Step on Up (also known as Step Brothers and Stair Down the Walls) is a recurring physical challenge that debuted in Survivor: Thailand and was later used in Redemption Island, Cambodia, David vs. Goliath, and Survivor 42.
Rules[]
Castaways must race to obtain puzzle steps and assemble their staircase one step at a time. The first person to reach the top wins the challenge.
Since Cambodia, there has been a final task for the castaways to complete at the top of the staircase before they can win.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge was first used in Thailand. The contestants started out relatively even. Eventually, Brian Heidik pulled away and gained the lead. He never lost his lead and won the challenge by casually walking to the top of the tower.
The challenge returned in Redemption Island, where, after a grueling challenge hard-fought between the final six, Rob Mariano collapsed after winning.
The challenge reappeared as the final six Immunity Challenge in Cambodia. This version also included a three-dimensional slide puzzle which must be completed after the castaways completed the step ladder. Spencer Bledsoe consistently had a slight lead and was the first to complete the puzzle, winning immunity.
Returning in David vs. Goliath as the final six Immunity Challenge, the challenge included a 63-piece puzzle which must be completed after the step ladder. Nick Wilson was one of the last contestants to complete their step ladder. However, he managed to pull off a comeback win to earn immunity, narrowly completing the puzzle over Angelina Keeley, Kara Kay, and Mike White.
The challenge appeared once again in Survivor 42 as the final six Immunity Challenge in combination with Gimme Three Steps. Castaways had to first get over a set of hurdle obstacles, then retrieve three batches of puzzle pieces to complete their staircase. Then, they would maneuver a bag containing two balls through a ladder puzzle, then land these balls in a table maze. Lindsay Dolashewich held a lead throughout the challenge and narrowly beat out Jonathan Young at the table maze to win her second Immunity Challenge.
Australia[]
A variant of the challenge was used as a part of the penultimate Immunity Challenge in Brains v Brawn (2021). The final four first climbed up a net obstacle to retrieve balls, which they used to knock out puzzle pieces from a frame. They then raced to a ramp, matching the puzzle pieces to the pegs on the ramp to build a staircase. Once they have completed their staircase, they will untie a bucket from the top of the tower and race down, using the bucket to collect water. They will then bring the filled bucket, go over and under a series of hitching posts, and fill a larger bucket with the water. Once there is enough water, the bucket will drop and bring a gate down with it. At the final stage, they will roll balls up a ramp and land them in six pockets. Although Hayley Leake reached the last station first, Flick Palmateer landed her sixth ball first to pull off a clutch immunity win and thwart the Brains Alliance's plan to get rid of her.
South Africa[]
In Champions, the challenge was used at the final five. Graham Jenneker held a consistent lead throughout the challenge and beat Zavion Kotze by two steps to win immunity and a shower and massage.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand "The Tides Are Turning" |
Individual Immunity |  Brian Heidik |
| Redemption Island "You Mangled My Nets" |
Individual Immunity |  Rob Mariano |
| Cambodia "Lie, Cheat and Steal" |
Individual Immunity |  Spencer Bledsoe |
| David vs. Goliath "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" |
Individual Reward/Immunity |  Nick Wilson |
| Survivor 42 "Caterpillar to a Butterfly" |
Individual Immunity |  Lindsay Dolashewich |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Brains v Brawn (2021) Episode 23 |
Individual Immunity |  Flick Palmateer |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Champions Episode 16 |
Individual Reward/Immunity |  Graham Jenneker |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This challenge has only been used as an individual Immunity Challenge.
- Lindsay Dolashewich is the only woman to win this challenge.
- The staircase puzzle was used as part of the Pairy Feral challenge in "Nightmare Fuel".
References[]