Ring Chaser

The Ring Chaser is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the third obstacle during the first episode of qualifiers on American Ninja Warrior 12.

Competitors must first work their way through a series of monkey bars that was on a slight incline. Once the competitors applied their weight on the first monkey bar, a ring (fourteen inches in diameter) would start rolling down on the side, and the competitors must be quick enough on the monkey bars to grab it as it fell. Using this ring, competitors must then make a jump (almost identical to the Sky Hooks) before finally dismounting to the landing platform.

If they were not quick enough to grab the ring, they must make the jump using a much smaller ring (eight inches in diameter) hanging at the end of the monkey bars (which had handles to hold on to), but this would make the jump much harder, as it required more coordination and precision.

On the first episode of the qualifiers, while several top competitors missed the large ring, including Allyssa Beird and Grant McCartney, most of them were able to make the jump with the smaller ring. In all, only 5 out of 27 competitors that attempted the obstacle failed to complete it, including Anthony Eardley.

On the second qualifiers episode, however, more competitors fell here, as a total of 7 competitors fell, including JJ Woods, and most shockingly, Caleb Bergstrom.

American Ninja Warrior 13
The Ring Chaser appeared back as the third obstacle in the second and third episodes of the semifinals on American Ninja Warrior 13. The distance between hooks seems to have increased though.

In the second semifinal episode, only two competitors failed on the obstacle: Paul Fisher and Sandy Zimmerman. However, in the third semifinal episode, six competitors failed on the obstacle, which were Brian Montagnese, Sophia Lavalee, Josh Wagg, Charity LeBlanc, DC Banks, and Nico Gentry.

Australian Ninja Warrior
On Australian Ninja Warrior 5, the Ring Chaser appeared as the fourth obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 3. This time, another set of cradles was added after the first one, and the ring would be used in this pair was fixed as the large one. The obstacle was also paired with the Clockwork as part of the Crossroads' Path B.

A big shock happened when Olivia Vivian failed this obstacle during Heat 1, her time was fast enough to get into the Semis however.

The Ring Chaser returned in Australian Ninja Warrior 6, as the fifth obstacle of Heat 1, with no changes to the obstacle. A great save on this obstacle happened during Saxon Johnstone's run, where he missed the ring with his hands and caught it with his foot.

During Heat 1, this obstacle proved to be extremely easy, with only Kahil Evans failing it.

Ninja Warrior Poland
On Ninja Warrior Poland 4, Ring Chaser appeared in the final as the fifth obstacle in stage one. Only Piotr Kominek failed in the obstacle, and only Piotr Lisiczka failed to catch the first ring and used the spare ring. Then on Ninja Warrior Poland 5, Ring Chaser appeared as the second obstacle in the semi-finals.

Ninja Warrior Germany
On Ninja Warrior Germany 6, the Ring Chaser appeared as the fifth obstacle of the Semifinals. This time, the obstacle immediately followed the Criss Cross Salmon Ladder with no rest. In addition, once competitors completed the transition to the ring, they can reach for a resting bar before landing to the platform.

Ninja Warrior France
L'échelle de Vitesse, Ninja Warrior France's official name for the Ring Chaser would appear as the third obstacle of Qualification 1 of Ninja Warrior France 6. It is paired with the Corkscrew as part of Route B of the Crossroads. The obstacle would be slightly modified for female competitors, as the rings present in the obstacle would be the same. In addition, a third ring was added in the second hook, meaning that female competitors can just reach to the ring instead of doing the transition to the rings.

Competitors' Success Rate

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

Trivia

 * The Ring Chaser is yet another obstacle designed by Kevin Carbone, marking the fourth season in a row that featured a new obstacle designed by him, preceded by the Wingnuts and Wingnut Alley on American Ninja Warrior 9, the Déjà Vu on American Ninja Warrior 10, and the Slingshot on American Ninja Warrior 11.
 * The Ring Chaser appeared alongside the Slingshot during the first episode of qualifiers on American Ninja Warrior 12, meaning there were two obstacles designed by Kevin Carbone on the same course. This previously happened in Stage Two on American Ninja Warrior 10 (featuring the Déjà Vu and Wingnut Alley), and in Cincinnati qualifiers and finals on American Ninja Warrior 11 (featuring the Wingnuts and Slingshot).
 * The Ring Chaser is partially based off of the Sky Hooks, which also came from the Obstacle Design Challenge.
 * The Ring Chaser is the first obstacle in American Ninja Warrior to have an independent moving element triggered by the competitor.