Amazing Race Terms

If you have never seen the show, you may be unfamiliar with some of the terms that will be used throughout the event.  Here is a list of the different phrases you may encounter:

Checkpoint:  There will be five of these throughout the course of the race.  These stations will be manned by CCAP staff.  The staff at each station will be responsible for:

·         checking that all tasks are completed correctly

·         that all team members are present at check-in

·         monitoring Road Blocks (see below)

·         handing out cards with the next task to teams that are ready to move forward

Detour:  At some checkpoints, a team may receive a card marked “Detour.”  A “Detour” occurs when teams are given the option of choosing between two different tasks of varying difficulty.  Teams must choose ONE of the two options given; they do NOT need to complete both.  If a team is unable to complete the first option they choose, they may decide to switch to the other option.  However, once that decision is made, the team may not go back to the first one; the second choice must be completed to move on.

Fast Forward:  A “Fast Forward” entitles au pair teams to skip ahead to the following checkpoint.  Au pairs will earn a “Fast Forward” by turning in their Kids First Sponsorship Forms at registration.  The “Fast Forward” can only be used at Checkpoint Four.  Only one “Fast Forward” card may be used per team.   “Fast Forward” cards are not transferable to any other au pair.  Au pair teams wishing to use their “Fast Forward” must report to Checkpoint Four and submit their card to receive clues for Checkpoint Five.

Roadblock*:  A “Roadblock” is a time penalty given to a team who checks in and has not completed tasks accurately (i.e. has a wrong answer).  Teams may not go back and correct their mistakes; they must take the time penalty assigned.

* A Roadblock in the actual Amazing Race involves performing a different task. To simplify for our purposes, we are just using a time penalty.