (I guess) tell Zoolander and Kandice & Dustin that they’ll be getting their next clue from the café owner. One of the blonds gives a shout-out to AOL that I hope she was compensated for. They head off and collect the clue, which tells them to take a train and taxi to a school, then follow a marked path to get the next clue. Dustin & Kandice get directions from a local and Zoolander decide to just follow them. Back in the coffee shop, ErGo get a message from Erwin’s girlfriend and the brothers’ mom and sister. Dublyn arrive at the coffee shop and log in. Rob & Kimberly are close behind them. Dublyn get a message from their adorable kids and start crying. One of their sons says that he’s glad they got the opportunity to do this. The kids end with, “Yay, Mommy!” If you didn’t think that was cute, I believe you’re made of stone. Still crying, Dublyn get their clue and head off. Lyn interviews that it was good to see the kids because she misses them, but it also hurt. Rob and Kimberly get messages from their moms (and Kimberly’s cute dog). Kandice & Dustin and Zoolander get their train tickets. Rob & Kimberly get a cab and ErGo are frustrated that they can’t flag one down. Eventually all five teams get to the station and wind up on the same train. Karlyn interviews that she made a lot of sacrifices to be here, including leaving her daughter, so she and Lyn have to win. Elsewhere, Zoolander and Dustin & Kandice prove that their rivalry isn’t that serious as Tyler moisturizes and entertains the blonds. Kandice jokes that she goes to him for her conditioner and nail clippers. She interviews that they have an uneasy truce, but if she and Dustin have a chance to break off, they will. Eventually, the teams disembark and grab cabs, Dustin & Kandice jumping out ahead again. See, they’re not using their looks - they’re using their legs. Zoolander get a cab as well. ErGo, Dublyn, and Rob & Kimberly wind up in line with some locals. Rob & Kimberly grab a cab (after some pleading), leaving ErGo and Dublyn behind. Dublyn try to ease out in front of a local who tells them a couple of times, “There is a queue.” They don’t listen – they cut right in front of him and take a cab. Hello! “Thank you, sir,” Lyn says. Oh, Lyn. And I was giving you the benefit of the doubt and everything. Hypocrites. Boo hoo, Dustin & Kandice can’t take their car but they can steal a cab from an “innocent bystander” (Lyn’s words, by the way). This is exactly why I don’t like them – they operate under a double standard. If anyone else acts mean or ruthless, it’s unfair, but if they do it, it’s completely okay. Oh, and ErGo are still stuck in line. Because they’re nice. “Being polite sucks sometimes,” Godwin laments. Yes, but you don’t have to worry about karma slapping you in the head, which I certainly hope it does to Dublyn. Dustin & Kandice reach the school and start following the arrows as Zoolander arrive. They engage in a foot race, ditching their bags. Kandice & Dustin get to the clue box first (not by much) and find a Detour. The choices are Swamp This and Swamp That. As Phil tells us that both are tasks Finland’s winter athletes do to stay in shape during warmer months, a guy climbs up a wooden contraption and takes a flying leap into the pit of mud Phil is standing in. Phil doesn’t look very happy to be there. In Swamp This, teams cross-country ski through a mile of mud. In Swamp That, teams do an obstacle course in the mud, jumping, climbing, crawling, and carrying each other. The guy demonstrates, winding up in the mud with Phil again. Poor Phil. Covered in mud and no way out. Dustin & Kandice pick This while Zoolander pick That. ErGo finally get a cab. Yeah, they’re behind, but at least they have some pride left. Rob & Kimberly are driven to the wrong school. Dublyn get to the Detour and pick This. Kimberly & Rob get directions. Dustin & Kandice and Zoolander start their respective tasks, the guys swinging on ropes and the girls putting on skis. To their credit, instead of complaining about how icky mud is, the blonds exclaim over the excitement of skiing in the mud. Dublyn suit up as ErGo and Rob & Kimberly arrive. ErGo are happy to have caught up. Tyler & James have to jump into the big mud pit Phil was in earlier. Rob & Kimberly and ErGo both pick That. Dustin jumps into the mud pit, attempting a gymnastics-type landing but failing to stick it. Kandice fairs much better, keeping her balance. Tyler carries James on his back while James smacks him and says, “Giddy up.” I have to say, I’d do that, too. There’s lots of slogging through the mud that’s not that interesting to describe. Lots of getting stuck and some carrying. Kandice & Dustin appear to spot the clue box at the same time as Zoolander, but it’s Zoolander who reach it first. They have to take another train to the city of Turku, then drive to the town of