The Amazing Race 4

The Race's Starting Line was on the grounds of Dodgers Stadium in Downtown Los Angeles, California.

The fourth season of The Amazing Race spanned 44,000 miles (71,000 km) across four continents with previously unvisited locations in Netherlands and South Korea. Filming for the show began on January 18, 2003 and finished on February 14, 2003.

This was the last season where ties at the end were allowed at the mat (and the subsequent distribution of additional first place prizes should there be a tie for first place). In subsequent seasons, even if several teams arrived at the mat on the same time, a chronological order would be determined and the official check-in times for teams arriving simultaneously would be set a minute apart to avoid ties. This was also the last season where the Fast Forward appeared in every leg. This season had a record of nine teams finishing first at some point, with a record of seven Fast Forwards claimed.

During the final leg of the season, David & Jeff were stranded in Sydney, Australia (thinking that they could get a faster flight to Hawaii through Sydney) for so long that they were not able to reach the final part of the leg in Phoenix, Arizona. Along with Joe & Bill of Season 1, they are one of only two teams in Amazing Race history to reach the final leg but not cross the Finish Line.

This season's cast included a gay married couple, NFL wives, female models, clowns, and air traffic controllers. "NFL Wives" Monica & Sheree were respectively married to Ashley Ambrose and Ray Buchanan, both of whom played for the Atlanta Falcons the season before the television series was filmed.[1][2]

At the time the show was filmed and broadcast, same-sex marriage had not yet been made legal in the United States. Reichen & Chip were never legally married, although they were married in a religious ceremony. CBS decided for the purpose of the show to respect the fact that they recognized themselves as a "married" couple. Not long after the season ended, Reichen revealed that he and Chip had separated.[3]

This is one of three seasons among the first ten that was not represented in The Amazing Race: All-Stars.

In 2005, Reichen appeared on a "Reality All-Stars" episode of Fear Factor and was eliminated after the second stunt.[4] Monica & Sheree, now both divorced, appeared on Atlanta Exes in 2014.[5]

In 2004, this installment of The Amazing Race won the series its second consecutive primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Reality Competition Program".

The resort town of Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites was visited on this leg, featuring winter-related tasks.

Airdate: May 29, 2003

• Los Angeles, California, United States (Dodger Stadium) (Starting Line)
• Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport) to Milan, Italy (Milan Malpensa Airport)
• Milan (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II)
• Milan (Piazza Fontana (in Italian)) to Cortina d'Ampezzo (Church of St. Filippo and Giacomo)
  • Cortina d'Ampezzo (Passo Giau)
• Cortina d'Ampezzo (Cinque Torri)
• Cortina d'Ampezzo (Hotel Lajadira)

For this season's first Fast Forward, one team had to find a field on Passo Giau, put on snowshoes, and trek to the top of a snowy hill to win the Fast Forward award.

This season's first Detour was a choice between Search or Rescue. In Search, teams used a locator beacon to find a beeper somewhere within a 160-acre (0.65 km²) area. After finding it, they had to dig in that spot in search of a set of keys for a snowmobile that would then drive them to their next clue. In Rescue, teams made their way to marked rock towers and crossed a traditional alpine rescue bridge of four steel cables. They then had to use a long zip-line to travel 250 feet (76 m) across a ravine to receive the next clue.

Additional tasks

• At Dodger Stadium, teams had to choose a marked Mercedes-Benz M-Class, drive themselves to Los Angeles International Airport, and book one of three flights to Milan, Italy. Four teams would be on a Swiss Air flight, which departed first and arrived first, three teams would be on a Lufthansa flight, which departed at the same time as Swiss Air but would arrive after the first flight, and five teams would be on a KLM, which departed fifty-five minute after the first two flights.
• At Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, teams searched the crowded storefront for tickets to one of three charter buses, which left the next day to an unknown destination: Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomite mountains. The buses had departure times two hours apart, and teams could not change tickets after taking them.
• At the Church of St. Filippo and Giacomo, the teams had to follow the marked path to find their next clue.
• At Cinque Torri, the teams had to ride a ski lift to the top and find the next clue on the mountain.
• After the Detour, teams had to ride the ski lift back to the lodge before making their way to the Pit Stop at the Hotel Lajadira.

The Ponte delle Guglie in Venice was the starting point of this leg's Detour.

