Hot Pursuit (also known as Pack Race, Steeple Chase, The Evil Circle, Snake In the Grass, and Catch Your Tail) is a recurring physical challenge in Survivor.
Rules[]
While harnessed together, the two competing tribes will circle around an oval course (either in shallow water or on land) while carrying a twenty-pound backpack each (or similar heavy load). Players can drop out of the challenge at will, but they must give their weight to a tribemate before unclipping themselves from the rope. The first tribe to catch the opponent and touch one of their members wins.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge was first used in Palau. Janu Tornell and Jenn Lyon sat out of the challenge for Koror. Jeff Wilson quickly opted out of the challenge because of an ankle injury he sustained the night before. Caryn Groedel was unable to keep it and gave her weight to Tom Westman. Willard Smith quickly followed. Then Kim Mullen and Angie Jakusz opted out of the challenge. Katie Gallagher left the game. Exhausted, Coby Archa opted out. James Miller was the last person to opt out the challenge. Eventually, Koror managed to catch the exhausted Ulong tribe to win immunity.
The challenge reappeared again in Cook Islands. In this version, the tribe that tackles the opposing tribes last member wins. Both tribes started equally. Eventually the Aitutaki tribe had all their women aside from Jessica Smith drop out at once, strategically handing each of their bags to a man. In spite of this, the physically stronger men of Raro was able to exhaust the men of Aitu. Rebecca opted out when the Aitu tribe was weakened. Yul Kwon tried to defend the tribe, but J.P. Calderon grabbed and pushed down Cao Boi Bui, giving victory to the new Rarotonga tribe.
In Gabon, the challenge was adapted to be played on land. The course comprised of a dirt track, and instead of 20-pound sandbags assigned to each player, the tribe was required to carry a single, heavy snake. Corinne Kaplan sat out for the Kota tribe. The Fang tribe struggled, as most of its members dropped out, leaving Matty Whitmore and Ace Gordon to pick up the weight. Kota was much stronger, and Susie Smith's choice to drop out only made them faster. Kota won easily and got coffee, tea, and pastries as a reward.
The challenge moved back to its original design in Caramoan. Brenda Lowe sat out for Gota, acting as a cheerleader. Gota won the Reward Challenge, as Bikal's strategy of walking for most of the challenge in an attempt to tire out the other tribe failed miserably, especially since Phillip Sheppard stayed in the challenge the whole time despite being exhausted quickly, costing them valuable time. Gota got to go on a trip to a Survivor-themed coffee shop.
Australia[]
New Zealand[]
Quebec[]
South Africa[]
In Panama, the challenge was used for reward. The tribes would race around an obstacle course and attempt to catch each other. They were each given one time-out, which they could use to pause the challenge by hitting a gong. Despite holding the early lead, Rana found themselves gassing out by having to drag along Zayn Nabbi. This allowed Aguila to tag Rana and continue their streak of Reward Challenge victories, winning lentils, coffee, salt and pepper.
In Maldives, the two tribes competed on both water and land, with each person carrying 10% of their body weight. The land leg of the course also included a series of obstacles which the tribes had to cross. Tribe members were only permitted to drop out at either of two designated pit stops. In the end, Goma caught Raituhn and won their second Immunity Challenge in a row.
In Island of Secrets, the challenge appeared as the first Immunity Challenge after the second tribe switch. Laetitia Le Roux was the only person to drop out of the challenge. Ta'alo stopping to change over opened the window for Danté De Villiers to tag them, allowing the new Sa'ula tribe to win immunity.
Sweden[]
United Kingdom[]
The challenge appeared as the third Immunity Challenge of Survivor U.K. (2023). While La Nena's strategy of hastily jettisoning members allowed them to make early strides, fatigue quickly set in as their numbers dwindled, allowing Caletón's more conservative strategy to prevail as La Nena lost their second straight Immunity Challenge.
Winners[]
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Palau "Dangerous Creatures and Horrible Setbacks" |
Tribal Immunity | Koror |
Cook Islands "Flirting and Frustration" |
Tribal Immunity | Rarotonga |
Gabon "He's a Snake, but He's My Snake" |
Tribal Reward | Kota |
Caramoan "Tubby Lunchbox" |
Tribal Reward | Gota |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Australian Survivor (2016) Episode 11 |
Tribal Reward | Saanapu |
Champions v Contenders (2018) Episode 8 |
Tribal Immunity | Champions (2018) |
Heroes v Villains Episode 10 |
Tribal Reward | Villains (Australia) |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Caramoan Episode 1 |
Tribal Immunity | Tayak | ||
Le Retour des Héros Episode 2 |
Tribal Immunity | Tupan | ||
Palau Episode 3 |
Tribal Reward | Koror (Koh-Lanta) | ||
Le Choc des Héros Episode 2 |
Tribal Reward | Malabou | ||
Viêtnam Episode 8 |
Tribal Reward | Do | ||
La Revanche des Héros Episode 3 |
Tribal Immunity | Nekmao | ||
Thaïlande Episode 1 |
Tribal Reward | Aopoh | ||
Cambodge Episode 3 |
Tribal Reward | Bokor | ||
Sokka | ||||
Fidji Episode 5 |
Tribal Reward | Coravu | ||
Les 4 Terres Episode 1 |
Tribal Reward | Vakara | ||
Ceva | ||||
Vualiku |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Survivor Québec (2023) Episode 29 |
Tribal Reward | Tiyaga |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Panama Episode 6 |
Tribal Reward | Aguila |
Maldives Episode 4 |
Tribal Immunity | Goma |
Island of Secrets "The Game Chooses for You" |
Tribal Immunity | Sa'ula |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Robinson 2023 Episode 20 |
Tribal Immunity | South Team (Robinson 2023) |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Survivor U.K. (2023) Episode 3 |
Tribal Immunity | Caletón |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Ironically, when this challenge was originally used in Palau, the order of which the members of Ulong dropped out (Jeff, Kim, Angie, and James) was the order they were voted out.
- Based on the season's TVGN preview, it appears that this challenge had been planned to appear in Survivor: Micronesia, but was presumably axed due to the medical evacuation and quit that took place before the merge, limiting the number of tribal challenges needed.
- Corinne Kaplan is the only castaway to have been present for this challenge more than once. She sat out in Gabon (her tribe won) and lost in Caramoan.
- Sam Webb and Shonee Bowtell are the only contestants to have competed in this challenge twice.
- Rarotonga is the only tribe to win this challenge without sitting anyone out. The three other winning tribes all had a numbers advantage entering the challenge.
References[]