Lohja, find a limestone mine, and take a tram inside to get the next clue. Awww, too bad David didn’t get to go to the mine! Kandice & Dustin get to the clue box, vowing to catch up to Zoolander. They do, since Zoolander pause in the parking lot to change clothes. Good idea, though they don’t think it was. Kandice & Dustin laugh over them being pretty boys. It is ironic that the so-called beauty queens had so much fun getting muddy and didn’t stop to change. Rob & Kimberly get to the clue box third, followed by Dublyn and ErGo. Kimberly is happy they beat ErGo. Rob notes that he didn’t think it would be that easy to carry Kimberly in the obstacle course. “What, do you think I’m fat?” she asks. Run away, Rob! Run away! Kandice & Dustin happily pass Zoolander, hoping to catch a train before anyone else. They do reach the train station first but Zoolander are right on their tails. Their desired train leaves in five minutes. Rob & Kimberly arrive as Zoolander and Kandice & Dustin race to the platform, the blonds hoping no one else makes it. They board and James jokes that he can picture Kimberly & Rob running up and yelling, “Stop the train.” Cut to Rob & Kimberly… well, running and yelling, “Hold the train!” Gotta love those editors. Fortunately for Zoolander and Kandice & Dustin, the train pulls out before Kimberly & Rob can board. Rob thinks this is a race-breaker. I’m going to say that since we’re only halfway through the episode and they’re smack-dab in the middle of the pack, they’ll be fine. Kimberly says that they’ll get on the next one, but Rob says, “Just let me have my moment.” Whatever, drama queen. Dublyn and ErGo reach the station. There’s another train leaving an hour behind the first one, and now Rob & Kimberly aren’t alone. They’re less than thrilled, as you can imagine. On the train, Zoolander ask a local for help while Kandice & Dustin study a map. The other three teams get on a train, where ErGo’s earlier politeness is rewarded - they find a local who works for the mining company. Nice. The first train arrives and the teams run for marked cars. Zoolander get out ahead and think the blonds are following them. Well, you followed them before, so shut up. Back on the second train, Rob & Kimberly get some help from a local, then head through the car past ErGo and Dublyn, who say they’re a little cold. Lyn announces that they’re not their friends. Well, fine. They didn’t do anything wrong. Rob even said, “Excuse me.” He interviews that Dublyn judged them before they even got to know them, and that set the tone. Wow, they judged another team? No way. That doesn’t sound at all like them. Elsewhere, Zoolander and Dustin & Kandice near the mine but neither team can find the entrance. Zoolander find it first, put on hard hats, and board the tram, happy that the blonds are still clueless. When Dustin & Kandice do find the right spot, they’re disappointed to learn that they have to wait for the tram to come back before they can go into the mine. The second train arrives and Rob & Kimberly are the first to drive off, trying to get away from ErGo and Dublyn. Dublyn get ahead of ErGo, who say that it would have been their “style” to wait for them. Yes, but your style is both tactful and dopey. Zoolander get to the clue box and are greeted by a Roadblock. One team member will have to ride a bike through the dark mine and find a dig site. Then they have to attach a piece of limestone to the bike, ride back to the starting point, and break open the limestone to get the next clue. They may or may not perform this task naked as Jon did in season 4. James takes the task, happy to be able to step up for his team. Dustin & Kandice finally get to take the tram, comparing it to a roller coaster. They note that this is what David does all the time and he would probably enjoy this. Rob & Kimberly notice Dublyn (“Frick and Frack”) right behind them. James rides through the mine and soon finds his limestone chunk. It makes the bike considerably harder to control on the way back. Kandice takes the Roadblock and briefly considers putting on a bike helmet over her hard helmet. James winds up having to walk his bike back. Dustin and Tyler joke about the possibility of Kandice and James making out in the mine. The two Roadblockers pass and James warns Kandice that the return trip is tough. He gets back to Tyler and grabs a hammer to break his limestone. “It’s hammer time,” he says, something else I’d probably say in that situation. Kandice ties on her limestone, telling it to stay. Yeah, I’d probably say that, too. James quickly breaks through the limestone, getting a clue that sends him and Tyler to the Olympic Stadium back in Helsinki. This show loves Olympic stadiums. Kandice arrives shortly afterwards and Dustin tells her that she made great time, since the guys just left. She also directs her to “a pokey thing” to hammer with. I think I’m going to need to hang out with them. It doesn’t take Kandice long to get to the clue. In the car, she laments that they’re going to have to come in second to Zoolander, but they note that at least there are still three teams behind them and they could run into problems. Rob & Kimberly, Dublyn, and ErGo are still close together but Rob & Kimberly soon split off from the others. Dublyn and ErGo reach the mine first since Rob has taken a wrong turn and wants to actually drive into the mine. Dublyn and ErGo head into the mine together, Lyn cheering something about Dave Jr. Rob is sure that his wrong turn means he and Kimberly are out of the race. Kimberly & Rob calmly get back to the right place and head for the tram, which they have to wait for. Zoolander are excited to be in first, though Kandice & Dustin are keeping hope alive. Karlyn and Godwin take the Roadblock while Rob & Kimberly get on the tram. Rob takes the Roadblock and Kimberly hopes he’ll help them get ahead. In the mind, Karlyn and Godwin look for the box and Godwin calls on the spirit (I know he’s not dead, but I don’t know what else to call it) of David to help them. They strap on their limestones while Rob enjoys his ride. Soon all three Roadblockers are headed back to the beginning. Zoolander reach the stadium and head to the seats to look for the flag. It’s not there. Kandice & Dustin are hoping Dublyn are eliminated today. You and me both. Karlyn calls the struggle back out of the mine “the perfect example of an uphill battle.” Stop being clever. I’m trying to dislike you. Godwin apologizes to Erwin for having to walk back up. I’m sure Erwin is just glad he’s not, you know, dead. He also had to leave Karlyn behind, and she’s taking so long that Rob is able to pass her. Hammering ensues and Godwin gets the clue first, followed by Rob. After Karlyn gets hers, the three teams race for the tram and board at the same time. Rob & Kimberly don’t like this. Zoolander keep searching the stadium. Ug, I’m having bad flashbacks to the season 8 finale. Kandice & Dustin find a guy to follow to the stadium. Back in their car, Dublyn seem to think they know where they’re going. Rob is sure they’re coming to a Pit Stop, but Kimberly says it doesn’t matter since they’ll probably have ErGo behind them. Erwin seems to think Rob & Kimberly can beat everyone in a footrace. Yes, but I’m sure ErGo can beat Dublyn in a footrace. Zoolander finally find the clue box in the stadium and are sent to the top of the Olympic Tower for “one last task.” Oh, Phil, you tease. Dustin & Kandice hope the guy they’re following will “branch out” and take a right on a red light. I don’t think it’s branching out if you’re potentially breaking the law. The task on top of the tower? Rappelling. It had to be either that or bungee jumping, right? Tyler goes first, happy that he’s rockclimbed before. He calls himself Spider-Man, which is what James called him on a previous task. Maybe they’re the ones who need to branch out. James is scared. Kandice & Dustin find the stadium. Tyler is sure James is going to have a tough time. Dustin & Kandice spot Tyler and realize they have to rappel. On the ground, Tyler tells us that James is afraid of heights and wanted to conquer that on the race. He laughs that this had to happen while they’re in first place, but he’s sure James won’t let the team down. James has his shoes off, which I’m not sure will make things easier. The other three teams are still on the road, attempting to pass each other. Godwin threatens to slam on his brakes since Rob is tailgating him. Eh, ignore him - you’re in front of him. James starts rappelling as Tyler calls out advice. Dublyn, ErGo, and Rob & Kimberly all reach the stadium and prepare for a footrace. Rob & Kimberly smoke the others while either Erwin or Godwin alerts Karlyn to the location of the flag. Shut up! When are they going to learn? James reaches the ground and gets congratulations from Tyler. And also, a surprise - their clue simply says, “Keep racing!!!” Yep, it’s a double leg. And with triple the exclamation points. That means it’s extra special. Next week: something with tanks. Godwin gets wet. Dublyn ditch ErGo. Maybe now they’ll learn.

Great episode last night. I'm loving the friendly rivalry between the two top teams (Beauty queens and male models). At this point they are my picks for the two top teams, my choice for the winner being the BQ team. Seriously, these girls are running a hell of a race and the way they are running it is wonderful. They're having fun! The Chos have got to cut the Bamas loose and soon. At this point I don't think they deserve to win because they are being stupid but judging from previews for next week they may wake up and smell the coffee.

GO Beauty Queens. I'm so glad they're kicking ass and having fun.

