Survivor is well known for its stellar challenges and competitions. Sometimes, these are mesmerizing and complex physical tasks that involve contestants crawling, climbing, jumping, dodging... well, you name it. Sometimes they involve puzzle-solving skills. Sometimes they require incredible endurance and stamina, and sometimes they involve eating or drinking really, really nasty stuff.
In short, you never know what you're going to get with a Survivor challenge. And, due to the nature of the variety, some challenges are obviously better and more memorable than others. These are the absolute best of the best.
Sumo At Sea
Sumo at Sea is one of the most intensely physical challenges in Survivor history, and it proves that competing on the show is not for the faint of heart. The challenge has appeared five times throughout Survivor's history and sees two competitors trying to push each other off a platform with padded bags. It's pure physicality and strength, and it makes for some brutal viewing. This is Survivor physicality at its finest.
Last Gasp
Last Gasp has only been used on three occasions: Palau, Micronesia, and Caramoan. That's probably because it is absolutely brutal. Last Gasp is more of a drowning simulator than anything, as it sees the contestants hanging from a steel grate. As the tide comes in, the water slowly envelops their face. Players have to contend with both claustrophobia and a fear of drowning, and it gets especially brutal when the water starts lapping over their mouths and into their noses. Just watching it is uncomfortable!
The Auction
The auction isn't really a competition, per se, but one could certainly make an argument for it. After all, it involves players out-bidding each other for certain luxuries (primarily food), and, in later seasons, it involved strategic thinking when game advantages were brought into the mix. Regardless, no self-respecting Survivor fan would down talk the auction. They were highly entertaining, and we miss them dearly.
Buggin' Out
Buggin' Out is another Survivor classic that is known by many different names.
Normally, it is known as "the one where they eat and drink a lot of nasty crap." According to the Survivor wiki, this challenge has been done on sixteen separate occasions, making it one of, if not the most often recurring challenges on the show. It's a guaranteed good time, even if it often results gagging and looking away from the screen.
Hot Pursuit
Hot Pursuit isn't played often, but it really should be. It is fantastic in its simplicity. The rules are simple:both tribes are placed at opposite ends of a wide circle, and they must then "catch" the other tribe. There are no other twists aside from the fact that each tribe mate is equipped with a twenty-pound sac. Should they voluntarily drop out, they must give their sac to another player. It's deceptively simple, and it is very entertaining.
Get A Grip
Speaking of deceptively simple challenges, Get a Grip is an absolute classic. This challenge sees the survivors holding onto a very thin pole with slender footholds for as long as they can. The last person holding onto their pole is the winner. It's that simple.
This challenge was introduced in Vanuatu but has been replayed on eight more occasions, including the recent season Winners at War. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
China's Fireworks Challenge
China was a spectacular season of Survivor, if for no other reason than its amazing challenges.
Great Balls of Fire was a wonderful challenge that nicely integrated Chinese culture with some beautiful photography. It saw players carrying a metal ball with a giant pair of chopsticks, setting it in a wok, and setting off fireworks that erupted in gorgeous colors over the massive Tribal Council set.
Heroes Vs. Villains' Battle Dig
One must give an affinity to specific challenges. While general challenges are great, much of the quality depends on the characters involved, the process, and the outcome, and what immediately comes to mind is the opening challenge of Heroes vs. Villains. It's an absolutely brutal affair that sees tops ripped off, Rupert breaking his toe, and Stephenie dislocating her shoulder. It is absolute madness, and it was a thrilling way to open Survivor's greatest season.
Winners At War's Beyond The Wheel
Winners at War has featured many great challenges, but perhaps the best so far has been Beyond the Wheel. While it's a great challenge in its own right, the Winners at War iteration had many notable traits that help it stand out from its Edge of Extinction counterpart. These include Parvati's repeatedly failing to catch the keys, Adam's redemption in doing so, and the massive and nearly unbelievable comeback of Sele.
Palau's Final Immunity Challenge
It's been fifteen years since Palau, yet, its final immunity challenge has yet to be topped. This is just a marvelous challenge in every sense of the word. The challenge itself of hanging onto a thin navigational buoy for as long as you can is exciting and enticing. Ian's redemption arc that took place throughout the challenge is memorable, heroic, and the fact that it went on for twelve hours is simply iconic. It's the best challenge in one of the best seasons of Survivor.