Launch Pads

The **Launch Pads** was the sixth obstacle in the Wipeout Zone in Series 1 and Series 2. It consisted of two trampolines in line with each other, the former of which approximately one foot lower than the latter. Competitors must try to make there way across the trampolines to make it to the ending platform. If a competitor fails the obstacle, they must swim back to the ladder at the starting platform to try the obstacle again.

## Series 1

### Episode 1

'Literally' Rich was the first competitor to attempt this obstacle. He went straight into the obstacle with little hesitation and jumped right from the first launch pad to the second. He got himself to his feet on the second launch pad and leaped to the finishing platform, clearing the obstacle with ease. Next was 'Handsome' Oliver, who tried to land on the first launch pad with his feet, but misjudged the distance, causing him to fall into the water between the two trampolines. On his second attempt, he went with the same approach, nearly over-bouncing and falling into the water a second time, but was able to keep his balance. He then dove onto the second launch pad, where he nearly overshot but was able to catch himself and finish the obstacle successfully. Then was 'Screaming Lord' Thomas who went straight from the previous obstacle into this one and, similarly to 'Literally' Rich, jumped right from the first to the second launch pad. He caught himself on it, pulling himself up and then, on his first try, completing the obstacle successfully.

### Episode 2

The first competitor to attempt the Launch Pads in this episode was 'Judo' Justine, because Tor 'The Tornado' quit earlier on the course. She cautiously jumped onto the first launch pad, then attempting to land on the second one, but slid off of the trampoline surface, doing a somersault into the water. On her second attempt, she took the same approach to the obstacle, this time successfully getting onto the second launch pad ad finishing the obstacle. Next was 'Extreme' Steve who tried jumping through the whole obstacle, but his forward momentum upon being launched off the first trampoline caused him to dive right over the second one, falling into the water below. On his second attempt, he went with the same, risky approach, this time landing on his knees on the second one, making him have to attempt a dive onto the finishing platform, where he slipped off, again falling into the water. On his third attempt, he took the same approach again, landing on his knees on the second launch pad but this time getting the distance to dive successfully onto the ending platform, finishing the obstacle.

### Episode 3

First to attempt this obstacle in this episode was 'Action-Boy' Johnny. On his first attempt, he tried landing on the first launch pad with his feet, but overshooting and falling into the water. On his second attempt, he went with the same approach, this time bouncing high and then falling backwards into the water for a second time. On his third attempt, he was able to suppress his bounce, then diving onto the second launch pads before finishing the obstacle. Next was 'Headband' Dan who first face-planted right onto the first launch pad as a result of slipping off of the starting platform after having too much forward momentum from dashing across the Rolling Beam. On his second attempt, he landed safely on both launch pads and finished the obstacle easily. Then was 'Gymnast' Sian, who went straight from the Rolling Beam to this, jumping gracefully from the launch pads to the ending platform, doing so with amazing speed.

### Episode 4

In this episode, the first competitor to attempt this obstacle was 'Humble' Steve, as 'Footy' Stuart forfeited earlier on in the course. He landed safely on the first launch pad before nearly overshooting his mount on the second one, but still successfully completed the obstacle on his first attempt. Next was 'Hairy' James how attempted to go right into the obstacle with little hesitation, landing on the first launch pad on his feet, but he lost his footing and overshot the platform, falling into the water. On his second attempt, he again tried landing on the first launch pad with his feet, again losing his balance but this time was able to make a desperate dive the second launch pad, where he was able to catch himself and finish the obstacle.

### Episode 5

First was 'Geeky' Samuel who first slipped off of the starting platform as a result of forward momentum from the Rolling Beam. On his second attempt, he landed on his feet on the first launch pad despite very nearly over shooting it, before building up bounce for his leap but falling backwards into the water. On his third attempt, he went for a riskier double-jump, but couldn't keep an upright position from the first to the second launch pads and fell into the water before the ending platform. On his fourth attempt, he cautiously landed onto both launch pads and finally completed the obstacle. Next to attempt the Launch Pads in this episode was 'Ginger-Ninja' Dan, who got onto the first launch pad safely before nearly undershooting his jump to the second, but he was able to hang on to the edge of the trampoline and pull himself u, finishing the obstacle on his first attempt, successfully. Then was Paul 'The Pool' who first attempted to go straight into the obstacle from the Rolling Beam, but slipped right off the edge of the starting platform. On his second attempt, he took a big leap to get onto the first launch pad, then clung onto the second one after his jump and finished the obstacle.

