Extreme Pokémon! (Japanese:ポケモンライドでつっぱしれ！！Run Quickly Along the Pokémon Ride!!) is the 228th episode of thePokémon animated series. It was first broadcast in Japan on December 13, 2001, and in the United States on January 4, 2003.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
On their way to Mahogany City, Ash, Misty, and Brock run into Gary and his Arcanine practicing for a meet. Ash decides he wants to enter the meet but needs a sleigh, which he receives from a local Pokemon breeder. Team Rocket no sooner gets wind of the meet than do they begin sabotaging it, stealing Gary's Arcanine midway through the race and making off with some Pokemon eggs stored at the local breeding center. After a short battle with Team Rocket, Arcanine is returned to Gary and Ash goes on to win the race, a trophy, and an unexpected gift from the Pokemon breeder.
Plot
Continuing through a winding valley,Ash notices a small town up ahead.Brock reads his guidebook and declares that it is the township ofEggseter. SuddenlyGary on a pulledskateboard by hisArcanine passes by. Ash calls out to his rival and challenges him to abattle. Gary, however, declines. He explains that he and Arcanine are entering theExtreme Pokémon Race before rushing off to continue his training. Ash andhis friends give chase, and watch in amazement as otherTrainers also practice.
Later, the group stops off in a restaurant.Misty notices that Ash is still not satisfied, and he admits that he is worried about the collar around Arcanine's neck. A man,Mr. Shellby, overhears the conversation and explains that Extreme Pokémon is a popular sport. With the mention of competition, Ash is determined to beat Gary in the upcoming Extreme Pokémon competition. Mr. Shellby offers to assist. During aTauros cart ride, Mr. Shellby explains that he operates a localPokémon Day Care Center, responsible for raising young Pokémon fromEggs. The group soon arrives at Mr. Shellby's home and meets his wifeKimie. The group looks around the home and see shelves full of Pokémon Eggs, and they also meet some of the new hatchlings. Mr. Shellby shows Ash to his old skateboard and lends it to him for the upcoming race. Ash rides down the sloping hills on the property and admits that he used to mountainboard back inPallet Town.
Ash and Bayleef after winning the Extreme Pokémon Race
During his practice, Ash hits a rock in his path, though Arcanine comes to his rescue. Gary spots the skateboard and realizes that Ash is also entering the race. Ash is confident that he will win, and the rivals vow to do their best. Later, Ash considers which Pokémon to choose.Pikachu is keen to compete, though Ash selectsBayleef, hoping her strength will help him win the race. As he and Bayleef practice,Meowth spots them through his binoculars. He turns around but is forced to shout to wake his teammates up.James reveals that he received a pamphlet advertising a Pokémon race. Meowth glances through and realizes that Ash must be training for the event. The thought of strong Pokémon instantly excites James and Meowth, butJessie declares that they will just steal the winner to avoid further complications.
Meanwhile, Brock test tastes Kimie's homemadePokémon food and is impressed by its quality. Misty watches as Pikachu andTogepi enjoy the food as well. Mr. Shellby interrupts Ash's practice to alert him to another condition of the race. He hands Ash a dummy Egg, which will be needed for the final leg of the race. The new addition takes Ash by surprise. Ash returns to his training session, now with the dummy Egg in hand.
On the day of the Eggseter Extreme Pokémon Race, the announcer explains that the competitors will make their way through the winding Eggseter Valley however they like, where the Shellby Ranch marks the first stop. Participants must pick up a dummy Egg and race back to the starting line, concluding the event. The race begins at a rapid pace. Soon, a Trainer'sScyther soars into the air, knocking several contestants off their boards. Several competitors including Gary and Ash emerge from the subsequent dust cloud and continue racing ahead. Gary and Arcanine take the lead during the mountainous section, and soon Ash catches up. Team Rocket floats overhead in theirMeowth balloon and sends down a net that captures Gary's Arcanine. Ash commands his Bayleef to launch him at the balloon, and he uses his skateboard to pierce it. Ash lands with the balloon, Team Rocket, and Arcanine at Mr. Shellby's house. As Arcanine escapes from Team Rocket, James steals baskets of Pokémon Eggs from Mr. Shellby. Jessie sends out herArbok to defend the team as they escape, but Bayleef appears and battles Arbok. Arbok'sPoison Sting overpowers Bayleef, but Gary arrives just in time and commands Arcanine toTake Down Arbok. Team Rocket resorts to running away, but Ash's Bayleef reclaims the Eggs using her vines, and Team Rocket is sent blasting off by Arcanine'sFlame Wheel.
Ash and Gary are still in the lead, but the rest of the competitors are catching up. They are given their dummy Eggs by Mr. Shellby and continue the race. Gary is slightly ahead of Ash on the return and Ash spots an overhanging cliff, and he uses it as a ramp to catch up to Gary. With the finish line in sight, Gary has Arcanine speed up. Ash orders Bayleef to do the same, and she whips herself to make the leap forward. Her head is narrowly ahead, making for a photo finish victory for Ash. Gary is at first annoyed but takes it in good faith. Ash stands proudly on the winner's podium with the GoldenPoké Ball trophy in hand, and Bayleef next to him with her own medal. Gary later congratulates Ash on the victory before waving goodbye.
Mr. Shellby and his wife approaches Ash. They give him alight blue Pokémon Egg as a present. Misty is curious about what is inside, but Kimie whispers that it is a secret. Mr. Shellby explains that the Poké Ball on top of theEgg case should be used to catch the new hatchling. The Day Care couple waves as the group sets off towardsMahogany Town once again.
The blurb forthis episode incorrectly identifies Mahogany Town as Mahogany City and misspells the word Pokémon asPokemon, without the accent over the "e."
At the start of the race, whenMachamp is shown to be running, it makes the sound of aMachoke.
When the dummy Eggs are shown a second time, there aren't any pictures ofPoké Balls on them.
AfterTeam Rocket stealsGary's Arcanine,Wobbuffet says his name. At the same time, the standard "Poké Ball opening" sound effect is heard. However, at this point, Wobbuffet had already been outside of his ball for some time.
WhenMeowth states that all the baby Pokémon will belong to Team Rocket, a Machamp and aRhydon are included in his fantasy.
When Team Rocket is blasted away,Arbok disappears.
In a couple of scenes,Bayleef's mouth does not move when her voice is heard.
In the last few minutes of this episode,Gary is shown standing in midair.
As Gary is leaving, he says, "See you atJohto", despite this episode taking place in Johto. However, he could be referring to theJohto League.
When Gary walks off in the final scene, the ground changes from grass to dirt.
In the English dub, when seeing the babyWooper,Misty incorrectly refers to them as "Woopers". The plural of a specific species of Pokémon is the same as the singular.
In thePolish dub, when Team Rocket spies onAsh as he is riding the skateboard, Ash says "right" twice.
Dummy Eggs without Poké Ball images
The layering error
