Survivor: Cook Islands Challenge Speculation
thanks to survivorfever (http://www.survivorfever.net/s13_challenge_speculation.html) !!
Episode 1: Quest for Fire Immunity/Reward Challenge
Episode 1 usually has a combined immunity/reward challenge. An article from TV Guide's hardcopy shows the Aitutaki and Puka Puka tribes paddling in rafts carrying lit torches. This is probably the standard "Quest for Fire" challenge that is the norm for episode one of Survivor seasons. The tribes appear to be paddling around, possibly retrieving ladder rungs and their lit tribal torch. They paddle back to shore and place the rungs into their respective ladders, climb the ladder and light a fire cauldron or some other type of fire. First tribe to light fire at top of ladder wins. Other teams suffer the consequences (No fire, Exile Island, Tribal Council) Challenge Stages per TVG Preview in Which Journalists square off against Survivor's Dream Teamers:
1 - Race over the dirt bunkers to the beach
2 - Each tribe assembles a color coded rowboat using planks and other pieces
3 - Tribes row out to color coded barrels and light torches, row back to beach
4 - Run back to ladder wall with lit torch and planks
5 - Place tribal color coded planks and other pieces on ladder wall to build a tribal ladder
6 - First tribe to climb ladder and light fire at top wins
Credit to jessiiiek for challenge speculation
TV Guide does their photo-op (pre-challenge). Contestants are wearing soiled clothing so they have already been to their camps and working on shelter, etc.
Cao Boi starts the challenge with his hair pulled back. (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/s13_tvg_tribes.jpg)
According to TV Guide's Shawna Malcom: the first challenge "an intricate obstacle course." Four tribes start at the ladder wall/obstacle course. (Image depicts journalists and Survivor Production) (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/vc_tvgch_seg7_15.jpg)
Players must climb over dirt bunkers to reach the beach (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/vc_tvgch_seg7_18.jpg)
Tribes assemble boats using planks and smaller pieces. (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/vc_tvgch_seg7_31.jpg)
Row out to lit torch from fire in color coded barrels (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/vc_tvgch_seg7_46.jpg)
Images Above Depict Journalists Participating in a Test Challenge
TV Guide Hardcopy issue shows Aitutaki (Asian-Americans in Red Boat) and Puka Puka (Hispanic-Americans in green boat) tribes rowing with their lit torches. (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/s13_tvg_page2.jpg)
Becky and Cao Boi from Puka Puka tribe with what appears to be a green ladder rung - probably retrieving it from their raft to bring to shore to begin working on their ladder (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/s13_tvg_zcover.jpg)
Tribes arrive at their ladders. Jonathan (Rarotonga - Blue Tribe) is putting the rungs on - (they only fit a specific way, and the yellow tribe is having trouble figuring out the order). Parvati is holding the blue torch (far left). When the ladder is complete, the torch carrier may climb the ladder and light a cauldron fire, signaling their win (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/vc_8_23_06_57.jpg)
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After the challenge, Cao Boi lets his hair down (which was kept it up and dry during the challenge), note his buff position is exactly the same as in the image with Becky with the green ladder rung. (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/vc_8_29_06_18.jpg)
Green and Yellow teams listen to what the losers must endure. Someone to be exiled? Two top finishers get fire? Last place team goes to Tribal Council?(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/tn_vc_8_23_2006_22.jpg)
Winners/Losers: Aitutaki, Puka Puka and Rarotonga Tribes appear to have fire at their camps (fire won at challenge) so they are probably the first, second and third place finishers (not respectively). The blue tribe (Rarotonga) appear to be well ahead in the ladder building part of the challenge and may be the winners. (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/vc_tvgch_seg4_19.jpg)
First Exile: TDT was told the losing tribes picks the first exilee. The first exile could possibly be Jonathan Penner. He is not see in Rarotonga campfire images and Nathan (from losing tribe?) is seen pointing him out. He could be seen as the leader of the Rarotonga tribe and would therefore be the natural person to send to exile. No idea why the winning team is forced have a player exiled. Possibly just to keep the game on an even playing field.(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/rawalsh/Survivor%2013/ep1/vc_tvgch_reality_chat_24.jpg)
Boot: Early boot spoilers suggest that the Manihiki tribe loses the first Immunity Challenge.