The world of Survivor has its own ups and downs. And no amount of physical strength or training guarantees what lies ahead of the contestants. One such contestant arrived on the island with full preparation and an elite stamina. However, he soon realized that the show tested more than just strength.
Apart from Jeff Probst’s iconic presentation skills, Survivor also boasts several infamous challenges. That can actually test the patience as well as the minds of the participants. And for Benjamin “Coach” Wade, he had to learn the true nature of the competition the hard way, learning firsthand just how tough the game really is.
Benjamin Wade Detailed the Exact Moment He Realized Just How Intense Survivor Was
The reality show Survivor has been entertaining fans for more than two decades now. And if Jeff Probst is to be believed, this streak is set to continue for many more years to come. Currently, the show is airing its 47th season, and the host is already planning for a 60th. This is surely good news for the fans who just cannot get enough of the thrilling tasks and fight-it-out mentality of the participants.
But for one participant, a hike turned out to be his worst nightmare. And it was here he realized just how tough the game really is. The player in question was Benjamin “Coach” Wade, who’s been a part of the show in its 18th, 20th and 23rd season.
Wade was fully prepared when he entered the show, and added via Entertainment Weekly that:
I thought I was ready for ‘Survivor.’ I had lifted weights, ran for miles, mentally meditated… and as soon as we started the hike from the truck, I knew I was in trouble. The hike took us close to six hours, without water, and 120 degree heat. It was at that exact moment I realized that ‘Survivor’ was real.
Sharing the same sentiment, even Ethan Zohn who participated in Season 3 and 8 of the show recounted his own hardship. He added that his “insides were screaming for food” and that his tongue was swollen because of the dehydration. And just 78 hours into the game he almost reached his breaking point.
Jeff Probst Talks About the Toughness of the ‘New Era’ of Survivor
The “new era” of Survivor that started with the 41st season of the show brought a lot of changes. The most notable of which was changing the traditional 39-days cycle into 26 days. Many assumed that with this, the show will lose its tough quotient, that set it apart from the rest. But according to showrunner Jeff Probst, the new era is just as tough, if not tougher than the classic.
In an exclusive interview with US Weekly, he added that while the former players may take pride in completing the full season. The new seasons are still filled with difficult challenges and grueling tasks. He also added:
But obviously if you’re a player who played 39 days you have a little bit of pride in saying, ‘I did the full season’ but you go 18 days without any food, and then let me ask you a question, let’s see how fast you respond or don’t.
This statement of his further establishes that the mental and physical remain the same for all the players. This new change in the day cycle happened after Survivor: Winners at War, when the production had to be stopped briefly in order to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. It was after this that the creator came up with the “new era.”
You can watch all of the Survivor seasons on Hulu.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
