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Fear Factor Episode 306
Original airdate: October 21, 2002


While contestants stood lakeside, Joe explained their first stunt. Each player would stand on the back of speedboat as it sped along the lake. A helicopter dangling a 20-foot ladder would fly overhead, allowing each player to grab the bottom rung. Players would then be hoisted off the boat, suspended from the ladder. The two men and two women who climbed up the ladder and into the helicopter the fastest would advance. Heather, a California triathlete, was up first.

While Kristy and Thai bickered back on shore, Heather balanced on the back of the speeding boat and grabbed hold of the rope ladder. She tried again and again to flip her feet up and over the next rung, but Heather wasn't having any luck. Finally, after 26 seconds, her grip gave out and Heather plunged into the freezing cold lake. Kristy was next and flashed the others her back tattoo before heading out to the lake. Kristy used a pull-up technique to make it to the second rung, then employed the same strategy as Heather. Unfortunately, she had the same results and let go of the ladder. Basically, all Misty had to do was complete the stunt in any amount of time. But would she do it? Misty had Georgia gumption, but could she hold on? Within in the first few seconds she managed to get her feet up over the next rung! It seemed like an eternity, however, before she could hoist herself into a standing position. Misty took her time and battled the wind, but made it into the copter! Now it was up to the guys.

Confident Thai was up first. No sooner had Thai lifted off the boat, than he was flying up the ladder using only his arms! In 21 seconds, Thai had set the bar for the guys. Alex and Keith faced the difficult task of beating that time to advance to day two. Alex managed to make it into the helicopter in 23.2 seconds. Keith, a big bulky guy, had more trouble. With a time of 32 seconds, Keith was out. A slimy disgusting "treat" greeted the remaining three players on day two. They arrived in a dark, cavernous space to find a massive container filled with thousands of squirming, poopy worms. Adjacent to the worms was a large bowl perched on a scale. Using only their mouths, players would have to transfer as many worms as possible from the container to the bowl in three minutes. Oh, and somewhere in the process they would have to gulp down two "shots" of worms! (Remember the good 'ol days, in the first season, when the entire stunt was to eat one glass of worms?) The two players who transferred the largest amount of worms (measured by weight) would advance to the final round.

Misty was up first and gave it the old Georgia try. Each player would start with a shot of worms, and then transfer at least one mouthful of worms before taking their second shot. Unfortunately, these worms didn't have a bottle of tequila to go with them. Misty spit out her worms within a few seconds, eliminating her from the competition. Since only the two guys remained - thereby guaranteeing them a spot in the finals if they completed the stunt - Joe upped the ante. The guy that transferred the most worms in three minutes would earn an extra thousand bucks! Alex was up first - and unlike Thai, Alex didn't prepare for Fear Factor by eating crickets. After gagging down his first shot, Alex tackled the container of worms. Mouthful by slimy mouthful he filled the scale, pausing only to take his second shot of worms. After three minutes, Alex topped out at 13.24 pounds! But Thai wanted that thousand bucksôand attacked his challenge face first. After a false start, Thai chugged his shot and started with the worm transfer. Thai stopped at 13.6 and easily claimed the thousand-dollar prize. On to day three!

Thai and Alex arrived at a sleepy little town, complete with shops and a cute house. Joe directed their attention to a large window on the side of the house just a sports car crashed through it and onto the street in front of them! Both Thai and Alex would drive the car through the structure, launching themselves onto the street. The player who launched the furthest would be the newest Fear Factor champ. They flipped a coin to see who went first and Alex won, but he defaulted and let Thai start the stunt. Thai put on his safety gear, got some last minute advice from Joe and revved up. Up the ramp, through the structure and out the window he went! Twenty-nine feet, eleven and a half inches was the distance Alex had to beat. Thai was convinced Alex could easily win, especially since Thai had hit the guardrail within the structure, which he thought might have slowed him down. Once the structure was rebuilt, Alex climbed into the car and floored it! However, flooring it wasn't such a great idea. The tires spun in the gravel, slowing the car's take off. Alex launched out of the window and landed 24-feet and one inch away. Thai was the newest Fear Factor winner!