Strung Out (also known as Push Your Luck, Pulled Up, Basket Case, Wound Out, and Draw the Line) is a recurring challenge of Survivor.
Rules[]
Throughout the numerous variations of this challenge, the primary goal involves moving an object (a tiki segment in Vanuatu, puzzle pieces in Heroes vs. Villains, or buoys) through a rope and across a series of obstacles to a finish. At the end, each team or each individual castaway may have to perform a secondary task (e.g. a puzzle or landing buoys in a hoop) to complete the challenge.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge debuted as a tribal Immunity Challenge in Vanuatu. From a platform in the water, each tribe member must transport a tiki segment to the shore, navigating the segments over and under a series of above- and below-water obstacles. Once on shore, the first tribe to reassemble their tiki correctly wins immunity. Ami Cusack and Chris Daugherty collapsed on the beach after completing their part. Rory Freeman gave Yasur a lead, however Leann Slaby had trouble underwater, allowing Lopevi to win immunity.
In Heroes vs. Villains, the Heroes dominated the challenge and won immunity. During the challenge, Colby Donaldson notably instructed Russell Hantz to claim the Heroes' Hidden Immunity Idol from J.T. Thomas after the challenge. During the victory celebrations, J.T. handed the idol to Russell.
In Philippines, the castaways raced to push a buoy along a rope in three rounds. The first round consisted of an obstacle on the beach. The second round involved pushing the buoy along a rope wrapped around a balance beam on the beach. The final round involved obstacles in the water including a boat and a platform and was contested by Carter Williams, Denise Stapley, and Michael Skupin. Carter won the challenge in a very close finish over Michael, who got stuck at the final knot in his rope.
In Blood vs. Water, the castaways dove into the water and rode along a buoy. After making it back to shore, the castaways solved a puzzle of an eight-word Survivor phrase ("You are going to have to dig deep"). Ciera Eastin came from dead last during the swimming stage to solve the puzzle first, earning her individual immunity.
The challenge re-appeared as the second Immunity Challenge in Worlds Apart. Each castaway had to navigate a buoy from the starting platform, through a series of obstacles, to the finishing platform. Once they had reached the finishing platform the next tribe member could start. Once all five buoys reached the final platform the contestants had to shoot the buoys into a basket. The first two tribes to get five buoys in their tribe's basket would win immunity. Although the Nagarote tribe started off with an early lead, they were slowed down by Will Sims II's struggle to guide the buoy through an obstacle, which opened the doors for the Masaya and Escameca tribes to come back from behind and finish in first and second places respectively.
The challenge appeared in a modified format as the final five Immunity Challenge in Millennials vs. Gen X. Castaways moved a buoy through obstacles in the water. Upon reaching shore, they transported puzzle pieces across a teeter totter and then used the pieces to solve a word puzzle; first to do so won immunity. Ken McNickle won this challenge.
In Survivor 42, the challenge appeared as a team Reward Challenge under the Basket Case format that debuted in Worlds Apart. The blue team comprising Chanelle Howell, Jonathan Young, Mike Turner, Rocksroy Bailey, and Tori Meehan held a lead over the orange team, but Omar Zaheer quickly landed four buoys for his team. However, his fumble with the fifth buoy allowed Jonathan to catch up and score a streak of five buoys, winning reward for the blue team.
The Draw the Line variation of the challenge from Millennials vs. Gen X was reused in Survivor 43. Prior to the challenge, Karla Cruz Godoy had found a Challenge Advantage at the new Gaia camp. This reduced the number of puzzle blocks she had to transport to her station, allowing her to clinch an early lead at the puzzle station. However, it was Owen Knight that solved the puzzle "You Cannot Hide in a Dangerous Game" first to win immunity and a reward of a steak meal.
Australia[]
South Africa[]
The challenge was played on land for reward in Island of Secrets. The Manumalo tribe raced to move a cylinder tethered to a rope that was tangled around an obstacle. The first six to finish would move on to the second stage, where they would dig up eleven more cylinders. The first three to slot all twelve of their cylinders into their holders move on to the final round, where they would place their cylinders on a tray, carry them over a balance beam, and slot them into twelve holes to complete a puzzle depicting the season's logo. Danté De Villiers narrowly defeated Jacques Burger to win an overnight stay at a Samoan village, complete with dinner, entertainment, and lodging.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanuatu "Hog Tied" |
Tribal Immunity |       Lopevi | |
| Heroes vs. Villains "Survivor History" |
Tribal Immunity |      Heroes | |
| Philippines "Whiners Are Wieners" |
Individual Immunity |  Carter Williams | |
| Blood vs. Water "Out on a Limb" |
Individual Reward/Immunity |  Ciera Eastin | |
| Worlds Apart "It Will Be My Revenge" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity |      Masaya | |
      Escameca | |||
| Millennials vs. Gen X "I'm Going for a Million Bucks" |
Individual Immunity |  Ken McNickle | |
| Survivor 42 "You Better Be Wearing a Seatbelt" |
Team Reward |      Chanelle, Jonathan, Mike, Rocksroy, Tori | |
| Survivor 43 "Snap Some Necks and Cash Some Checks" |
Individual Reward/Immunity |  Owen Knight | |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Survivor (2016) Episode 17 |
Team Reward |      El, Kylie, Lee, Nick, Sam |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Revanche des Héros Episode 8 |
Individual Immunity (Sudden-Death Challenge) |
 Bertrand Bolle | |
| Johor Episode 11 |
Individual Immunity |  Marc Rambaud | |
| Le Combat des Héros Episode 9 |
Bonus Challenge |  Nathalie Ensargueix | |
| Les Armes Secrètes Episode 11 |
Individual Immunity (Sudden-Death Challenge) |
 Arnaud Deshayes | |
| La Légende Episode 2 |
Individual Immunity |  Loïc Riowal |
 Teheiura Teahui |
| Le Totem Maudit Episode 8 |
Tribal Reward |         Cadlao | |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Island of Secrets "One Trick Pony" |
Individual Reward |  Danté de Villiers |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Every time this challenge was used as a tribal challenge, a red tribe with 6 members has competed in it.
References[]