Log Jam (also known as Balancing Spider and Lake Log Jam) is a recurring skill challenge in Survivor inspired by the sport of log rolling.
Rules[]
There is a revolving log over a pit of mud or water. All castaways will compete against each other in one-on-one matches. Whoever outlasts their opponents wins.
In team and tribal based challenges, the winner earns a point for their team or tribe. The tribe who reaches a certain amount of points win.
History[]
United States[]
This challenge was first used in Survivor: The Amazon. Deena was chosen to sit out as the matches were man-on-man and woman-on-woman. In this appearance, the winner was the first tribe to reach five points. Dave, Butch, and Christy won all their respective rounds for the Tambaqui tribe. They won a large fruit basket and various seasonings.
This challenge returned in Survivor: All-Stars. Tom was chosen to sit out of the challenge because all matches are of the same gender. The winner was the first tribe to gain five points. Jenna L., Rob M., and Amber all won their respective rounds, winning the Chapera tribe the items that Jenna L. selected to steal from the Mogo Mogo camp.
The challenge made its return in Survivor: Gabon. Unlike the past two appearances, this was an pre-merge individual Immunity Challenge. The winner of the match advances to the next round. The last person standing in the last round wins immunity. In the first round, Ace, Charlie, Marcus, Randy, Sugar, and Bob outlasted Dan, Crystal, Matty, Susie, Ken, and Corinne respectively. In second round, Ace beat Charlie, Marcus beat Randy, and Sugar outlasted Bob. In the final round, all three remaining competitors were on the log. Sugar was the first person out. Marcus outlasted Ace and won individual immunity. He then awarded a second individual immunity to Sugar.
In Survivor: Redemption Island, the challenge appeared as an individual Immunity Challenge, accompanied with reward. The castaways paired off, with the winners progressing to the next round and the last person standing wins. Grant won immunity and a giant chocolate cake, the latter of which he was permitted to share with two other tribe mates. He chose to share the cake with Andrea and Rob.
Australia[]
In Brains v Brawn (2021), the challenge appeared as the fifth Reward Challenge, where the tribes competed for ingredients and a cooking kit to make cheese toasties. The first tribe to win three log-rolling matches wins. While Hayley Leake scored the first point for Brains against Flick Palmateer, the Brawn tribe's Emmett Pugh, Simon Mee and Dani Beale defeated Andrew Ucles, Joey McCann, and Cara Atchison in the next three matches to win the reward.
Russia (Unofficial)[]
In Serdtse Afriki, the challenge appeared as an individual Immunity Challenge. The castaways paired off, with the winners progressing to the next round and the last person standing wins immunity. The winners must to reach two points. In the first round, Roman Lebedev, Samir Makhmudov, Dmitry Makarov and Lena Pinchuk outlasted Elena Ivankova, Conan Alexeev, Lyubov Glazkova and Anna Karpova respectively. In second round, Roman beat Dmitry, and Samir outlasted Lena. In the final round, Roman outlasted Samir and won individual immunity.
South Africa[]
In Malaysia, the log-rolling competition appeared as the final stage of the final six Reward Challenge. Angela Beck and Mandla Mbau faced off, with a clue to a Hidden Immunity Idol at stake. In the end, Mandla defeated Angela to claim the clue, as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to a skiing holiday.
In Champions, the challenge appeared as the fourth Salvation Duel. Mark Fish employed the strategy of getting on the log first, which allowed him to defeat Corné Krige in the first and third rounds (with the second round being called a draw). Corné caught on to Mark's strategy and won the next two rounds, with the sixth round being called a draw. In the end, Mark scored his third point first to win control over the Salvation Cup for the third time.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| The Amazon "More than Meats the Eye" |
Tribal Reward |      Tambaqui |
| All-Stars "Pick a Tribemate" |
Tribal Reward |       Chapera |
| Gabon "It All Depends on the Pin-Up Girl" |
Individual Immunity |  Marcus Lehman |
| Redemption Island "A Mystery Package" |
Individual Reward/Immunity |  Grant Mattos |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Survivor (2017) Episode 20 |
Individual Immunity |  Locky Gilbert |
| Champions v Contenders (2018) Episode 6 |
Tribal Reward |           Champions (2018) |
| Individual Reward | Mat Rogers | |
| Brains v Brawn (2021) Episode 5 |
Tribal Reward |          Brawn |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Serdtse Afriki Episode 11 |
Individual Immunity |  Roman Lebedev |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia Episode 11 |
Individual Reward |  Mandla Mbau |
| Champions Episode 14 |
Salvation Duel |  Mark Fish |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In Survivor: All-Stars, the three people who won points for Chapera comprised the final three.
- Only men have won this challenge as an individual challenge.
- Rob Mariano is the only castaway to compete in this challenge more than once.