EOC (also known as Austin's Elemental Obstacle Course) is a recurring physical challenge that debuted in Survivor: San Juan del Sur.
The challenge was created by a 13-year-old boy named Austin Russell, who was part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and whose wish was to create a challenge for Survivor.
Rules[]
Castaways must race through a series of obstacles based on the four elements while tethered together to complete a final objective. The first tribe or team to complete that objective wins.
History[]
The challenge debuted as the final six Reward Challenge in San Juan del Sur. Called the "Elemental Obstacle Course", the course opened with an "Earth" section where each team had to race through a haystack tethered together, followed by hitching posts that castaways must alternate going over and under. The "Air" and "Water" section of the course requires castaways to carry a bucket of water over a giant, netted teeter-totter to dump into another, larger bucket. Once that bucket is full, a gate would drop along with a bag of puzzles pieces. The "Fire" section required the team to assemble a plank puzzle depicting flames and the phrase "Blood vs. Water" to win the challenge. Although the team of Jon Misch, Keith Nale, and Missy Payne was slowed down by Missy injuring her ankle on the teeter-totter, they managed to finish their puzzle first in a close race to win reward.
In Game Changers, the challenge was used as a combined Reward/Immunity Challenge. Three members of each tribe would have to go through the course. The "Earth" section now required castaways to navigate through a structure of intertwined sticks. Upon reaching the puzzle, a fourth member would untie the puzzle pieces, which the last two must use to solve the puzzle featuring flames and the season's logo. In a tight race between the three tribes, Nuku finished first, while Tavua solved their puzzle seconds before Mana, winning both tribes immunity and sending Mana to Tribal Council. Notably, Troyzan Robertson found Tavua's Hidden Immunity Idol at the back of their puzzle table.
In Survivor 43, the challenge was used as a combined Reward/Immunity Challenge. Four members of each tribe would have to go through the course. Upon reaching the end, one member would roll balls up a ramp, until all three rest on the small ledge at the same time (replacing the "Fire" puzzle.) Vesi finished first and won immunity after retaining a lead for the whole challenge, and while Baka was slower and fell behind, they caught up to Coco in a tight race for second place. Baka landed all three balls on the ledge after Ryan Medrano intentionally knocked Coco's off to throw the challenge, winning immunity and sending Coco to Tribal Council.
In Survivor 44, the challenge was used as the final tribal Immunity Challenge. Though Tika broke off to an early lead, the tribes were even heading into the final task, where two members had to land three balls in slots at the finish of a table maze. Ratu and Soka quickly pulled ahead to clinch a first- and second-place respectively, sending Tika back to Tribal Council.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan del Sur "Let's Make a Move" |
Team Reward |    Jon, Keith, Missy |
| Game Changers "Survivor Jackpot" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |       Nuku |
      Tavua | ||
| Survivor 43 "Stop with All the Niceness" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |     Vesi |
     Baka | ||
| Survivor 44 "The Third Turd" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |      Ratu |
     Soka |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This challenge's designer, Austin Russell, later became a member of the Survivor Dream Team.[1]
- San Juan del Sur is the only season to use this challenge post-merge.
References[]