### Episode 6

First to attempt this obstacle in this episode was 'Naked' Stevie who tried jumping straight through the obstacle, but ended up diving over the second one and into the water before the ending platform. On his second attempt, he went with the same approach, this time doing so successfully, almost running across the Launch Pads with two steps on each trampoline, finishing the obstacle. Next was 'Lady' Lucy who first tried to get safely onto the first launch pad, but overshot and slipped off, falling into the water below. On her second attempt, she went with the same cautious approach, this time successfully, before getting onto the second launch pad and the ending platform, finishing the obstacle. Then was 'Lord' Tom who, trying to make up for lost time from an earlier fall, dashed straight from the Rolling Beam to the Launch Pads, attempting to bounce straight across the obstacle but misaimed his first launch and went into the water headfirst. On his second attempt, he went right from the first to the second launch pads, safely getting onto it and then completing the obstacle.

### Episode 7

The first competitor in this episode to attempt the Launch Pads was 'Grumpy' David who very gracefully bounced straight across the obstacle with great control, clearing the obstacle. Next was John 'And His Beard' who tried to land on the first launch pad with his feet, but couldn't keep his balance causing him to five to the second one, which he did successfully. He then got up and finished the obstacle on his first try. Then was 'Super-Boy' Kierron who first slipped at the very end of the Rolling Beam which caused him to fall into the water before the Launch Pads. On his second attempt, he got onto the first launch pad on his feet with great balance, before finishing the rest of the obstacle with ease.

### Episode 8

First was 'Professor' Chris who got onto the first launch pad with his feet, then bouncing onto the second one, finishing the obstacle with ease, on his first tree. Next to attempt this obstacle in this episode was James 'The Undertaker' who had a nearly identical attempt to the previous competitor, getting onto the first one with his feet and then bouncing to the next one and finishing on his first try. Then was 'General' Lee who was going at a very aggressive pace, and attempted to go through the Launch Pads in two bounces, but his momentum went forward upon being launched off of the first, diving over the first one and face-planting into the ending platform. On his second attempt, he took a more cautious approach, safely getting onto both Launch Pads and then finishing the obstacle on his second attempt.

## Series 2

For this series, the obstacle was modified. The first launch pad was put around two feet lower than it was previously, making the gap between the first and second launch pads significantly larger.

### Episode 1

'Tiny' Kelly was the first competitor to attempt the modified version of this obstacle. She first attempted to land on the first trampoline with her hand feet, but didn't absorb the bounce and fell into the water. On her second attempt, she attempted to finish the obstacle in two bounces, but her momentum went forward upon bouncing off of the first launch pad, causing her to dive right over the second and into the water, again. On her third attempt, she went with the same approach, this time doing so completely with great control and speed, finishing the obstacle successfully. Next was 'Jumping' Jack who first safely landed onto the first launch pad, but fell off the back of it when attempting to build up his jump. On his second attempt, he went with the same approach, this time making it to the second trampoline by holding onto it very tightly, and then completing the obstacle. Then was 'Nuclear' James who attempted to jump right from the first to the second launch pad, but misjudged the bounce of the trampoline and fell short, into the water. On his second attempt, he decided to take a safer approach by getting onto the first one safely before jumping to the second, but he was bounced off and back into the water. On his third attempt, he got safely onto the first launch pad, then to the second before finishing the obstacle.

### Episode 2

'Painty' Katie was first, safely getting onto the first launch pad, then gaining a lot of bounce to make it to the second, which was successful. She then got to the ending platform (where she slipped before hitting the buzzer). Next to attempt the Launch Pads in this episode was 'Karate' Cris who hesitated a good amount before getting onto the first trampoline safely. He then undershot the second launch pad but was somehow able to grab hold of the surface of the trampoline to bring himself up, then finishing the obstacle. Then was 'Gymnast' Rachel who first safely got onto the first trampoline. She then attempted to gain bounce for the leap to the second but her knees buckled right before she tried the leap, causing her to go forward instead of upward. She was somehow able to hold onto the second trampoline in a similar manner to 'Karate' Cris, then pulling herself up and clearing the obstacle.

