The Special Episode, also known as Episode 1x09, is the pilot episode of U.S. Wipeout. However, it was featured on broadcast as the ninth episode of season 1.
In this special episode, 32 contestants were featured instead of the normal 24. Because of this, 16 competitors advanced the Qualifier rather than 12.
Obstacles[]
Results[]
| Competition: | Finals | ||||||||||||||
| Week: | Qualifier | Sweeper | Cookie Cutter | Wipeout Zone | |||||||||||
| Place | Contestant | Result | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Rocket Scientist" Christian Readyhoff | 3rd (01:10.0) | -- | 2nd (04:13.68) | Winner (00:55.88) | ||||||||||
| 2 | "Faceplant" Scott Kessler | 9th (01:56.9) | -- | 1st (04:04.00) | 2nd Place (02:03.84) | ||||||||||
| 3 | "Pro Cheerleader" Katie Mayfield | 2nd (01:01.3) | -- | 4th (04:51.52) | 3rd/Late Finish (02:25.14) | ||||||||||
| 4 | "Suddenly Slimmer" Mich Rohner | 13th (02:26.9) | -- | 3rd (04:30.37) | 4th Place (02:59.83) | ||||||||||
| 5 | "The Wolverine" Andrew Long | 11th (02:00.4) | -- | Eliminated (05:13.74) | |||||||||||
| 6 | "105-Pound Little" Paul Martin | 12th (02:20.2) | -- | Eliminated (05:52.19) | |||||||||||
| 7 | "Hot Sauce Guy" Daniel Drew | 10th (01:58.8) | -- | Eliminated (07:29.21) | |||||||||||
| 8 | "Football Player" Nick Ballard | 1st (00:59.4) | -- | Out of time | |||||||||||
| 9 | "Dog Trainer" Mindy Fortune | 4th (01:10.8) | Eliminated | ||||||||||||
| 10 | "Police Officer" Steve Romero | 14th (2:28.6) | Eliminated | ||||||||||||
| 11 | "Former Stuntman" Rick Wilson | 6th (01:12.1) | Eliminated | ||||||||||||
| 12 | Eddie Shapiro | 15th (02:29.0) | Eliminated | ||||||||||||
| 13 | "Triathlete" Shelly Williams | 8th (01:22.3) | Eliminated | ||||||||||||
| 14 | Karen Helm | 7th (01:12.6) | Eliminated | ||||||||||||
| 15 | Monte Cook "With His Sore Butt" | 16th (02:29.2) | Eliminated | ||||||||||||
| 16 | Angela Bruson | 5th (01:11.7) | Eliminated | ||||||||||||
Trivia & Notes[]
- Because 32 competitors were featured on this episode, sixteen contestants advanced to the Sweeper. During the Sweeper, however, the obstacle stopped as soon as eight contestants were eliminated. As such, no competitor would win a bonus cash prize for being the last competitor standing.
- On the Cookie Cutter, the four contestants with the best times advanced to the Wipeout Zone.
- Nick Ballard has the best time in Wipeout history in the Qualifier and is the first to cross the Big Balls.
- Mich Rochner, Daniel Drew, and Christian Readyoff all slid down Human Pinball perfectly.
- Katie Mayfield is the first to cross the Sucker Punch, the second to cross the Big Balls, and the only one, along with Christian Readyoff, to stick the landing on the Leap of Faith. Confusingly, however, she was cited to have a perfect run by the John’s, despite falling into the water after Human Pinball.
- Eddie Shapiero later crossed the Sucker Punch.
- Although she ran out of time, Katie Mayfield still finished the Wipeout Zone. She finished 21.30 seconds slower than Scott Kessler after he completed the Wipeout Zone.
- Christian Readyhoff had the best time in the Wipeout Zone in Wipeout history. To put his time into perspective, Readyhoff managed to complete the course before the other contestants even started on the first obstacle.