Wednesday, 15 September 2004
The Amazing Race comes to Canada
Click on the links below for more photos and accounts of the season finale of “The Amazing Race 5” in Banff, Alberta (Canada).
The first clue that the race is coming: parking spots reserved for “The Amazing Race” on the main street of Banff, Alberta. The racers all ran into the shop right where the “no parking” signs were posted, presumably to pick up a clue.
Setting up for the tepee challenge. Tepee frames were set up before the racers arrived. Competitors only had to cover them in canvas. The Banff Springs Hotel is in the background.
The scene at the challenge site before the competitors arrived. Note that there were 4 tepee frames, even though only 3 teams remained in the race.
Note the benches covered with white sheets, apparently to make them blend into the snow and make the scene look more “wild” and less urban.
Production trailers: around 4 trailers like these were following the teams, with a total of around 20 crew members.
First Peoples waiting under the tepee frame for competitors. Note the horses tied up: these were apparently only set dressing, hired from a local outfitter. They played no role in the challenge.
Brandon runs in to start the tepee challenge. You can see that snow had been spread over the parking lot (which is normally plowed) in the area where the tepees were set up. The area was plowed again after the filming was complete.
Brandon completing the tepee challenge.
One of two still photographers working with the producers.
First Peoples describing to Chip how to go about the tepee challenge.
Filming in progress. From left to right: sound technician, Chip, video photographer, still photographer.
Chip working on the tepee challenge.
Chip (upper left) and Kim (lower center).
Colin works on the tepee while Christie watches, with most of the crew looking on. At least 10 crew were there (pictured), but did absolutely nothing while the challenge took place.
Nicole runs in after Brandon finishes the challenge.
Brandon runs in, video photographer tracks him in front with sound technician behind. All of the filming was in this direction — toward the horses and a background of wilderness.
Crew moving boom into position.
Eyewitness description of the season finale in Banff
Photos of each of the final threee teams of racers in Banff
The Practical Nomad columns on The Amazing Race 5
Complete index of columns on all seasons of The Amazing Race
Link | Posted by Edward on Wednesday, 15 September 2004, 15:53 ( 3:53 PM)Hey, I have a question. Are these photos posted in chronologically order -- did the teams arrive in the sequence of the photos?
Posted by: TAR fan, 16 September 2004, 17:42 ( 5:42 PM)Yes, these photos are posted in chronological order.
Posted by: Edward Hasbrouck, 16 September 2004, 18:14 ( 6:14 PM)wat happened to the bowling moms?
is this the final challenge? after this they went straight to the final pitsop?
Posted by: ailene, 17 September 2004, 10:54 (10:54 AM)Edward,
Thanks for those great photos.Well I too do not see the Bowling Mums but I do love those Mums.They have come a long way.Cheers to those Mums.Can't wait to watch the last final episode and I really hope the'obnoxious couple'won't get their hands on the million bucks though I think they are fit enough to run the last leg of the race If its a neck to neck race to the finish line.
Richard Stevenson-Singapore
They seemed to have skipped that task...
Posted by: Anonymous, 21 September 2004, 19:29 ( 7:29 PM)What dates was TAR filmed in Banff? I saw some big black SUVs and I told my girlfriend that it was the crew for Amazing Race, but she didn't believe me.
Posted by: Kevin, 21 September 2004, 20:18 ( 8:18 PM)I never saw any of this is in the final episode. What a great hoax! Pretty convincing stuff!
Posted by: Selene, 21 September 2004, 20:21 ( 8:21 PM)Ummmm... Selene -- it's called editing. The producers don't show everything that's done. For example, in AR3, the leg that the father and son team was eliminated in the UK, there was a checkpoint on one of the bridges in London. They didn't show it. They also didn't show the yield for most of this season, since it was only used once. The producers pick what they want to show -- whatever's most exciting.
Posted by: Corey, 21 September 2004, 20:28 ( 8:28 PM)Oh well i'm too disappointed that these scene was not included in the the finale episode, but yet it is confirmed that this is not a hoax, check on TAR official website on photo album and you would see the exact same pictures taken from these sightings. I was rooting for B/N though and thought that theyre on a lead here. And remember that the finale didnt have any roadblock, so this must be it and was edited for the final episode. Bummer they shouldve included this it looks cool and fun! Kudos for Chip n Kim... wohoooo C/C didnt win wehehe!
Posted by: Joey, 22 September 2004, 01:21 ( 1:21 AM)So did they go to Alberta before Calgary or after. How did they change the reading of the clue to exclude Alberta?
Posted by: Christine, 22 September 2004, 08:10 ( 8:10 AM)Calgary is IN Alberta ... and Banff ... where these pictures were taken is 80 miles west of Calgary. These would have been right before or after they went to lookout mountain.
