Smash and Grab (also known as Smash, Grab, Smash, Dirty Water Dog, The Ocean, and Leap of Faith) is a tribal challenge that originated in Survivor: Cook Islands, and has since been used in Micronesia, Redemption Island, Caramoan, Millennials vs. Gen X, Survivor 44, and Survivor 45.
Rules[]
A given number of tribe-members must swim out to a platform and climb up to a high platform. They take a club and jump out over the water, attempting to smash a tile which holds a key. Upon retrieving the key, they return to shore and the next contestant begins the circuit. Once all keys have been retrieved, the remaining tribemates use the keys to unlock a box and complete the final phase of the challenge: either a puzzle or a carnival throwing-game.
In San Juan del Sur, Millennials vs. Gen X, and Survivor 44, instead of using a club to smash a tile that held a key, castaways must grab the keys with their bare hands.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge debuted in Survivor: Cook Islands as a Reward Challenge. Three tribe members retrieved six keys, with each person required to collect at least one key each, whilst the remaining two solved the final puzzle depicting a map of the world. Brad Virata dug a hole for Rarotonga by insisting on doing the puzzle which left Rebecca Borman struggling to swim. Aitutaki won the challenge, receiving items they had selected from a catalogue (potatoes and peanut butter).
The same format was used in Micronesia, although the challenge was a combined Reward/Immunity Challenge. Five tribe members retrieved one key each, one person unlocked the chest, and the remaining three contestants solved a puzzle depicting a map of Micronesia. Chet Welch failed to retrieve a key for Airai and Malakal won the challenge by a large margin, gaining immunity, fishing supplies, and a bamboo boat.
In Redemption Island, the last phase was changed to a carnival game. Five contestants retrieved keys, one unlocked the chest, whilst the remaining two used a ball contained in the chest to smash five tiles. Zapatera came from behind and won the challenge, gaining immunity and a reward of fishing gear.
Caramoan saw five castaways retrieving keys and the remaining two unlocking the chest and using the sandbags contained within to knock over a row of stacked blocks. Despite Reynold Toepfer nearly staging a huge comeback victory for Gota on the sandbag throwing stage, Bikal still won the challenge and immunity.
In San Juan del Sur, the challenge was used as a Reward Challenge at the final nine. The Huyopa tribe split into two teams of four, with one person sitting out with no shot at reward. Each team member first swam to a ramp, which they would run and jump off, grabbing a key on their way down. They would then swim to a bundle of puzzle pieces and push it to their podium. Once all the keys and puzzle pieces have been collected, the team will use the keys to unlock the pieces to build a puzzle statue. The yellow team of Alec Christy, Jaclyn Schultz, Jon Misch, and Reed Kelly won the opportunity to deliver baseball gear to local kids, as well as a meal of baseball snacks.
In Millennials vs. Gen X, the contestants had to swim out one by one to a netted ramp, jump off to grab one of five keys, and use them to unlock a crate containing diving goggles. Using those goggles, contestants must take turns diving into the water to untie and retrieve five rings. The first tribe to collect their rings and toss them onto five poles wins immunity. Takali initially fell behind after David Wright's poor performance retrieving his key. However, they were able to catch up on the ring toss to win against Vanua.
The challenge was once again used as a tribal Immunity Challenge in Survivor 44. After every member reached the final platform with a key, two tribe members had to complete a jigsaw puzzle of a manta ray. Soka held on to a dominant lead throughout the challenge, allowing them to finish first. The competition for second-place came down to Ratu and Tika, both of whom had suffered setbacks at the balance beam portion of the challenge. In the end, Carson Garrett and Lauren Harpe narrowly pulled off the victory for Ratu, sending Tika back to Tribal Council.
The challenge appeared in Survivor 45 as the second tribal Immunity Challenge, where the tribes had to finish by completing a vertical coral puzzle. Although Belo fell behind, Lulu once again failed to capitalize on their lead as Brandon Donlon and Sabiyah Broderick floundered on the puzzle. The challenge ended up being a two-horse race between Reba and Belo for first-place, with Reba taking the win, Belo finishing second, and Lulu losing yet another challenge.
Australia[]
France[]
New Zealand[]
South Africa[]
Sweden[]
Winners[]
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Cook Islands "Why Aren't You Swimming?!" |
Tribal Reward | Aitutaki |
Micronesia "The Sounds of Jungle Love" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity | Malakal |
Redemption Island "You Own My Vote" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity | Zapatera |
Caramoan "Kill or Be Killed" |
Tribal Immunity | Bikal |
San Juan del Sur "This Is Where We Build Trust" |
Team Reward | Alec, Jaclyn, Jon, Reed |
Millennials vs. Gen X "Love Goggles" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity | Takali |
Survivor 44 "I'm Felicia" |
Tribal Immunity | Soka |
Ratu | ||
Survivor 45 "Brought a Bazooka to a Tea Party" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity | Reba |
Belo |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Australian Survivor (2017) Episode 11 |
Tribal Immunity | Samatau |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners | |
---|---|---|---|
Raja Ampat Episode 4 |
Tribal Immunity | Mambok | |
Malaisie Episode 7 |
Tribal Reward | Sungaï | |
La Nouvelle Édition Episode 5 |
Tribal Reward | Simban | |
Thaïlande Episode 3 |
Tribal Reward | Aopoh | |
L'Île au Trésor Episode 2 |
Tribal Immunity | Sambor | |
Cambodge Episode 3 |
Tribal Immunity | Bokor | |
Sokka | |||
Fidji Episode 4 |
Tribal Reward | Coravu | |
Le Combat des Héros Episode 6 |
Tribal Reward | Toa (Le Combat des Héros) | |
La Guerre des Chefs Episode 5 |
Tribal Reward | Tabuo | |
Kama (Koh-Lanta) | |||
Les 4 Terres Episode 7 |
Tribal Immunity | Vuro | |
La Légende Episode 6 |
Tribal Reward | Lanta-naï (La Légende) | |
Le Totem Maudit Episode 7 |
Tribal Reward | Matingi |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Island of Secrets "It's Time for a Hail Mary" |
Tribal Immunity | Ta'alo |
Sa'ula |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Robinson 2023 Episode 10 |
Tribal Immunity | South Team (Robinson 2023) |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Andrea Boehlke, Erik Reichenbach, Jonathan Penner, Ozzy Lusth, Parvati Shallow, and Phillip Sheppard have all competed in this challenge twice.
- Jonathan and Ozzy are the only contestants to have won the challenge twice.
- This challenge was used in both "Fans vs. Favorites" seasons (Micronesia and Caramoan).
- Both times, it was won by the Favorites tribe.
- This challenge has been played by both members of the Hantz family who have competed on Survivor: Russell Hantz in Redemption Island, and Brandon Hantz in Caramoan.
- Tika is the only purple tribe to lose this challenge.
- It is also the only purple tribe to compete in this challenge and not have nine members at the time it was held.
References[]