Arlington ‘Fear Factor’ tests contestants’ mettle

ARLINGTON — Jonathan Foley’s first reaction to his tuna fish milkshake was shock. Then he took a swig. “It’s sort of like strawberry fish,” said Foley, a Lake Stevens 12-year-old. “It tasted better than I thought it would.”



ARLINGTON — Jonathan Foley’s first reaction to his tuna fish milkshake was shock.

Then he took a swig.

“It’s sort of like strawberry fish,” said Foley, a Lake Stevens 12-year-old. “It tasted better than I thought it would.”

Foley joined about a dozen teens and youngsters who drank stomach-churching milkshakes, dug rocks out of icy water with their feet and complete other unique tasks at the Arlington Library on Thursday, July 1, during the “Fear Factor: Aqua Challenge.”

The program, based on the NBC reality television show, required participants to do five events — “Iron Toes,” “Would You Eat That,” “Slimey Swap,” “Water Balloon Toss” and “Chill Out.”

Challengers received tickets, which could be redeemed for prizes, for each event they took part in.

While Iron Toes contest tested teens’ dexterity in frigid water, it was the flavored milkshakes that garnered the most reaction during the program.

Students cringed as they swallowed two concoctions — the first was a prune flavored shake and the second was neapolitan ice cream paired with tuna fish.

Because of the shakes’ thickness, Shay Siplin, 14, turned her cup upside down while trying to get a sip of the tuna flavored drink.

The Arlington girl covered her mouth in disgust once the liquid hit her tongue.

Eleven-year-old Jake Pospical drank his entire cup of prune milkshake.

“It just tasted like raisins,” he said.

Next, the teens formed two teams for the Slimey Swap, which required the participants to crack eggs and pass the yolk down a line. The last person in line put the egg yolk in a cup, and the first team to fill up the cup would win.

The all-girls team quickly skillfully cracked the eggs and won the competition, but not before yellow liquid drenched through their fingertips and onto the asphalt parking lot.

The group of competitors then vied for top honors in a balloon toss contest, where individuals would try to hit a dart-board like piece of cardboard. Points, and tickets, would be handed out according to each person’s score.

Additionally, organizers had a mannequin head as a target for bonus points.

The final and wettest challenge of the day came during the Chill Out event. Split into groups of two, one person would drape a towel over their face while the other held a cup over their head.

The blinded contestant would try to pour a pitcher of water into the cup using nothing but the direction of their partner.

Luckily for the challengers, those towels were used for cleanup after the event.

Teen librarian Jocelyn Redel said that the program was inspired by similar Fear Factor events at the Marysville Library.

“I think it went really well,” Redel said. “It was a lot of fun, and that’s what we want — for people to enjoy themselves.”