Shoulder the Load

Shoulder the Load (also known as Water Torture and Pole Axed) is a recurring endurance challenge that originated in and was modified and reused in later seasons.
==Rules==
In , 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 , 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 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 , a requirement was added that two men and one woman must compete in this challenge. This requirement was kept for .
==History==
=== United States ===
This challenge was first used as an unaired Reward Challenge in 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 , 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 , Andrew and Ryan O. won this challenge for Morgan.
Taj won this challenge for Jalapao for reward in .
Dawn won this challenge for Savaii most recently in , 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 , 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 , 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 , 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 . 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==
<tabber>United States=
Episode	Challenge Type 	Winners
 	Tribal Reward
(Unaired)	
 	Tribal Reward 	
 	Tribal Immunity 	
 	Tribal Reward 	
 	Tribal Reward/Immunity	
|-|Australia=
Episode 	Challenge Type	Winners
Episode 10	Tribal Reward 	
|-|France=
Episode 	Challenge Type 	Winners
Episode 4	Tribal Immunity	
|-|New Zealand=
Episode 	Challenge Type 	Winners
Episode 2 	Tribal Immunity 	
Episode 	Challenge Type 	Winners
Episode 17	Tribal Reward/Immunity	
|-|United Kingdom=
Episode 	Challenge Type 	Winners
Episode 6	Tribal Immunity	
</tabber>
==Gallery==
<tabber>United States=
S1e02 unaired challenge.jpg|The castaways competing in .
Colby water torture.jpg|Colby at the challenge in .
AndrewShouldertheload.jpg|Andrew competing in .
425.ab.Survivor.1.030509.jpg|Joe holds the weight for Jalapao in .
Brendan holds weight.jpg|Brendan in the challenge in Tocantins.
Jim rice should the load.jpg|Jim holds weight in .
Albert stl.jpg|Albert in South Pacific.
Stacey-Powell-ep.4.jpg|Stacey in South Pacific.
DawnwinsSavaiiImmunity.jpg|Dawn wins the challenge for Savaii (South Pacific).
|-|Australia=
Aus08e10 chelsea shoulder the load drop.jpg|Chelsea drops the weight in .
Aus08e10 simon shoulder the load.jpg|Simon holding his weight in Brains v Brawn.
Aus08e10 emmett shoulder the load.jpg|Emmett enduring the pain in Brains v Brawn.
|-|France=
Kls2.ep4.jpg|The challenge in .
|-|Quebec=
Qc1cy6 pierre alexandre shoulder the load.jpg|Pierre-Alexandre holding the weight in .
|-|South Africa=
ZAS3 Lady Lea Shoulder the Load.jpg|Lady Lea holding her weight in .
|-|United Kingdom=
UK2023Ep6.jpg|Christopher competing for La Nena in .
UK3EP06La Nena Pole Axed.jpg|La Nena compete in the challenge.
UK3EP06Tinuke Pole Axed.jpg|Tinuke competing in the challenge.
</tabber>
==Trivia== 
*Rupert Boneham held the original record weight of 220 lbs. J.T. Thomas and Brendan Synnott matched this weight in .
**Jim Rice and Brandon Hantz set a new record of 240 lbs. in .
*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==
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Challenges
Category:Recurring Challenges
Category:Survivor: Borneo
Category:Borneo Challenges
Category:Survivor: The Australian Outback
Category:The Australian Outback Challenges
Category:Survivor: Pearl Islands
Category:Pearl Islands Challenges
Category:Survivor: Tocantins
Category:Tocantins Challenges
Category:Survivor: South Pacific
Category:South Pacific Challenges
Category:Koh-Lanta: Nicoya
Category:Survivor Québec (2023)
Category:Survivor Québec (2023) Challenges
Category:Survivor South Africa: Santa Carolina
Category:Santa Carolina Challenges