Shoulder the Load (also known as Water Torture and Pole Axed) is a recurring endurance challenge that originated in Survivor: Borneo and was modified and reused in later seasons.
Rules[]
In Borneo, one man from each tribe would hold weight on poles until they could no longer do so. Due to the challenge going unaired, it currently unknown if the polebearers had to simply hold a set weight for as long as they could or if their was a method for increasing the weight of the poles similar to later seasons.
When used in The Australian Outback, one 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 too much to bear.
Starting in Pearl Islands 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 reward or immunity for their tribe.
Starting in Tocantins, a requirement was added that two men and one woman must compete in this challenge. This requirement was kept for South Pacific.
History[]
United States[]
This challenge was first used as an unaired Reward Challenge in Borneo that occurred on Day 4. Richard Hatch and Joel Klug bore the poles for Tagi and Pagong respectively. Joel managed to endure longer than Richard, earning the Pagong tribe a map to a closer water source.
In its on-screen debut during Survivor: The Australian Outback, Michael and Colby were the two designated water bearers. After time elapsed they were both carrying approximately 400 lbs. of water, where soon Michael's pole snapped in half. The two went into a timed tiebreaker in which Colby won for his tribe, Ogakor.
In Pearl Islands, Andrew and Ryan O. won this challenge for Morgan.
Taj won this challenge for Jalapao for reward in Survivor: Tocantins.
Dawn won this challenge for Savaii most recently in Survivor: South Pacific, where the challenge was for reward and immunity.
| Total weight when dropped | Polebearer |
|---|---|
| 240 lbs. |  
|
| 220 lbs. |   
|
| 180 lbs. |  
|
| 160 lbs. |   
|
| 140 lbs. |      
|
| 100 lbs. |  
|
Australia[]
In Brains v Brawn (2021), the challenge was used as a Reward Challenge, where the tribes competed for tacos and margaritas. Emmett Pugh, Gerald Youles, and Kez McGee stood as the polebearers for the Brains, while Baden Cooke, Chelsea Hackett, and Simon Mee stood as the polebearers for Brawn. After one hour, the challenge came down to a showdown between Emmett and Simon, with Simon dropping his pole first to give the new Brains tribe their first reward win.
France[]
New Zealand[]
Quebec[]
The challenge appeared as an Immunity Challenge in Survivor Québec (2023), where Pierre-Alexandre Guillot and Karine Lavigne-Fortin shouldered the load for Kalooban, while Jean-Junior Morin and Sandrine Fortier served as polebearers for Tiyaga. Jean-Junior was the first person to drop out after bearing 240 lbs. on his shoulders. He was followed by Sandrine who dropped at 120 lbs. After enduring 200 lbs. and 160 lbs. of weight respectively, Pierre-Alexandre and Karine won the challenge for Kalooban, sending Tiyaga to Tribal Council. Kalooban also won the right to send two of their own to observe Tiyaga's Tribal Council.
South Africa[]
In Santa Carolina, the challenge was used as the third Immunity Challenge of the season. Hanna Grobler and Okkert Brits were the polebearers for Chibudu, while Lady Lea Moscou Barrett and Louw Venter were the polebearers for Timbila. Every minute, the opposing tribe will fill one of the polebearers' barrels with 4 liters of water. Louw was the first to drop with 80 kg of water in his barrels. Then, after 30 minutes, Okkert dropped his pole with 84 kg of water in his barrels. Finally, after 37 minutes, Hanna dropped at 64 kg, while Lady Lea endured 68 kg of weight to win the challenge for Timbila.
United Kingdom[]
The challenge was used as the first Immunity Challenge after the tribe switch on Survivor U.K. (2023). Doug Swinbanks, Jess Woburn, and Nathan Dyke served as polebearers for Caletón, while Christopher Haul, Hannah Baptiste, and Matthew Haywood served as La Nena's polebearers. After one hour in 37-degree weather, Hannah became the last person to drop out of the challenge, losing immunity for La Nena.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Borneo "The Generation Gap" |
Tribal Reward
(Unaired) |
        Pagong |
| The Australian Outback "Trust No One" |
Tribal Reward |        Ogakor |
| Pearl Islands "Me and My Snake" |
Tribal Immunity |   Morgan |
| Tocantins "The Strongest Man Alive" |
Tribal Reward |     Jalapao |
| South Pacific "Survivalism" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |     Savaii |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Brains v Brawn (2021) Episode 10 |
Tribal Reward |         Brains |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor Québec (2023) Episode 17 |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |        Kalooban |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Carolina Episode 3 |
Tribal Immunity |         Timbila |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor U.K. (2023) Episode 6 |
Tribal Immunity |       Caletón |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Rupert Boneham held the original record weight of 220 lbs. J.T. Thomas and Brendan Synnott matched this weight in Tocantins.
- Jim Rice and Brandon Hantz set a new record of 240 lbs. in South Pacific.
- Christa Hastie holds the record for highest weight for women, 160 lbs.
- 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 and Taj Johnson-George dropped out at the smallest amount of weight. Both dropped out at 100 lbs.
- However, Taj had already won the challenge when she dropped while Debbie dropped when the challenge was still on.
References[]