Shake-a-lator

The Shake-a-lator is an obstacle, used as the fourth obstacle in the Qualifier of Season 3, replacing both the Log Roll and the Hurtles from the previous season. It was interchanged with the Trampoline Sweeper, the Organ Grinder, and the Beaten Path throughout the season.

It is a slippery shaking table that contestants must cross to get to the other side. It has the reputation of toying with them a lot, of which some stay on for a long time and some are as quickly off as soon as they were on it. As soon as they attempt to jump off, it will suddenly tip, making them fall off.

Aside from the plain setup, the obstacle had a few additions that make it harder:

Season 3’s Shake-a-lator (with foam and wrecking balls)

Season 3’s Shake-a-lator (with wrecking balls)

In episodes 2 and 6, there were wrecking balls descending on the table, which in the former episode was covered in foam.

Season 3’s Shake-a-lator (with small balls)

In episodes 7 and 13, there were small balls attached to the table.

Season 3’s Shake-a-lator (with Wrecking Ball and Slow Wrecking Ball)

In episode 9, the Wrecking Ball and the Slow Wrecking Ball were featured.

Season 3’s Shake-a-lator (with small balls and velvet ropes)

In episodes 16 and 18, there were small balls and velvet ropes that contestants must climb over.

Only seven contestants cleared this obstacle, three of whom later ended up with the best times in the Qualifier of their respective episodes:

Burton Hendrickson (S3E2)
Robin Burton (S3E6)
Daryl McCloud (S3E7)
Frank Beasley (S3E11; who later won that episode)
Peter Ton (S3E13)
David Damiani (S3E16)
Dean Viana (S3E18)

It was replaced by the Snow Plow Sweeper in the next season.

Later, a variation of this obstacle named the Jiggle-ator appeared as the fourth obstacle in the Qualifier of Season 4’s Summer Wipeout, being interchanged with the Mood Swing.

Trivia[]

The Shake-a-lator is built on a giant gimbal, a device that is used in movies to simulate the movement of an airplane or boat in a storm.