Bitchin’ Boot Camp is a thrilling competition where highly skilled fabricators compete for a chance to join the Kindig-it Designs crew.
This week, Dave Kindig and Kevin Schiele put the contestants through a rigorous challenge. The remaining eight participants are split into two teams tasked with fabricating full, stainless steel dual exhaust systems—from the collectors to the mufflers—on provided rolling chassis in a mere four and a half hours. To increase the complexity, specific jigs have been placed on each chassis, dictating how the pipes must be routed and hung. However, there’s a pivotal twist! The teams have been rearranged, preventing anyone from working with past collaborators. This serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of teamwork, highlighted in previous episodes.
On the Red Team are Patrick Laughlin, Jamie Hjelm, Justin Culver, and Briana Huhn, while the Black Team consists of Gabby Downing, Frank Fannelli, Josh Sartain, and Dez Ferrell. The Red Team initially seems to hold an advantage due to its members’ collective experience and skill. However, this heightened skill level often correlates with larger egos, which could lead to friction.
In contrast, the Black Team, regarded as the underdogs, includes members with less welding experience. Gabby and Frank just recently learned TIG welding, and Dez has candidly acknowledged her struggle with welding. Nonetheless, Josh brings prior experience in exhaust fabrication to the team. A noticeable strength of the Black Team is their ability to collaborate effectively—Dez, Frank, and Gabby readily follow Josh’s lead. This synergy enables them to create a more complete exhaust system than their Red Team counterparts, despite lack of individual experience.
Ultimately, despite Briana’s strong welding skills and Patrick’s effective leadership, the Red Team emerges victorious. Despite their individual talents, the discord among team members hindered their overall performance.
As the competition continues, tensions rise. As a result, the Black Team is split into two new pairings to tackle specific tasks, leading to individual spotlight challenges. Unfortunately, Gabby and Josh face elimination due to not achieving the expected quality, despite their teamwork and positive attitudes. Thus, the competition intensifies, with judges raising the stakes at every turn. Next week, viewers will find out how undisclosed advantages for Briana and Dez may shift the balance of competition.
Week 3 Bitchin’ Boot Camp Power Rankings
- 6. Frank Fannelli: Though Frank’s positive attitude persists, he needs to enhance his skills significantly to remain in the competition.
- 5. Justin Culver: Justin is progressing well, following orders efficiently, yet he must emerge more prominently to distinguish himself.
- 4. Dez Ferrell: While Dez collaborates well and exhibits creativity, her welding skills could jeopardize her advancement.
- 3. Jamie Hjelm: Jamie’s consistent performance keeps her in the competition but requires further effort to reach the lead.
- 2. Patrick Laughlin: Patrick has led his team to victory, yet he must learn to adapt as a follower to shine.
- 1. Briana Huhn: Briana, noted for her superior welding skills, faces potential challenges due to her attitude.