I like the Chos' attitude about life...about the race they need, perhaps, to get a grip. HELLO CHOS! RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Amazing Race 10, Episode 9 First Class and Cargo Class Awards: We Interrupt This Race… by Sandy Lamparello -- 11/14/2006 Episode 9 of The Amazing Race 10 took our teams from Madagascar to Finland. An incomplete leg usually leaves Sandy scratching her head when deciding who gets the First Class and Cargo Class awards. Not so this week. Read on to find out why it was an easy decision. The Amazing Race left us hanging this week. After flying from Madagascar to Johannesburg to Addis Ababa to Frankfurt to Helsinki, our racers received video e-mails from home, got stuck in the mud, hauled limestone, and rappelled off of an Olympic Stadium tower. However, instead of meeting Phil at a Pit Stop, the racers received a clue that told them to keep racing. If you missed any of it, click on over to Jenn’s mud-splattered recap. Now that you’re all caught up it’s time for the awards! I’m awarding First Class to two teams this week. As I was watching the episode it struck me that both Tyler & James (aka Team Zoolander) and Dustin & Kandice were running a great leg. Before learning the leg was going to end without a meeting with Phil at the mat, I decided that whichever of these two teams finished higher would be awarded First Class for the leg. Well we know how that plan worked out. So, without a firm finish to judge by, I’m giving it to both teams. There’s not much more to say about Kandice & Dustin’s strong racing that hasn’t already been said. These two ladies are racing very well and even when they make mistakes or get lost, they don’t let it get to them. They’re keeping their focus on getting ahead and performing well. Arriving at the airport first, they never hesitated in their quest to find an earlier flight to Helsinki. Dustin & Kandice remained at the front of the pack throughout this leg. They didn’t let the mud challenge deter them one bit, plunging right in and showing up the boys by not stopping to change clothes in the middle of the leg. They properly realized they would be able to change on the train and did not waste any time getting there. Yes, both teams ended up on the same train but pausing to change could have caused the beauty queens to miss the first train. Zoolander also raced a solid, clean leg. Instead of trying to search for a flight away from Dustin & Kandice, the models remained by their side, and spurred them on to check where the next departing flight was heading. Although they had to make several stops on their way to Finland, their smart thinking helped keep them on par with the beauty queens. Although Zoolander claim to want Kandice & Dustin gone, they are not going out of their way to be nasty or antagonize them. On the train the two teams joked with each other and seemed to be having fun. The saying goes, “Keep your friends close; keep your enemies even closer.” Team Zoolander is using this strategy very effectively (as are Dustin & Kandice, I might add). Since these two teams are spending so much time together, they’re able to race much more effectively by not getting into petty arguments along the way. Finally, though Tyler & James both said they were afraid of heights, they performed the rappelling task without delay. Hanging off of a tall building from a rope and harness is a difficult enough task, but to have to do it face-first makes it that much more difficult. These guys didn’t even blink. So, Zoolander and Dustin & Kandice, head on in to your squishy leather seats. Get out the moisturizer and relax. It’s sure to be lots of fun in First Class on this trip, so kick back and enjoy it! Cargo Class is going to Lyn & Karlyn (aka Team Dublyn). This team would be a lot less annoying if they would just relax, smile, and enjoy their surroundings every once in a while. Upon their arrival in Helsinki, they accused Kandice & Dustin of getting ahead because of their looks. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The beauty queens have been racing smart the whole way, and are a genuine threat to be the first two-woman team to finish in first place. During this rant, Karlyn made a comment about being disadvantaged because of her looks. Like Jenn, I’m sick of her. If Dublyn, and Karlyn in particular, would focus more on their own race instead of worrying about everyone else, they might be able to get ahead. I’d love to tell Karlyn that looks mean very little on this race, but if they were to smile or be polite every now and then they might actually be able to use that to their advantage. Dublyn showed the height of hypocrisy at the train station when they cut in front even though a local told them several times that there was a line. They didn’t even ask if they could take the cab, they just jumped in and took it. Whether this was good race strategy or not, we’ve repeatedly seen Dublyn whining about and criticizing other teams for similar behavior. They caused a huge fuss when Dustin & Kandice tried to reserve tickets for Zoolander, and again when the beauty queens took a car other than the one they had wrecked to get them to the airport. Strategic decisions aren’t always polite or fair. Each team decides what moves will get them ahead and races accordingly. Dublyn can’t criticize a team for doing something and then turn around and do a very similar thing. The double standard just doesn’t cut it. It’s about time they admit that everyone else is just racing hard. I won’t stand on my head waiting for that to happen, though. I don’t think there’s much more I can say. Dublyn, head down to Cargo Class. Maybe while you’re there you’ll spend time thinking about what you can do differently on the rest of this leg to pull yourselves up from the bottom of the pack.

