Water Torture

Shoulder the Load (also known as Water Torture) is a recurring endurance challenge that originated in and was modified and used in later seasons.

Rules
When originally used in , 1 man from each tribe was chosen to be the designated water bearer who would hold weight in water from the other tribe until the weight became to much to bear.

Starting in  and since, three members from each tribe will have a pole across their shoulders. Each round, weight (20 lbs.) will be added to that pole. The decision about which tribe member gets the weight will be made by the other tribe. When the weight becomes too much to bear, the tribe member will drop the pole and be out of the challenge. Last person left standing wins immunity for their tribe.

Starting in  a requirement was added that 2 men and 1 woman must compete in this challenge. This requiremnt was kept for .

History
In its debut during, Michael Skupin and Colby Donaldson were the two designated water bearers. After time elapsed, Mike's pole snapped in half. The two went into a tie-breaker in which Colby won for his tribe, Ogakor.

Andrew and Ryan O. won this challenge for Morgan when it reappeared in.

Taj won this challenge for Jalapao for reward in.

Dawn won this challenge for Savaii, this challenge was for reward and immunity most recently in.

Trivia

 * Rupert Boneham held the original record weight of 220 pounds. J.T. Thomas and Brendan Synnott matched this weight in Tocantins.
 * Jim Rice and Brandon Hantz set a new record of 240 pounds in South Pacific.
 * Christa Hastie holds the record for highest weight for women, 160 pounds.
 * Coach Wade has played this challenge twice, each time determining which member of the opposing tribe received extra weight. His tribe lost the challenge both times.
 * Dawn Meehan is the oldest woman to win this challenge. Andrew Savage is the oldest man to win this challenge.
 * Debbie Beebe dropped out at the smallest amount of weight. She dropped out at 100 pounds.