Airdate: June 5, 2003

• Cortina d'Ampezzo (Trampolino Olimpico)
• Calalzo di Cadore (Calalzo Train Station) or Ponte nelle Alpi (Alpi Train Station) to Venice (Stazione Ferroviaria di Venezia Santa Lucia)
• Venice (Ponte delle Guglie to Campo Querini Stampalia)
  • Venice (Campo San Vio (in Italian))
• Venice (Palazzo da Mosto)
• Venice (Laguna Veneta – Citta di Padova Boat moored near Palazzo Ducale)

This leg's Detour on Ponte delle Guglie was a choice between Waterway or Pathway. In Waterway, teams had to travel by gondola using only a map to guide their gondolier without asking locals for direction to Campo Querini Stampalia, where they would find their next clue. In Pathway, teams had to travel by foot to the same plaza with their next clue through the city's streets and bridges without a map, but, unlike in Waterway, they could ask for directions.

The Fast Forward required one team to head to Campo San Vio and join a group of traveling players to form the street theater known as Commedia dell'arte until the Fast Forward award appeared in the skit.

In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to take a picture of one of four Venetian masks from the doorman, enter the Palazzo, and search among rooms filled with masked revelers to find one wearing the mask shown in the picture, who would give them their next clue. If they chose wrong, the reveler would take the picture and silently walk away. If this happened, the person would go back outside to wait to receive another picture as only four contestants could enter at a time.

Additional task

• At the start of the leg, teams traveled to Trampolino Olimpico. Once there, they took a van to the top of the hill and rode a large inflatable snow raft down the hill to receive the next clue.

The Detour in Vienna had teams pay homage to two iconic figures of Classical music: composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (left) and Ludwig van Beethoven (right).

Airdate: June 12, 2003

• Venice (Stazione Ferroviaria di Venezia Santa Lucia) to Vienna, Austria (Wien Südbahnhof)
• Vienna (Vienna Sewers – Intersection of Friedrichstraße and Operngasse to Heumarkt (in German))
• Vienna (Stadtpark – Johann Strauss II)
• Vienna (Schönbrunn Palace)
• Vienna (Mozart House or Beethoven House)
• Vienna (Donauturm)
• Vienna (Wien Westbahnhof or Wien Praterstern) to Gmunden (Bahnhof Gmunden (in German))
• Gmunden (Schloss Ort)

The Fast Forward required one team to enter the ballroom of Schönbrunn Palace and put on formal attire. Each team member then needed to carry a tray of full champagne glasses through waltzing couples without spilling any of the drinks to win the Fast Forward award.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Mozart or Beethoven. In Mozart, teams carried a string bass 6 miles (9.7 km) to the well-known house where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote The Marriage of Figaro to receive their next clue from a Mozart impersonator. In Beethoven, teams had to carry a portfolio of sheet music 11 miles (18 km) to a lesser-known house where Ludwig Van Beethoven wrote The Heiligenstadt Testaments to receive their next clue from a Beethoven impersonator.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to perform a 460-foot (140 m) bungee jump off the Donauturm, the tallest tower-jump in Europe, to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the start of the leg, teams had to travel by train to Vienna, Austria. Once there, they had to enter the city's historic sewers at the intersection of Friedrichstraße and Operngasse and follow the marked path to the Johann Strauss II Monument at Stadtpark where the next clue was.
• At the Johann Strauss II Monument at Stadtpark, teams flagged a horse-drawn carriage known as a Fiacre and grabbed the ticket pass hanging on a carriage door for one of three separate times. The first three teams went at 8:00 am, three more went at 8:30 am and the last four teams went at 9:00 am. Once on their carriage ride, teams then directed it to Schönbrunn Palace for their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams were told to travel by train to Gmunden and search for the Pit Stop at Schloss Ort.

Circuit Bugatti in the French city of Le Mans was visited in the 4th leg.

Airdate: June 19, 2003

• Attnang (Attnang Railway Station) to Salzburg (Salzburg Hauptbahnhof) or Oberding, Germany (Munich Airport Terminal Station)
• Salzburg (Salzburg Airport) or Munich (Munich Airport) to Paris, France (Charles de Gaulle Airport)
• Paris (Gare Montparnasse) to Le Mans (Gare du Mans)
• Le Mans (Circuit Bugatti)
• Marseille (Porte 4 Cap Janet of Port Autonome de Marseille to Phare de Sainte Marie)
  • Aix-en-Provence (Musée de Tapisseries)
• Bagnols-en-Forêt (Gorges du Blavet – Point de Vue du VAR)
• Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (Chateau des Alpilles)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to change four tires on one of the marked race cars, then drive a high-speed lap around the Circuit Bugatti with a professional driver. Once the lap concluded, they would receive their next clue at the winners' podium.

