Spinner

Season 1's Spinner

The Spinner is the fourth obstacle in the Wipeout Zone of Season 1.

It is a rotating slippery surface covered in padded barricades that contestants must jump onto, and then make an 8-foot (2.44-meter) leap to the platform on the other side.

In the pilot episode, it was initially placed as the third obstacle in the Wipeout Zone. It was eventually moved over to the fourth position when the Climbing Wall was made as an intermediary obstacle between this obstacle and the Barrel Run.

In episode 5, there was latex, making only two entrances.

It was replaced by the Crazy Sweeper on the next season.

Other Season Appearances

Season 2

In Season 2, the Spinner appeared as an obstacle in two different Round Three courses:

• Firstly, it appeared as the second obstacle of the Dizzy Dummy 2.0. It was missing all its pillars, and its top pillar was replaced by a different object in every episode (i.e., a keyhole, door, bungee web, or goalposts). Contestants must slip through/over the required object before attempting the rest of the course.

Season 2’s Slippery Course (featuring the Spinner)

• Secondly, it appeared as the fourth and final obstacle of the Slippery Course with a similar albeit smaller configuration to its Wipeout Zone appearance in the previous season. To complete the obstacle (and the course altogether), contestants must be the first to stand on the center platform at the top. There are four rounds, and the first person to do so in each round moves on to the Wipeout Zone.

Australia Special

Season 2's Spinner (Australia Special)

The Spinner also appeared in the Australia Special in the same season, once again as the fourth obstacle in the Wipeout Zone.

Season 3

In Season 3, a variation of the Spinner appeared as a Round Three obstacle, alternating with the Circular Challenge and Bruiseball. The six contestants start together on a rotating spinner. They must stay on it for as long as possible and jump over the sweeper arm to avoid being knocked into the water below. If they go under or around the sweeper arm, they’re out. Costumed characters in the middle of the spinner throw various items at the contestants based on the theme of the week. In addition, the contestant who grabs the brass ring earns a $1,000 bonus. There are four rounds, and the last person standing at the end of each round moves on to the Wipeout Zone.

Themes

Season 3’s Spinner, using the Unclaimed Baggage theme

• Unclaimed Baggage (Anderson Can't Dance): The six contestants start together on a rotating spinner. They must stay on it for as long as possible and jump over the sweeper arm to avoid being knocked into the water below. If they go under or around the sweeper arm, they're out. They also have to deal with John Henson and the air traffic cops throwing bags and boxes from above. In addition, the contestant who grabs the brass ring earns a $1,000 bonus. There are four rounds, and the last person standing at the end of each round moves on to the Wipeout Zone.

Season 3’s Spinner in Round Three, using the Sleepytime theme

• Sleepytime (The Henson Experiment): The six contestants start together on a rotating spinner while wearing pajamas. They must stay on it for as long as possible and jump over the sheep-covered sweeper arm to avoid being knocked into the water below. If they go under or around the sweeper arm, they're out. They also have to deal with the party crashers throwing slumber party items from above. In addition, the contestant who grabs the brass ring earns a $1,000 bonus. There are four rounds, and the last person standing at the end of each round moves on to the Wipeout Zone.

• Beach Party (Knock Knock, Who’s There? Wipeout): The six contestants start together on a rotating spinner while wearing wetsuits. They must stay on it for as long as possible and jump over the sweeper arm to avoid being knocked into the water below. If they go under or around the sweeper arm, they're out. They also have to deal with the lifeguards throwing beach items and wet towels from above. In addition, the contestant who grabs the brass ring earns a $1,000 bonus. There are four rounds, and the last person standing at the end of each round moves on to the Wipeout Zone.

Season 3’s Spinner in Round Three, using the Car Wash theme

• Car Wash (Totally, Totally Inappropriate!): The six contestants start together on a rotating spinner. They must stay on it for as long as possible and jump over the bristled brush to avoid being knocked into the water below. If they go under or around the brush, they're out. They also have to deal with the car washers throwing sponges and shammies from above. In addition, the contestant who grabs the brass ring earns a $1,000 bonus. There are four rounds, and the last person standing at the end of each round moves on to the Wipeout Zone.

• Food Fight (Food Fight): The six contestants start together on a rotating "Lazy Susan" spinner. They must stay on it for as long as possible and jump over the sweeper arm to avoid being knocked into the water below. If they go under or around the sweeper arm, they're out. They also have to deal with the cafeteria chefs throwing food from above. In addition, the contestant who grabs the brass ring earns a $1,000 bonus. There are four rounds, and the last person standing at the end of each round moves on to the Wipeout Zone.

Season 3’s Spinner in Round Three, using the American Revolution theme

• American Revolution (America's Finest): The six contestants start together on a rotating spinner. They must stay on it for as long as possible and jump over the sweeper arm to avoid being knocked into the water below. If they go under or around the sweeper arm, they're out. They also have to deal with Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty throwing a barrage of patriotic projectiles from above. In addition, the contestant who grabs the brass ring earns a $1,000 bonus. There are four rounds, and the last person standing at the end of each round moves on to the Wipeout Zone.

It was replaced by both the Seven Letter Word and Winter Blunder Land in the next season.

Trivia

• In 1x02, Jim Wakefield jumped on the Spinner, broke a pillar off it, and fell into the water with it. He later won that episode.
• In 1x06, John Curtis leaped on the Spinner and got hit hard by a pillar. The two Johns dubbed his hit as "the hardest hit on the spinner". It was shown as one of Wipeout's Top 25 Moments. It was shown as moment #10. On YouTube's video Top 10 Wipeout Moments, it was posted as moment #9.
• In 1x10, Phil Somerville was disqualified for injuring his left shoulder upon landing on the Spinner weirdly. Before he could attempt the obstacle for a second time, his time was stopped, and he was removed from the course to be assessed by the medical team, who later deemed him unfit to continue running the course.