Five Central Albertans are among the 260 people who have been chosen to compete in the first Wipeout Canada television show.
The show is based on a Japanese game show that has contestants navigating obstacle courses, climbing walls, treadmills and a variety of large pylons and wobbly blocks and balls, most of which is done over water and mud. Each episode offers plenty of faceplants and spills. The last man or woman standing will win $50,000.
The Central Albertans who are competing include professional bull rider Devon Mezei from Botha; Andrea Martina Muhlbach, a herd manager on a dairy farm near Stettler; Luke Bowie, a battery operator from Ponoka; and Chad Kellgren, a buffalo farmer and oil operator from Alder Flats, northwest of Rimbey.
Andy Rimer, who grew up in Red Deer but now lives in Vancouver and is known for his SpandyAndy dance performances, will also be competing.
Contestants were chosen to compete after the show producers went through 44,619 applications, meeting with people in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver in June and July. The show will be filmed starting on Oct. 9 to Nov. 3 on a set in Argentina.
Lone Eagle Entertainment Ltd. will produce 13 one-hour episodes of Wipeout Canada, hosted by Jonathan Torrens and Ennis Esmer and co-hosted by Jessica Phillips.
Wipeout Canada is slated to premiere on TVtropolis in the spring of 2011.