The Fast Forward required one team to find the Musée de Tapisseries in Aix-en-Provence and then arrange a 20-piece puzzle to form a picture of the Pit Stop: the Chateau des Alpilles in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Ropes or Slopes. In Ropes, teams rappelled 230 feet (70 m) down the cliff, then hiked a short way to the clue below. In Slopes, teams took a much longer sloping trail to the same clue.

Additional tasks

• After the Roadblock, teams had to choose a marked Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon and drive themselves to the Phare de Sainte Marie lighthouse in the city of Marseille to find their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to hike back to the mountains and head to the Pit Stop at the Chateau des Alpilles.

Additional note

• Departing Gmunden, teams rode a train from Attnang to either Salzburg or Munich, flew to Paris, then took a train to Le Mans.

This leg's Fast Forward took place at the Molen van Sloten windmill in downtown Amsterdam.

Airdate: June 26, 2003

• Marseille (Marseille Provence Airport) to Amsterdam, Netherlands (Amsterdam Airport Schiphol)
• Amsterdam (Magere Brug to Scheepvaart Museum)
  • Amsterdam (Molen van Sloten (in Dutch))
• Alkmaar (Alkmaar Cheese Market) or Zuiderwoude (Ranch)
• Monnickendam (Smoker Statue)
• Muiden (Kasteel Muiderslot)

This leg's Fast Forward required one team to make their way to Molen van Sloten. There, each team member was strapped onto the sails of a windmill, which was then set in motion. Once the team completed 10 revolutions, the miller would give them the Fast Forward award.

This leg's Detour was a choice between 500 Kilograms or 15 Feet. In 500 Kilograms, teams drove 30 miles (48 km) to Alkmaar's outdoor market, donned traditional wooden clogs, and used a wooden stretcher to carry cheese from a stockpile to a scale. Once it weighed-in exactly at 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) of cheese, teams received their next clue. In 15 Feet, teams drove 12 miles (19 km) to a ranch outside Amsterdam, which processes cow manure into fertilizer, and had to search barehanded through a pile of manure 15 feet (4.6 m) high for the next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to get on a marked boat, catch 25 eels with their hands, and put them in a marked container to receive their next clue from a fisherman.

Additional tasks

• Upon arrival in Amsterdam, teams had to find the "White Skinny Bridge" and figure out their location was at Magere Brug to find their next clue.
• At Magere Brug, teams had to take a marked boat and, using a provided map, navigate through Amsterdam canals. When they arrived at the Scheepvaart Museum, they found their next clue.

For one half of the Detour in Mumbai, teams had to wash a bundle of clothing in Dhobi Ghat to find a printed clue.

Airdate: July 3, 2003

• Amsterdam (Amsterdam Airport Schiphol) to Mumbai, India (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport)
• Mumbai (Film City)
• Mumbai (Dhobi Ghat or P. Amarlel Clothing Shop)
• Mumbai (Sassoon Docks – Indo Universal Engineering)
• Mumbai (Gateway of India)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Suds or Duds. In Suds, teams had to find an outdoor laundromat in Dhobi Ghat and hand-wash a bundle of clothing to reveal the next clue printed on one piece of the clothing. In Duds, teams needed to locate a clothing shop and search through hundreds of saris to find one with the clue printed on it. To get to either Detour option, teams were required to travel by train or bus.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to find a vendor and carry 20 Palai fish out of a large catch of mixed fish to the market manager to receive their next clue.

Additional task

• At Gate 1 of Film City, teams found a clue instructing them to ride bicycles through a sprawling movie backlot to a Bollywood sound stage in Studio 10 to find their next clue.

The Finishing Point House Boat at Punnamada Lake in Alleppey served as the Pit Stop for this leg.

Airdate: July 10, 2003

• Panvel (Panvel Station) to Ernakulam, Kochi (Ernakulam Junction)
• Ernakulam (National Highway 47)
• Alleppey (Sports Field near Pallathuruthy Bridge on Alappuzha–Changanassery Highway)
• Alleppey (Beach Road)
• Alleppey (Punnamada Lake – The Finishing Point)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to take part in bull racing and hang onto a team of bulls running at top speed across a mud course the length of a football field without letting go to receive their next clue.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Baskets or Trunks. In Baskets, the teams had to load 10 live chickens into baskets on a bicycle-powered wagon. They then navigated to a farm marked on a map to exchange the chickens for their next clue. In Trunks, the teams had to load 2 bales of coir onto an elephant. They then delivered it to a coir shop, trading their cargo for the next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the start of the leg, teams were told to travel by overnight train from Panvel to the Ernakulam Junction in the Ernakulam neighborhood of Kochi.
• On National Highway 47, teams had to search for a clue amongst thousands of yellow-and-red billboards.

