'I wanted to represent the average Joe' says garbageman from Canada's Ultimate Challenge winning team

We've finally crossed Canada, from the beaches of B.C. through the country's heartland and arrived for the finale on the Atlantic coast. After 12 punishing challenges, only three teams remain. It all comes down to this. 

What went down on Episode 7 of Canada's Ultimate Challenge, Season 3

Team Red, Team Yellow and Team Wildcard arrived in Halifax ready for battle! "The big dogs are here and we're ready to eat, baby. Let's go!" said Keenan at Halifax Harbour. Team Red won the very first challenge of the season, and although they've suffered some losses, they've remained the team to beat. 

The first challenge of the finale was intense, requiring each player to confront a potential weakness: from height to logistics, from swimming to rope climbing. The three final teams gathered alongside the Silva for the Tall Ships Relay. Each team member climbed to the top of the mast, untangled 50 knots to unlock a key and made a harrowing 25-foot free fall into the frigid water below. They swam 150 metres to the dock and completed a gruelling rope climb to unlock one of the three locks on their team's chest. The first team to unlock their chest and raise the victory flag won.

Steve, Mark and Aaron set off on the first leg. Mark breezed through the challenge, giving Team Red an early lead, with Aaron close behind. 

Meanwhile, Steve wrestled with the knots. Santina and Mariam had already set out on the second leg before he hit the water with his key. Then he struggled on the rope climb. "What is he doing?" asked teammate Kelly from the sidelines. "Anxiety is starting to hit. You're going to do anything to get on top of this dock," recalled Steve as he fell off the rope and into the water again and again, losing precious time for Team Yellow. "Steve, stop giving up," shouted Eddie who was anxious to begin his leg of the race. 

He wasn't the only one to have trouble with the rope climb. Santina also struggled to get on top of the dock; several times she climbed part way only to fall back into the water, evaporating Team Red's impressive lead. "I'm a strong (bleep)ing woman!" she said once she finally reached the top. 

Team Yellow, meanwhile, was making an impressive comeback as Kelly handily scrambled up the rope. 

Ultimately, it was neck and neck between Teams Yellow and Red, with Keenan securing the win. Team Red would go straight to the finale while Team Yellow and Team Wildcard would face each other in the elimination round.

MVP of Episode 7: Eddie 

Kelly voiced her frustration: "Steve just did not deliver for the team. And it's super frustrating. Just do your (bleep)ing job!"

But Eddie was more compassionate: "He tried his hardest and didn't get it."

Eddie has consistently rallied Team Yellow and remained optimistic throughout the competition. 

"I just want to say sorry for letting the team down," said Steve. "I'm sorry that I showed the emotions of being frustrated," replied Kelly, "I believe in you. You're a fighter."

"Don't fret about it," agreed Eddie, "it wasn't our day today, but tomorrow is different."

At the new Queen's Mark facing Halifax Harbour, Yellow and Wildcard faced off for the Ultimate Rum Barrel Blitz.

Both teams raced into the chilly water to retrieve 12 rum barrels, weighing over 300 pounds each. They had to haul the barrels up the steps and onto 12 separate platforms. But wait! This was a puzzle. The 12 barrels had clues representing the 12 previous challenges and they had to be placed in the exact order the challenges happened. 

"This could be a tricky challenge," said Aaron. "Thank God I've been journaling."

"The pressure is on," said Kelly as both teams scrambled into the water to collect their barrels. 

Moment that changed the game

Determined to reach the end, Aaron had a strategy. He wanted to carabiner the rum barrels together to make fewer trips. "Work smarter, not harder," he said. Once on shore, they would solve the puzzle together.

"Right now, we're cooked," said Eddie as his team raced into the water to gather their barrels separately, "we're going home." But while Team Yellow worked as a cohesive group, Team Wildcard fell apart. Mariam sprinted ahead to place the barrels on the steps in the order she recalled. "My memory is very strong," she said, "and we're wasting time right now."  "Why is she off doing her own thing?" asked Aaron.

The teams were just seconds apart when host Brandon Gonez was called over to check the puzzle. Mariam had made an error and it cost Wildcard the win. 

"I'm really frustrated right now," said Aaron to Mariam, "you can't stick to a goddamn plan."

And of course Eddie, always the sportsman, "Mariam don't worry. Don't feel bad!" Goodbye, Team Wildcard. 

The season's final challenge will be an epic showdown between the two dominant teams: Team Yellow and Team Red.

Best line of the episode

Santina arrived at Halifax Citadel in a fighting mood: "You know what I like to do? I like to put mustard on my hamburger and eat it like I'm gonna eat Yellow."

Game on. It was time for the Ultimate Cannonball Gauntlet.

The teams had to overcome three military-style obstacles to gather 15 cannonballs. A team member would balance these cannonballs on a board, with the final cannonball located atop a 40-foot tower. The first team to successfully balance all 15 cannonballs and hit the button would be declared the winner of Canada's Ultimate Challenge.

"I want to end this rivalry," said Steve, "Team Red is going down today."

If collecting the cannonballs was tough, it was even more difficult to balance them on a narrow board on a windy day. "If the cannonball falls, then it's dead. They have to complete an obstacle again to replace it," explained Brandon.

Both teams raced off. Keenan from Team Red had trouble with the rope climb: "My ego is hurting. I haven't felt this much of a struggle in the competition ever!"

Santina had little compassion as she watched him slip: "Keenan, pull it together, man."

As cannonballs tumbled from the board and to the ground, both teams dug in hard. 

Most caption-worthy photo

By the time they each collected — and balanced — 14 cannonballs, Red and Yellow were neck and neck again. Santina raced off and up the tower with Eddie close behind. He climbed furiously to make up lost ground and the fight to the finish was on. 

With Eddie mere seconds behind, Santina balanced the last cannonball on the board and reached for the buzzer. They won!

"It definitely sucks not to be on top," said Kelly, "but that's sports for you!"

Congrats to the winners: Team Red

"When I came into this competition, I wanted to represent the average Joe, and that's it. I didn't care about making alliances or the social game. I wanted to push myself right to the bitter end", said Mark. "WE ARE SEASON 3 CHAMPIONS! This honestly makes me feel so good." 

Right from the beginning, Keenan was in it to win it. "I never go into any competition or situation in my life expecting to lose, so coming out on top was what I envisioned and it felt completely natural."

Team Red never lost faith and were strong communicators all season, said Mark. "I really believe Team Red had success because we talked about everything. It was everyone working together to come up with the best possible solution to every challenge. Everyone knew their role."

"It was clear not everyone was a fan of Team Red," said Santina, "but honestly, it just reminded me that when you're strong, united, and performing well not everyone is going to cheer for you — and that's okay."

"At the end of the day, it will always come down to who wants it more?" explains Keenan. "Who's willing to push a little bit harder? Go a little bit further? We just wanted it more and that's exactly why we won the whole thing in such a dominant fashion throughout the entire season!" Congrats Mark, Keenan and Santina!

Where to watch Canada's Ultimate Challenge

Catch all the action on Canada's Ultimate Challenge, now streaming free on CBC Gem.

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