ABOUT shortcuts . rules . itinerary
A camera, a sense of adventure and a thumb are the only requirements needed for this expedition. This trip promises the ultimate Canadian experience, all that is left to do is to catch that free ride. This is a documentary where young explorers are given a chance to participate in a race like no other. To win the prize, they must travel over 8,000km by doing the traditional and cheap way of getting around: hitchhiking. This is the real adventure testing not only the strength of its contestants, but also the sheer goodwill that Canadians are well-known for worldwide.
The adventure begins in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Six teams of two must make their way to Vancouver, British Colombia in fifteen days. The main rule is simple: no ride can be paid for nor arranged beforehand. To ensure safety as well as to allow contestants falling behind to catch up, mandatory pit stops are made for every couple of days. These stops are at various Canadian cities along the way where they can rest and appreciate the different cultural atmospheres this country has to offer. A departure time is set with half-hour intervals. The team who arrives at the pit stop in the least amount of time gets to leave first, the second leaves a half-hour after, and so on. A point system is also set to determine which team has the advantage of leaving earlier from the final pit-stop. This is also accumulated through the amount of hours spent on the road. With each passing day, teams can only keep their faith in humanity high and rely on the goodness of Canadians to help them reach the other side. Prior to participating in this race, teams are asked to contribute $200 towards the grand prize. Whoever makes it to Vancouver first wins it all.
To bring the viewers right into the action, the entire race is filmed by the participants themselves. Every team is equipped with their own recording device to document their journey. Each unique moment, each strange encounter is seen through the eyes of those experiencing the event. This provides a personal perspective to the race, giving viewers a raw, un-fabricated look at the players and all the drama, chaos and fun throughout the journey.
Amateur and intimate, this competition will different from those seen in reality television. With its entirely independent approach, this will be an adventure for anyone looking for the real thing. Most importantly, this documentary will showcase the beauty of this wonderful country from the majestic landscapes to the kindness of its people. This film will, without a doubt, provide the greatest Canadian experience.
The following is a set of official rules and guidelines that each team must abide by during the race in order to ensure safety, fairness and fun throughout their journey.
1. All contestants participating in the race must be of legal drinking age (19 years-old or over).
2. Teams are not allowed to pay for any transportation during the duration of the trip with the exception of inter-city travel (ie, using the GO transit from Toronto to Barrie).
3. No ride may be pre-arranged prior to the trip. Asking friends in the area for a lift defeats the purpose of hitchhiking and relying on the kindness of strangers to reach the final destination.
4. The production has absolute zero tolerance for disrespect, cheating, possession of illegal substances and criminal behaviour. If any hitchhiker participates in these kinds of acts, he/she and their teammate will automatically be eliminated from the race.
5. As a safety pre-caution, no two females are allowed to compete together as a team. Teams must either be co-ed or consist of two males.
6. In order to ensure safety as well as to track progress, each team must bring a cell phone with them on their journey so that they may be contacted at any time.
7. Pit stops and resting time are mandatory. No team is allowed to leave the pit stop premises until the set designated time of departure.
8. No two teams are allowed to hitchhike at the same spot at the same time. If a team notices another hitchhiking in their desired location, they must walk on and find a different spot.
9. In between stops, teams must update their on-line blogs of their progress thus far so that fans may be able to track the race as it unfolds.
10. To abide by official traffic laws, hitchhikers are encouraged to stay away from the side of the highway and to catch their rides through side roads or by on-ramps. This, again, ensures the safety of the participants, particularly in busy cities such as Montreal and Toronto.
11. With each ride, teams must interview the driver in a casual manner so that his/her character and story are revealed. Prior to filming, however, team members must ask the driver on-camera if he/she is willing to be filmed for this documentary. If the driver declines, the camera must be turned off. This ensures that all footage filmed is useable for the documentary.
12. Whatever quirky moment or behaviour shot by the participants have 100% potential in being shown in the final cut. If hitchhikers are concerned with keeping any secret from being revealed to the public, they are ask to make a mental note of what they film. If it's on video, it will make it to the documentary. Nothing is to be censored.
July 3 meet n' greet in Halifax, NS
RULES
ITINERARY
July 4 race begins in Halifax, NS
July 5 teams arrive in Montreal, QC
July 6 teams arrive in Toronto, ON
July 7 day off in Toronto, ON
July 8 teams start hitchhiking from Barrie, ON
July 9 teams arrive in Thunder Bay, ON
July 10 day off in Thunder Bay, ON
July 11 teams arrive in Winnipeg, MB
July 12 day off in Winnipeg, MB
July 13 teams start hitchhiking from Winnipeg, MB
July 14 teams arrive in Calgary, AB
July 15 teams meet up in Banff, AB
July 16 day off in Banff, AB
July 17 teams arrive in Vancouver, BC. Race ends.