Simmotion (also known as Always on the Run and High Rollers) is a recurring individual challenge that originated in Survivor: Tocantins, and reappeared in South Pacific, Cambodia, Ghost Island, David vs. Goliath, Winners at War, Survivor 42, and Survivor 44. The challenge requires strong mental focus and endurance.
Rules[]
Each castaway, usually with one hand tied behind their back, must drop a ball into a metal chute. The ball will travel down a spiraling metal track and exit out of one of two points (a turnstile gate in the middle of the track causes the balls to come out at alternate exits). The castaway must catch the ball and drop it back into the chute at the top. At designated intervals, an additional ball is added to the track until the maximum amount of balls are simultaneously in play. If a ball exits the track and is not caught at any time, the castaway is eliminated from the challenge. The last person standing wins.
In Ghost Island, the challenge was modified to be used as a team challenge. The metal track was replaced with large wooden cascading beams, and the balls were replaced with large spools which would roll down the track. One member would mount the spool on one end, while the other member catches. The members of the pair will alternate tasks. This version of the challenge is significantly more physically demanding as the challenge setup is significantly larger than the original, requiring players to run from one end to the other.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge debuted in Tocantins as the Final Immunity Challenge, with a maximum of eight balls. Erinn Lobdell was the first to drop out on her third ball. The challenge came down to J.T. Thomas and Stephen Fishbach, with Stephen dropping on his fourth ball, giving J.T. immunity.
In South Pacific, the challenge was used as a Redemption Island duel between Christine Shields Markoski and Stacey Powell, with a maximum of six balls. Unlike other iterations of the individual version of this challenge, both castaways were allowed to use both their hands. Christine's strategy of spacing out when to drop her balls ultimately allowed her to win after Stacey dropped on her third ball, permanently eliminating Stacey.
In Cambodia, the challenge was once again used as the Final Immunity Challenge, with a maximum of seven balls. Kelley Wentworth dropped out first, followed by Tasha Fox, both dropping on their fourth ball. It ultimately came down to Jeremy Collins and Spencer Bledsoe, with Spencer dropping on his fifth ball, giving Jeremy immunity. Since Cambodia, the individual version of the challenge has always been run with a maximum of seven balls.
In Ghost Island, the challenge appeared as the final seven Reward Challenge. Castaways were divided into three teams of two, with Angela Perkins sitting out with no shot at reward. Each team managed to get all five spools rolling at once, but the purple team of Domenick Abbate and Wendell Holland ultimately outlasted the other two teams to reward.
In David vs. Goliath, the challenge again appeared as the Final Immunity Challenge. Angelina Keeley dropped out first, followed by Mike White, both dropping on their third ball. The challenge came down to Kara Kay and Nick Wilson, with Kara dropping just before adding her fourth ball, giving Nick immunity.
In Winners at War, the challenge appeared as the Final Immunity Challenge once again. Tony Vlachos was the first to drop out on his third ball, followed by Sarah Lacina on her fourth ball. The challenge ultimately came down to Michele Fitzgerald and Natalie Anderson, with Michele dropping on her fifth ball, giving Natalie immunity.
In Survivor 42, the challenge appeared as the Final Immunity Challenge again. As the castaways figured out their rhythm, Mike Turner dropped out on the first ball, to his dismay. Maryanne Oketch dropped on her second ball, leaving the challenge to a showdown between Jonathan Young and Romeo Escobar. Romeo ultimately defeated Jonathan on the fourth ball to win his first Immunity Challenge.
In Survivor 44, the challenge appeared as the Final Immunity Challenge once again. Carolyn Wiger dropped on the second ball, while Carson Garrett, Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt, and Yam Yam Arocho all made it to the fourth ball. Yam Yam dropped first, followed by Carson, giving Heidi her first individual immunity victory, leaving her with a difficult decision as to whether to give up immunity to enter the fire-making challenge herself.
Australia[]
The High Rollers variant of the challenge appeared as the final five Immunity Challenge of Titans v Rebels. The castaways had to race up and down a ladder to deposit balls down a series of chutes while collecting them before they fall out the last chute. Mark Warnock defeated Feras Basal to win his first, and a crucial, Immunity Challenge.
South Africa[]
The challenge appeared as the Final Immunity Challenge of Philippines; in addition, the winner would receive the power to eliminate one juror. When the third ball entered play, Tom Swartz became the first person to drop out of the challenge, and Annalize Sainsbury followed shortly after, giving Jeanne Michel her second individual challenge win.
The team version of the challenge was played for reward at the final four of Return of the Outcasts. By a random draw, Phil Dickson won the right to pick his partner; he chose Dino Paulo, leaving Marian de Vos and Shane Hattingh to compete together. With five spools in play, Phil slipped in the mud while retrieving a spool, losing his momentum and failing to place the spool back on the rig in time. As such, Marian and Shane won a helicopter ride and overnight stay at the Mantis Collection Founders Lodge.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Tocantins "I Trust You but I Trust Me More" |
Individual Immunity (Final Immunity) |
 J.T. Thomas |
| South Pacific "Taste the Victory" |
Duel |  Christine Shields Markoski |
| Cambodia "Lie, Cheat and Steal" |
Individual Immunity (Final Immunity) |
 Jeremy Collins |
| Ghost Island "Always Be Moving" |
Team Reward |   Domenick & Wendell |
| David vs. Goliath "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" |
Individual Immunity (Final Immunity) |
 Nick Wilson |
| Winners at War "It All Boils Down to This" |
Individual Immunity (Final Immunity) |
 Natalie Anderson |
| Survivor 42 "It Comes Down to This" |
Individual Immunity (Final Immunity) |
 Romeo Escobar |
| Survivor 44 "Absolute Banger Season" |
Individual Immunity (Final Immunity) |
 Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Champions v Contenders (2019) Episode 23 |
Individual Immunity |  Harry Hills |
| Blood v Water Episode 23 |
Individual Immunity |  Shay Lajoie |
| Titans v Rebels Episode 22 |
Individual Immunity |  Mark Warnock |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines Episode 16 |
Individual Reward/Immunity (Final Immunity) |
 Jeanne Michel |
| Return of the Outcasts "A Game of Fluidity", "No Tools in My Toolkit" |
Team Reward |   Marian & Shane |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This challenge was created during the production of Survivor: China when a prop maker, Simon Ross, created a smaller version of the challenge; Dan Monday saw it and decided to make it a large-scale version.
- The most amount of balls that could have been in play in any iteration of the challenge is eight, in Tocantins.
- In Cambodia, David vs. Goliath, Winners at War, Survivor 42, and Survivor 44, the maximum number of balls that could have been in play was seven.
- In South Pacific, the maximum number of balls that could have been in play was six.
- In the team version used in Ghost Island, the maximum number of spools that could have been in play was five. This iteration was also the first instance in which the maximum was reached.
- The longest that the individual version of this challenge has gone is with five balls in play, in Cambodia and Winners at War. The shortest that the individual version has gone is with three balls in play, in South Pacific and David vs. Goliath.
- South Pacific is the only season where this challenge was not the last challenge of its type. It was the Final Immunity Challenge in Tocantins, Cambodia, David vs. Goliath, Winners at War, 42, and 44, and the final Reward Challenge in Ghost Island.
- Christine Shields Markoski is the only person to win this challenge and not reach the Final Tribal Council.
References[]