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Sneak Peek: The First Immunity Challenge
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Ever wonder how the crew of “Survivor” comes up with immunity challenges?
Well, challenge producer (and foosball whiz) John Kirhoffer conceptualizes and creates them with a group of skilled carpenters. Then, he has a ragtag bunch of athletes known as “The Dream Team” practice them several times until they’re ready for the contestants.
Usually, The Dream Team splits up and runs the challenge against themselves. However, every now and then the gauntlet is thrown down by a hungry team of outsiders. Every once in a while the fit, tanned, bruised, and tattooed Dream Team will square off against an out-of-shape, overweight team of journalists.
This is their story…
Known as “Temptation Valley,” the first immunity challenge involves two teams of nine. The first part of the challenge features six members of each team running through a grueling obstacle course while tethered together. The teams will run through a swamp, scale a 12-foot A-frame structure, then maneuver over and under a series of bamboo obstacles.
To see pictures of me competing in the “Temptation Valley” immunity challenge, click here.
From there, the teams will reach a sand pit. Buried in the sand are three bags of puzzle pieces. The teams must dig up all three bags before they can continue.
Finally, the players will arrive at a bamboo wall. The players need to dig under the wall then crawl through with the puzzle pieces. Once all six members are under the wall with the puzzle pieces, they can hand the bags off to the remaining three team members. From there, the remaining three work to put together the puzzle. The first team to complete the puzzle wins immunity.
The tethered part of the Press Team (or as I had dubbed us, the ImPRESSive Team) consisted of Gary taking the lead, followed by Bob, Gary, Dalton, Mara, and myself running anchor. Lori, Cori, and Ken would be our puzzle people.
We lined up on a yellow tarp and attached ourselves to the tether rope. The Dream Team (who had run this challenge dozens of times before) sneered defiantly. Emmy-award-winning host Jeff Probst was on hand to call the action.
Jeff explained the rules, held his hand in the air, and said what I had been waiting all week for him to say, “Survivors, ready? Go!”
With that we took off running down the hill toward the swamp. In my exuberance, I got a little ahead of the players in front of me. I realized the folly of my ways and slowed down a bit.
We arrived at the swamp, it was way deeper than any of us had anticipated. I was easily up to my neck. Worse than that, I felt a reed cut the back of my knee. But, there was no time to worry about a little blood…immunity was at stake.
We pulled through the swamp with the help of a rope that was draped across the water. Next up was the A-frame. The first three members of our group were up in no time, however Mara was having trouble climbing up. Dalton helped push her from below, I straddled the top and helped pull her from above. Eventually we were up and over.
While on top of the A-frame, I had the opportunity to watch the Dream Team cruising along. Jerks.
Next up was the over-and-under obstacle. We killed it, getting through in no time.
By the time we arrived at the sand pit, the Dream Team was already digging. We decided the best way to tackle the challenge would be for each player to take a corner. So, we started digging.
And digging.
And digging.
It seemed like an hour had passed (I’m exaggerating) before we finally heard Probst say, “The Dream Team has its first bag.”
We looked over, they were all digging in the middle. And, they were about six feet deep.
Yikes.
Quickly changing strategies, we all started digging in the middle, but by then the damage had been done. The Dream Team quickly found their other two bags and headed off. We continued digging, and eventually started to uncover the bags. Exhausted, we headed on.
By the time we rounded the corner to head toward the wall, we assumed we were beat, but apparently the Dream Teamers were having trouble getting under. Rejuvenated, we attacked the wall with vigor. Andy managed to dive under in no time. He dug from one side while we dug from the other. The Dream Team did manage to get through first, but we were hot on their heels.
We passed off the puzzle pieces but, unfortunately, the Dream Team’s head start was too much for our puzzle players to overcome.
We had lost immunity that day, but I like to think we won some respect.
We shook hands with the Dream Teamers and started to make our way back. The rest of the crew discussed ways to improve the challenge for the actual "Survivor" tribes who’d be running the course the next day.
As I was walking, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was an Australian crew member. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, “I think you’ve got a leech on the back of your leg.”
I twisted my leg around to investigate…he was right. What I thought had been a reed was actually a pulsating African leech…
Message Edited by Gordon_Holmes on 09-22-2008 04:18 PM
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