Spin Hopper

Spin Hopper is an obstacle first introduced as the fifth obstacle in American Ninja Warrior 10 in Indianapolis.

It consisted of a series of rounded handles, divided into three sections. The first section was angled upward with five handles, the second section was straight with one long handle, and the third section was angled downward with also five handles. In the first section, the first and fifth handles were stable, while others would spin side-to-side when the competitors grabbed them. In the third section, the first and third handles were stable, while others would spin side-to-side when the competitors grabbed them.

Competitors must use their upper body to traverse the handles and reach the landing platform. Since several handles would spin when the competitors grabbed them, In the first and third sections, they must make the transition between the handles with two hands and time the transition correctly, in order to minimize the handles from spinning too much.

During Indianapolis qualifiers, the obstacle was brutal, as it eliminated several top competitors, including Brian Arnold, Tyler Yamauchi, Ethan Swanson, Jeri D'Aurelio, Trevor West, Mike Wright, Nicole Martinez, Alex Carson, Kyle Schulze, James Wilson, and Jonas Duncan. Only ten competitors were able to complete the obstacle. Every competitor who failed the obstacle advanced to Indianapolis finals. This was because a total of 31 competitors attempted the obstacle, as Madelynn McNeal, who failed the obstacle and technically placed 31st overall, advanced via the womens' Top 5.

During Indianapolis finals, only five competitors failed the obstacle: Jeri D'Aurelio, Madelynn McNeal, Mario Brown, David Womelsdorf, and Marcelino Riley. All of which failed the obstacle in qualifying. This obstacle served as the cut-off for the women's Top 2, in which Jeri D'Aurelio managed to make through.

American Ninja Warrior 11
In American Ninja Warrior 11, Spin Hopper appeared as the fifth obstacle in Los Angeles. This time, the third handle on the first section was made stable.

Only 23 competitors attempted the obstacle during Los Angeles qualifiers. While it notably wiped out competitors like Adam Rayl, Samantha Bush, Westley Silvestri, Ben Udy, and Austin Seibert, just like the Indianapolis qualifiers in the previous season, all competitors who reached the obstacle advanced to city finals.

During Los Angeles finals, just like during Indianapolis finals in the previous season, the third section was modified by removing the first handle and making the other four handles more stable, in order to make the obstacle easier. This time, four competitors failed the obstacle: David Alvarez, Arnold Hernandez, Anthony Trucks, and Noah Garfield, who was the only one of the four to fail it previously in qualifying.

American Ninja Warrior 12
In American Ninja Warrior 12, Spin Hopper appeared as the fifth obstacle during the finals. This time, it only eliminated one competitor, Donovan Metoyer.

Australian Ninja Warrior
In Australian Ninja Warrior 4, Spin Hopper appeared as the second obstacle in Stage Two, with two handles of each side would spin: the second and the third on the first section; the third and the fourth on the third section. Two competitors failed this obstacle, Jordan Papandrea and Mike Snow; in the latter case, he was disqualified for touching the grey frame of the first part.

In Australian Ninja Warrior 5, the obstacle returned as the fourth obstacle in Stage Two. This time, the second and fourth handles would spin on the first and third sections.

Competitors' Success Rate

 * All results based on the NBC broadcast and external information found

Trivia

 * During both of its respective city qualifiers rounds, all the competitors who reached Spin Hopper made it to the city finals.
 * During American Ninja Warrior 10's Indianapolis qualifiers, there were 31 competitors reached the obstacle and a woman (Madelynn McNeal) made it to the 31st place, yet still advanced to the city finals within the Top 5 female competitors.
 * During American Ninja Warrior 11's Los Angeles qualifiers, since the fifth obstacle was not the cut-off for the competitors to advance to the city finals within the Top 30, every competitor who reached the obstacle would automatically advance, as only 23 competitors attempted the obstacle.