The Amazing Race 10: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Episode 9: Rappellant by Mike DeGeorge -- 11/15/2006 Holy Face First Rappelling! It's only one of the tasks our Racers had to deal with in this to-be-continued leg, but Mike wants to focus on something else - why does this season just seem so blah? I don’t know why I just can’t get into this season. Normally at this point, we’re down to it and every episode matters. I’m interested, but it’s almost like I don’t mind if I miss an episode (especially with Jenn’s kickass recaps), and that’s never happened to me with the Race. It’s not that the producers are doing anything wrong this year. They’ve got decent teams with good backstories, interesting locales, and decent challenges. Yes, I’ve criticized the challenges this year, but they’re nothing that would keep me from watching. It’s one of those instances where the producers are doing everything right, yet it just doesn’t work. I tried to come up with an analogy here, but I couldn’t think of a good one. Anyone has any ideas, let me know. One problem, I think, is the personalities. No, the producers picked good stories (former drug addicts! Beauty queens! Single Moms!) but they just didn’t turn out to be interesting. Rob & Kimberly looked like the obnoxious arguing couple, but they ended up mellowing out, even though they keep arguing. They’re no Colin & Christie or even Freddie & Kendra. There are no larger than life personalities, either in a bad way (Jonathan, Ian) or a good way (Clowns, Chip). There’s sure as hell no Hippies or Frat Boys. I think the people with the best stories were eliminated too early. Case in point – Duke & Lauren. They had the chance to be THE best story in Race history, but they didn’t stick around long enough. We never even saw enough of the Muslims to mangle their names. It also didn’t help that this episode felt like one long equalizer. The biggest separation in the teams happened with a one-hour lag in train departures! I don’t blame them for it, as they needed that sort of closeness for the beginning of next week, but it hurt this week. The Good: Letters from Home: Finally, a “messages from home” segment in a reality show that didn’t annoy the hell out of me. Mainly, it was because they showed two seconds of the clips – enough for us to “meet” the relatives – and moved on. They didn’t even dwell on Dublyn’s angst, letting us see how much they missed their kids, and then we moved on. There was no ten minute segment, no weeping angst except for Dublyn. It was a nice break in the action, and we got back to business. It doesn’t always have to be overly syrupy and dramatic to be effective. Are you listening, Mark Burnett? Holy Amazing Race, Batman!: Was I the only one riffing on the Batman jokes as the models rappelled down the stadium wall? I almost expected an obscure celebrity to stick their head out of the wall and hand them a clue. Of course, my fiancee kept saying how stupid it was for them to go down face first. I can't really disagree with that. The Bad: I’ll Care When They’re Gone: Dublyn, I mean, and I’ll care because I’ll be happy. These guys are the worst kind of hypocrite, in that they feel sorry for themselves and blame everyone else for their problems but themselves. They criticize the other teams for using their advantages to their… um, advantage, and then do things like yell at ticket agents or burst into cab lines. It amazes me that the Cho Brothers could be friends with these people in the first place. Baser Instincts: I’m not ashamed to admit that I wish the Beauty Queens had taken the more, shall we say, mud-intensive task. Hey, I know what I like. The Ugly: Frequent Flyers: Man, how brutal must that Madagascar-Johannesburg-Addis Ababa-Frankfort-Helsinki marathon flight have been? Yeah, I know they can sleep on the flights, but we all know how uncomfortable those seats are, and in my book, sometimes uncomfortable sleep is worse than no sleep at all.