Teams traveled to the city of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia, during this leg.

Airdate: July 17, 2003

• Kochi (Cochin International Airport) to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (Kota Kinabalu International Airport)
• Penampang (Monsopiad Cultural Village)
• Kota Kinabalu (Kota Kinabalu Boat Jetty)
• Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park (Manukan Island)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Net or Trap. In Net, teams had to take their boat to a marked fishing platform and use a net to catch 15 fish out of a marked pen to receive their next clue. In Trap, teams had to take their boat to a group of marked lobster boats where they pulled up one weighted lobster trap to get the clue from inside.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to hit three different targets using three Malaysian weapons: a bow and arrow, a blowpipe, and a spear. After hitting all three targets successfully, they and their partner could run to the nearby Pit Stop.

Additional tasks

• At Monsopiad Cultural Village in Penampang, teams received a traditional Malaysian good luck blessing and were given their next clue.
• At Jesselton Point, which was called "Kota Kinabalu Boat Jetty" in the show, teams had to choose one of the marked boats that would take them to a fishing trawler, which contained their next clue.

For the Roadblock, team members climbed Gomantong Caves, known for intricate limestone formations.

Airdate: July 24, 2003

• Ranau (Poring Hot Springs)
  • Sepilok (Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary)
• Sandakan (Trushidup Palm Oil Plantation)
• Kinabatangan (Gomantong Caves)
• Sepilok (Sepilok Nature Resort)

The Fast Forward required one team drive to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary. There, the team had to hike deep into the forest to find a feeding station in the jungle and feed two pieces of durian to an orangutan to win the Fast Forward award.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Chop or Haul. In Chop, teams had to use local tools to chop down palm nut bunches with a clue attached. However, out of every four envelopes, only one contained the clue. In Haul, teams used a wheelbarrow to carry 25 palm nut bunches to a corresponding truck. When the truck was fully loaded, it would drive away, revealing their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to climb a rattan ladder to a point 50 feet (15 m) above the Gomantong Caves floor to grab a basket and retrieve their next clue from inside.

Additional tasks

• At the start of the leg, teams were instructed to ride boats back to the mainland.
• At the Poring Hot Springs in Ranau, teams had to cross a series of tree bridges over 100 feet (30 m) above the ground to reach the next clue.

Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul was the Pit Stop for the 10th leg.

Airdate: July 31, 2003

• Sandakan (Puu Jih Shih Temple)
• Kota Kinabalu (Kota Kinabalu International Airport) to Seoul, South Korea (Incheon International Airport)
• Seoul (Namsan Park – Seoul Tower)
• Cheorwon (Hantan River, Sundam Valley – Rafting Korea)
• Seoul (Subway Station 228)
• Seoul (Taekwondo Dojang or Restaurant)
• Seoul (Gyeongbokgung Palace – Geunjeongjeon Hall)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to plunge into the icy Hantan River and swim under the ice to an exit hole. Once their body temperature rose to a safe level, a doctor would clear them to leave and give them their next clue.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Strong Hands or Strong Stomach. In Strong Hands, teams used a map to find a marked Taekwondo dojang, where each team member had to break three sets of wooden boards to receive their clue. In Strong Stomach, teams used a map to find a marked restaurant where each team member had to eat a Korean delicacy called san-nakji – a dish made of raw octopuses – to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the start of the leg, teams were told to travel to Puu Jih Shih Temple, where they searched through thousands of tiny Buddha figurines for one with their names on it. Behind the figurine was a key to a rattan bag holding their next clue. The clue instructed teams to travel to the city of Seoul, South Korea. A van departing every thirty minutes, starting at 12:00 am, would transport one team at a time to Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
• Upon arrival in Seoul, teams had to travel to Namsan Park and find their next clue at the base of Seoul Tower.
• After the Roadblock, teams were told to travel back to Seoul to search Station 228 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway to find their next clue.

The Detour on this leg focused within the river city of Brisbane, Australia.

Airdate: August 7, 2003

• Seoul (Yeouido Island – Hangang Park)
• Seoul (Incheon International Airport) to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (Brisbane Airport)
  • Sunshine Coast (Beach)
• Brisbane (City Centre – Holiday Inn Penthouse)
• Mooloolaba (UnderWater World)
• Mooloolaba (Mooloolaba Yacht Club)

This season's final Fast Forward required one team to drive an hour away to a beach on the Sunshine Coast and pass a lifeguard test by paddling surfboards in a heavy surf, pulling a swimmer out of the water, and returning her safely to the beach to win the Fast Forward award.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Face First or Foot First. In Face First, teams had to complete a face-first rappel from the penthouse at Holiday Inn hotel to the ground, a descent of 200 feet (61 m), to receive their next clue. In Foot First, teams had to locate a nearby Sheraton building with a Route Marker, run on foot downstairs from the penthouse and across the street, then climb 30-stories to the Sheraton's roof where they would receive their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to put on scuba gear, walk across an aquarium tank filled with 100 sharks and assorted sea creatures, and grab a clue from a small chest.