### Episode 3

'Unassuming' Ricky was the first competitor to attempt this obstacle in this episode. He safely got onto the first launch pad, then onto the second one and cleared the obstacle on his first attempt with good speed. Next was 'No Gary Barlow' Andy, who got safely onto the first launch pad despite nearly undershooting, but then actually did undershoot on the leap from the first to the second launch pad, falling into the water below. On his second attempt, he went with the same approach, this time not undershooting, allowing him to finish the obstacle. Then was 'Olympic' Les who first got onto the first launch pad, absorbing the bounce. He then made a jump to the second one, nearly falling back but able to keep a good grasp of the trampoline, yelling whilst doing so. He then cleared the obstacle.

### Episode 4

'Return Of The Headband' Dan was first to attempt the Launch Pads in this episode, first attempting to land on the first launch pad on his knees, but being bounced backwards and into the water. On his second attempt, he flops onto it, getting very high bounce but staying on. He then got onto the second one safely and finished the obstacle successfully. Next was 'Cow-Man' Aaron, who finished the obstacle safely and with good speed on his first attempt. Then was 'Scary' Claire who got onto the first launch pad, absorbing the bounce well, but slightly undershot the second one and fell into the water below. On her second attempt, she caught her foot on the first launch pad, costing her a few seconds. Once she freed herself, she successfully made the jump to the second launch pad, then completing the obstacle.

### Episode 5

Dan 'Cruise' was the first competitor to attempt it in this episode. First, he tried to land safely on the first launch pad on all fours, but overbalanced into the water. On his second attempt, he made it onto the first launch pad, only to overshot his leap to the second one, doing a flip whilst falling into the water. On his third attempt, he finished it successfully. Next was 'Nervous' Antony who made it onto the first trampoline safely, then to the second and then completed the obstacle, doing so with good speed. Then was 'Gassy' Alex who, like Dan 'Cruise', overshot the first launch pad whilst attempting to get onto it safely and fell into the water. On his second attempt, he made it onto the first launch pad safely, then getting onto the second one albeit barely hanging on, before pulling himself up and finishing the obstacle.

### Episode 6

Rob 'The Tiger' was the first competitor to attempt the Launch Pads in this episode. On his first attempt, he tried to get onto the first one safely, but fell off of the other side and into the water. On his second attempt, he got onto the first launch pad successfully, then making to the second one and finished obstacle. Next was 'Bull-Boy' Benny who made it onto the first trampoline, then making it to the second one, having to hold on tightly to keep himself from falling, before clearing the obstacle. Then was 'Rowing' Jon who made it onto the first launch pad on his feet and then jumped to the second one, where he made a desperate reach across the trampoline to hold on. He was able to pull himself up and clear the obstacle.

### Episode 7

'Crouching Tiger Hidden' Adam was first, using his forward momentum from clearing the previous obstacle to jump directly from the first to the second launch pad, where he was successfully able to pull himself up and clear the obstacle. Next in this episode to attempt the Launch Pads in this episode was Gary 'The Clown' who attempted to get across the obstacle in two jumps on his first try, but overshot the second launch pad and fell into the water right before the ending platform. On his second attempt, he went with the same risky approach, this time doing so successfully, completing the obstacle with great speed, balance and control. Then was 'Knockout' Chris, who went with the same approach as Gary 'The Clown'; getting across the obstacle in two jumps. On his first attempt, he under bounced on the first launch pad and fell into the water between the two. On his second attempt, he took the same strategy, this time finishing it, with amazing speed.

### Episode 8

First to attempt the Launch Pads in this episode was 'Concord' Carlos, who made it onto the first launch pad safely, then building up bounce for his leap between the launch pads, which he completed successfully without trouble, clearing the obstacle on his first try. Next was 'On And On' Donovan who overshot the first launch pad on his first attempt, but was somehow able to hold onto the structure with great strength and pull himself back up. Then he went for a jump to the second one, but couldn't grab the trampoline and fell off of the other side. Then was 'Drill Sargent' James, who went directly from the first to the second launch pad with great control, then got up very quickly and made it to the ending platform, finishing the obstacle with great speed.

### Episode 9: The Final - Champions Of Champions

First was 'Return Of The Headband' Dan, who first got onto the first one safely, then making it to the second one and clearing the obstacle. Next was 'Knockout' Chris, who used his determination to win to finish the obstacle in two jumps with incredible speed. Then to attempt this obstacle in this episode was 'Drill-Sargent' James who went directly from the first to the second trampoline with good control, then getting up quickly and finishing the obstacle.