Posted by: basketballmom, 22 September 2004, 08:13 ( 8:13 AM)sucks sucks sucks and sucks,man is it a bad dream oh what.damn i can't believe that idiot married parents won it.Big cheaters,shame on u.I really hope that collin and christin win.But nevermind,it's all about luck,but collin and christie is still the winner in my heart.Wish them happily ever after
Posted by: Wendy, 22 September 2004, 08:50 ( 8:50 AM)Also assuming Banff is where they got the maple leaf hats they all seemed to be wearing. I guess after the teepee challenge, the places didn't change.
Posted by: Tiggy, 22 September 2004, 09:37 ( 9:37 AM)What a great finish to AR. We are really pleased that Chip & Kim won the Mill.I don't think i could have watched that Buffoon Colin win, he is not a person that i could be around for long.Congats again to Chip & Kim you played vunderbar and don't ever be afraid to use the Yield (specially on C/C) its all good.
Posted by: Randy, 22 September 2004, 16:25 ( 4:25 PM)That would certainly explain why it was dark by the time they got back to Calgary. I forget what month this was shot, but days are awfully short in Calgary in the wintertime.
Christine, I'd recommend some remedial geography lessons.
Posted by: Manuka, 22 September 2004, 18:33 ( 6:33 PM)Kudo's to Chip and Kim. I am sooo glad they won...B&N are too young and it would have driven them apart...C/C are too arrogant and would have been very selfish about the money...MEMEMEME! Just my opion, not that it counts for much.
I too was dissapointed not to see the tepee roadblock challenge in the final episode but I guess they have to edit for tv to make it all fit. They could have left out the 20 mins of commercials and showed us the RoadBlock instead..boohoo! Does anybody know if this is going to be available on video or dvd in it's entirety so us Canuks can see the WHOLE thing....with our native people and all?
Posted by: Sharon, 22 September 2004, 21:20 ( 9:20 PM)Well... I guess we'll have to wait for the DVD to be released to see this Road Block which obviously ended up on the cutting room floor!! Too bad... would have been nice to profile Canada and our First Nations people in such a great way.
Posted by: GoBombers, 23 September 2004, 06:22 ( 6:22 AM)I am really happy for Chip & Kim.. I think they played a great game and I really don't understand these folks that keep accusing them of cheating.. why? because they took Phil's advise to use the yield? because they chose to not share info with people? Yeah Chip lied about the flag.. but sheesh! Since when is it part of the race to share info? You don't have to.. and it's the final 4, I would think that you'd want to do your own leg work..
Hope they put the Banff teepee challenge on the dvd (if there is one) really curious to see what we all missed!! Thanks for sharing the images!!!
Posted by: smeeeko, 23 September 2004, 10:47 (10:47 AM) Chip and Kim earned it and they played well.They overcame the odds and from 3rd position they emerged the winners.Yeah,they used the Yield on Colin and Christine but that is fair game as it is part of the race.I'm very sure the other teams would have used it to their advantage had one of them got there first and had it been a very close race.As for Brandon and Nicole they should have done their homework by getting down from the boat and checking it for themselves instead of depending on Chip.Sure he lied but thats strategy.
Anyway I believe Someone Up Above was watching out for them considering how they managed to secure those tickets back to the States while the other 2 team weren't unable due to the Airport Regulations.
Richard Stevenson - S'pore
Posted by: Richard Stevenson - Singapore, 27 September 2004, 02:53 ( 2:53 AM)That's right. If you are going to depend on your opponent who's trying to win a $mil. help you take it away from him, then you deserve what you get.
Mr. slim was too lazy to get off the boat & check things out for himself. In my opinion, Chip would have been a fool not to capitalize on such a HUGE race error. Besides, didn't Nicole lie to Mirna about some plane tickets early in the race? Yet she was shocked that Chip would lie to them.
Give me a break. The best team won. I love them.
Posted by: Robert, 29 September 2004, 09:21 ( 9:21 AM)I would like to know where I can purchase the red maple leaf toboggans, worn by Chip and Kim, in the finale. Please reply with a website.
Posted by: Kathy, 13 October 2004, 18:32 ( 6:32 PM)I would like to see more photos of incredible mountains with snow and mind blowing pictures of the ocean. I would also like to have a brief picture of my band on your website, because believe it or not I am a Hasbrook.
Posted by: Elite Force Bobby Lead Guitar, 14 January 2005, 23:35 (11:35 PM)The final leg of this race it was supposed to be air before detour. They went to Banff Springs Hotel and they got their clue is roadblock.
Posted by: Claude, 24 May 2005, 22:57 (10:57 PM)why would you show these pictures?
Posted by: Ham, 11 May 2006, 10:17 (10:17 AM)