The Amazing Race 10: Thinking Smart in Episode 9 by Jeffrey Clinard -- 11/15/2006 Nobody was eliminated in the ninth episode as we had the first part of a double-leg. But there were still plenty of instances of teams making decisions that were smart… or not. Erwin & Godwin made some good moral decisions, but were they the right things to do? It’s easier to armchair quarterback The Amazing Race when watching from home. By examining the signs, I was totally unsurprised that the episode was the first part of a double-leg. The first clue was the large amount of money given to the teams at the start of the leg. While they were going to a developed country where prices are higher, teams still received $265, and should always be wary when they receive a lot of cash. It either means double-legs or a low amount of cash to be received in an upcoming leg. After completing the Detour and the Roadblock, the next set of route information did not mention anything about a Pit Stop at Olympic Stadium. While the first leg of the race had a task before the Pit Stop, James & Tyler not only did not see Phil and a mat outside the stadium, there wasn’t one inside the stadium either. That should have set off more warning bells (they also should have checked their remaining cash against their expenses in the leg. If there is a lot of cash left over, it’s time to start worrying). While viewing, talk about finishing first or second among Tyler & James and Dustin & Kandice was a clear case of the assumption fairy smiling. Teams really should have noticed that most races now contain a double-leg. Now that teams have been told to keep racing, they should keep in mind Phil’s warning at the start of the race that there were new twists. In short, I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being a triple-leg with a double-elimination at the end of it. During the leg, many teams said they wanted to eliminate another team, either for personal reasons or because they recognize them as a threat. Smart teams should know teams can’t really eliminate other teams. Each team runs their own race, and succeed or fail on their own merits 90% of the time. Between getting mad, getting even, or getting better, the best choice is to get better and outrun the other teams. Finally, there was the question of whether it was right to jump the taxi queue. It’s certainly not morally right, but as there are no race penalties, Erwin & Godwin were correct in that being polite sucks sometimes. They might have the moral high ground on the issue, but if it were the end-game, they could have ended up losing the entire race. While The Amazing Race allows an ethical team almost as good a shot as winning as an unethical one, there are times when cutting moral corners are a race advantage. The Detour was a choice of “Swamp This” or “Swamp That” which involved either a mud obstacle course or cross country skiing on mud. Which was faster? Well, this probably depended on the team. The obstacle course was faster for stronger teams, particularly those where one team member had the strength to carry the other. Otherwise, teams were better off with the skiing. The Roadblock did change a few positions, as Rob’s extra strength allowed him to pass Karyln while coming back up the mine shaft. No team was eliminated, the race continues. Which teams were thinking smart in episode 9? Tyler & James: The team ran a great leg, starting off by asking the right question about the flight departing Madagascar while they were in the ticket line. After that it was smooth sailing. They grabbed a cab to make it to the school in a close second to Dustin & Kandice. They ran through the Detour quickly enough to make the first train back to Turko. They did a stellar job at the Roadblock and completed the first part of the leg in first place. They’d have done better if they had followed the flags to the stadium office. They also should have waited to change their clothes when they were on the train. While they made the first train, those few minutes might have come into play with a different departure time. Still, for now they are in first place, and it’s hard to argue with that. Dustin & Kandice: The beauty queens made an amusing statement in that things aren’t handed to them. No, they just grab them. In all fairness, they are running a great race right now, asking the right questions about earlier flights, then getting them. They pushed through the tasks quickly. They were able to grab the first train to Turko (and realized they could change clothes on it), which allowed them to gain an hour on three teams. They performed well at both the Detour and Fast Forward. Their only mishap was missing the race flag at the mine, which cost them a few minutes of time. Still, they are a strong team who are running their own race very well. Rob & Kimberly: The dating couple ran a fairly good leg with a few missteps at critical points that cost them some time. They jumped the queue in order to get a taxi more quickly, which wasn’t exactly fair to the other people in line, but they paid for it with the bad karma of being brought to the wrong location. That event cost them a chance at the first train to Turko. Worse, they got a bit lost in finding the Roadblock, even driving down a mine at one point. When in doubt, teams should look for the flags. Rob made up the time with a strong performance, but they are still bunched in the back of the pack during this half-leg. Lyn & Karlyn: The single moms pushed hard to get on the flight out of Madagascar, and were lucky in making it. However, it shows their perseverance, and trading the airline meal for the seats was a good move. They made a good choice at the Detour, and did as well as they could at the Roadblock. More importantly, they understand that they’ll have to abandon their former allies at some point if they wish to win the race. Still, they are failing to recognize they have to run their own race when it comes to Dustin & Kandice and Rob & Kimberly, and are rather hypocritical in taking the high moral ground when they cut in line to grab a taxicab despite the objections of the man at the front of the queue. Erwin & Godwin: The brothers are struggling, and are in the bottom three teams due to their problems. They made a mistake of running the wrong way to the first train station and had to backtrack. Those few minutes might have cost them a train. Second, while they took the moral high ground in waiting for a cab, they lost time and were the last team to depart for the school. However, their biggest mistake is still attempting to work with Lyn & Karyln. They don’t realize it’s time to play for themselves. By passing on the information about the flight to the single moms, they made them their competition instead of the next team eliminated. It also might have cost them the race in the car chase to Olympic Stadium. They are nice guys, but they shouldn’t be nice guys at the cost of coming in last.