Over this past weekend, the Pacific Beach-based company VAVi Sports & Social brought the game show “Wipeout” to a new level. The Wipeout Run is a 5k course featuring obstacles inspired by the hit TV show. The race is held each year at the Del Mar Fairgrounds ($10 parking fee) with start times anywhere from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For $65, you can have the “Wipeout” experience as seen on TV.
VAVi started out as an adult recreation league for sports like kickball, flag football, and beach volleyball, and has since grown into a company with more than 90,000 active, young professionals from all over San Diego who come play on and off the field each year. The organization brings together fun, like-minded individuals with the perfect hybrid of top notch sports leagues and premier social events. VAVi also puts together large scale events such as the Heroes Brew Fest, Del Mar Mud Run and the Wipeout Run, which draws participants from all of San Diego County and beyond. The Wipeout Run event travels to 22 cities across the country; San Diego being one of those stops.
The race includes 12 challenge obstacles: Dope on a Rope, Tumble Tubes, Monkey Business, Smash Wall, Foam of Fury, The Drop, Big Balls, Sky’s The Limit, Bubble Bash Swing, Sweeper, the infamous Wrecking Balls, and finally the four-story Happy Ending.
Some of the obstacles were fairly hard to complete without taking a fall into the water. For instance, the Big Balls required you to cross a gap by jumping onto one of four large balls, had less than a 10 percent success rate. When I went through, one worker said that less than 10 people had made it through all day. Then there was the Wrecking Balls. In order to pass this obstacle, you had to run across a narrow bridge over a pool while two large wrecking balls swung back and forth. Move too quickly and you’ll lose your balance, move too slow and you’re sure to get taken out by the wrecking ball. At the end of the run, you get to make your way down the world’s largest inflatable water slide to your Happy Ending. Though you walk away from the Wipeout Run drenched, you leave knowing you had the “Wipeout” experience. Make sure you bring a towel and a change of clothes though, you’ll definitely need it afterwards! VAVi Sports & Social
Where: 3453 Ingraham St. What: Founded in 2002, VAVi Sport & Social is the leading provider of adult sports leagues and large scale social and running events within the social sports industry. Info: (858) 273-3485, vavi.com and wipeoutrun.com