Sara Alanis represented Morgan Hill’s finest as she navigated a
mud-and-slime-soaked obstacle course Wednesday night on the popular
TV program
”
Wipeout.
”
Although the Morgan Hill police officer didn’t win the $50,000
prize, Alanis was honored to be one of 24 contestants chosen out of
20,000 applicants who braved what she called a
”
summer camp from hell.
”
Wednesday’s episode can be viewed by clicking here.
Sara Alanis represented Morgan Hill’s finest as she navigated a mud-and-slime-soaked obstacle course Wednesday night on the popular TV program “Wipeout.”
The program, aired at 9 p.m. on ABC, was shot almost a year ago. Although the Morgan Hill police officer didn’t win the $50,000 prize, Alanis was honored to be one of 24 contestants chosen out of 20,000 applicants who braved what she called a “summer camp from hell.”
Wednesday’s episode can be viewed by clicking here.
“It was one of the greatest experiences of my life,” said Alanis, 29, who is originally from Gilroy. “I didn’t win but I had a great time.”
The theme of Wednesday’s episode was “America’s Finest,” and featured a variety of public servants as contestants – including police officers, firefighters, teachers and medical professionals.
Alanis, who has been an officer in Morgan Hill for about five years, said the theme was part of the reason she wanted to be on the show.
“I want to show people that cops aren’t like robots. We have fun. We’re human,” she said.
And it wasn’t the possibility of being on TV that inspired Alanis to apply for the show – no contestants are guaranteed air time. A fierce competitor, Alanis has wanted to participate on “Wipeout” since the show aired three years ago.
Contestants had to pass a rigorous three-month screening process in order to make the final cut. The qualifying process included the completion of a binder-full of paperwork, a background check, permission from a doctor and an audition.
“I felt like I was being investigated,” she laughed.
Alanis explained the videotaped audition, one of the last steps to be selected, was intended to test prospective candidates’ personalities and screen presence, rather than the physical prowess that would seemingly benefit the ultimate winner of the timed obstacle course that requires skillful running, jumping, strength and hand-eye coordination.
The beat cop was on patrol when she received a call from the show’s producers letting her know she made the final cut, and was so excited that “nobody got a ticket that day.”
Now seven months pregnant with her second child, Alanis said she was in good shape for the “Wipeout” shooting in Burbank, but the course was more difficult than it looks on television. While the “crazy, obscene” obstacles – some with ominous names such as “The Sucker Punch” – are hard enough as they’re designed, the show’s producers covered the entire course in baby oil, mud and “slime,” Alanis explained.
“I wiped out about five or six times,” she said. “It’s almost impossible not to wipe out.”
The show also formed a lasting bond among the contestants, as Alanis said she still communicates with some of her fellow competitors.
“I wish I could do it again,” Alanis said.
