Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet is the 7th season of the MTVreality game show, The Challenge (at the time known as Real World/Road Rules Challenge). The season is directly subsequent to Battle of the Sexes. The Gauntlet featured 28 castmates competing in missions with an immunity life-saver awarded to the best individual performer. Each team would then select a player from their team to go into the Gauntlet elimination challenge. This challenge was held in Telluride, Colorado. It was hosted by Jonny Moseley.
Filming began in July 2003.[1] A casting special, Real World/Road Rules Corral: A Guide To The Gauntlet was aired on September 22, 2003. The season premiered one week later on September 29, 2003, and concluded on January 26, 2004, with the Reunion special. This is the first edition of the Gauntlet series, with The Gauntlet 2 following in 2005–2006 and The Gauntlet III following in 2008.
Ride 'Em Cowboy: Players have to hold on to a mechanical bull with just one hand. Whoever falls off first loses.
Played 3 Times:Katie vs. Montana, Rachel B. vs. Sarah, Cara vs. Theo G.
Dead Man's Drop: Players are suspended 10 feet into the air on a pole. They have to hold on to the pole by hanging upside down with their legs.
Played 4 Times:David vs. Sarah, Coral vs. Tina, Matt vs. Sarah, Irulan vs. Sarah
Hangman: Similar to Dead Man's Drop, players are still suspended 10 feet into the air, only they hang on the pole with their hands and are positioned right side up.
Played 1 Time:Katie vs. Rachel B.
Perfect Fit: Players first must jump into a pool and pick up their respective puzzle pieces (which are scattered about the pool). The first player to solve the puzzle wins.
Played 3 Times:Steve vs. Tonya, Steve vs. Trishelle, Sarah vs. Trishelle
Knock Your Block Off: Players joust on a beam right above a pool. Whoever gets knocked off first loses.
Played 2 Times:Cara vs. Elka, Abram vs. Mike
Pole Climb: Players climb a 10-foot pole. Whoever gets to the top first pulls a lever that drops the opponent's pole into the pool.
The contestant won the Freshlook Eyesaver Winner and was safe from the Gauntlet
The contestant was not selected to go into the Gauntlet
The contestant won the Gauntlet
The contestant lost the Gauntlet and was eliminated
The team was removed from the competition due to illness
Episodes[]
No. in season
No. in series
Title
Original air date
1
74
"Howdy Telluride"
September 29, 2003 (2003-09-29)
2
75
"Masquerade"
October 6, 2003 (2003-10-06)
3
76
"Mud Bath"
October 13, 2003 (2003-10-13)
4
77
"I Scream"
October 20, 2003 (2003-10-20)
5
78
"Holey Canoe"
October 27, 2003 (2003-10-27)
6
79
"Heavyweight Hustle"
November 3, 2003 (2003-11-03)
7
80
"Sink My Ship"
November 10, 2003 (2003-11-10)
8
81
"Red Barron"
November 17, 2003 (2003-11-17)
9
82
"Inferno"
November 24, 2003 (2003-11-24)
10
83
"Rolling on the River"
December 1, 2003 (2003-12-01)
11
84
"Turntable"
December 8, 2003 (2003-12-08)
12
85
"All or Nothing"
December 15, 2003 (2003-12-15)
13
86
"Vertical Limit"
December 29, 2003 (2003-12-29)
14
87
"Dukes of Saturn"
January 5, 2004 (2004-01-05)
15
88
"Gold Rush Part 1"
January 12, 2004 (2004-01-12)
16
89
"Gold Rush Part 2"
January 19, 2004 (2004-01-19)
After filming[]
Instead of a reunion special, Battle Scars - From the Gauntlet to the Inferno, a follow-up special aired on January 26, 2004 introducing the next season, Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno with commentary by few of this season's contestants.[citation needed]
Notes[]
^ Jump up to: abcdCoral was removed from the final challenge due to an allergic reaction to a spider bite that needed medical attention.