Additional tasks

• At Hangang Park, teams had to use a marked pedestal to lower a traditional kite attached to a pull-string, before receiving their next clue.
• Upon arrival in Brisbane, teams had to travel to the Holiday Inn hotel and find a concierge to guide them to a penthouse for their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams were directed to the nearby parking lot to choose a marked Mercedes-Benz M-Class, which they drove to UnderWater World in Mooloolaba to find the next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to travel on foot to the next Pit Stop at Mooloolaba Yacht Club.

Ellis Beach, Queensland near Cairns was the Pit Stop for this leg.

Airdate: August 14, 2003

• Ferny Hills (Australian Woolshed)
• Brisbane (Brisbane Airport) to Cairns (Cairns Airport)
• Cairns (Wild World)
• Wangetti (Wangetti Beach)
• Julatten (Off Road Rush)
• Ellis Beach (Ellis Beach)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Saddle or Paddle. In Saddle, teams had to search a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) stretch of beach on horseback to find one of four Route Markers, then search a 25-yard (23 m) radius for a cluster of clue envelopes. However, only one cluster contained the correct clue, while the other three instructed them to try again. In Paddle, teams inflated a kayak using a hand pump, pushed the kayak into the ocean, and paddled to an orange buoy to get their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to drive a race buggy at high speeds through a bumpy, muddy, 7-mile (11 km) road to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At a marked wool-shed in Ferny Hills, teams had to search through one of three huge piles of wool for their next clue.
• After arriving in Cairns, teams had to choose a marked Toyota Land Cruiser and drive themselves to Wild World.
• At Wild World, teams had to follow a marked path to the crocodile pen. One team member was directed to use a feeding stick to feed a fish to a 15-foot (4.6 m) crocodile named Sultan while the other team member took a picture of them with a Kodak EasyShare digital camera. After they took the picture, they had to find the souvenir shop and develop their picture at a Kodak Printer Dock to reveal the next clue on the back.

The season's final leg had teams visit the USS Arizona Memorial in Phoenix, Arizona.

Airdate: August 21, 2003

• Smithfield (Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park)
• Cairns (Cairns Airport – General Aviation Terminal)
• Cairns (Cairns Airport) to Kona, Big Island, Hawaii , United States (Kona International Airport)
• Big Island (Kaulana Bay)
• Big Island (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park)
• Hilo (Hilo International Airport) or Kona (Kona International Airport) to Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport)
• Phoenix (USS Arizona Memorial)
• Tempe (Sun Devil Stadium – Southeast Entrance)
• Phoenix (Papago Park)

This season's final Detour was a choice between Wing It or Wander It. In Wing It, teams had to skydive 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in tandem with an instructor to reach their next clue in the skydive landing zone. In Wander It, teams first drove to a mangrove forest to find a boat, which they used to navigate out the forest and reach the designated skydive landing zone to retrieive their next clue.

In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to swim out to a floating tiki head, then dive to retrieve a particular rock from the ocean floor. They then carried it back to the beach and smashed it open for the clue inside.

Additional tasks

• At the start of the leg, teams were told to head to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, where they (along with a tribal guide) observed an Aboriginal ceremony with fire. In the ceremony, there were a series of torch signals carrying three traditional messages that they could use to receive the next clue.
• Upon arrival on the island of Hawaii (known as "Big Island"), teams had to choose a marked car and drive themselves to the southernmost point of the United States, Kaulana Bay, to get their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams were sent to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where they followed a marked path over a bed of volcanic rock to get their next clue.
• At Sun Devil Stadium, teams had to solve the riddle: "Happy Valentines Day + White + White". The solution was found by converting each part of the clue to a number. "Happy Valentine's Day" (February 14, or 2/14 in American date format) converts to "214", while "White + White" referred to the retired numbers of two players with the surname "White" written on the stadium's wall – 33 (Wilford "Whizzer" White) and 11 (Danny White). Teams combined this information, using it to locate a particular seat in section 214, row 33, seat 11, which contained their final clue.
• At Papago Park, teams first had to ride a pair of bikes on a marked path and then run to the Finish Line.