Silk Slider

Silk Slider (シルクスライダー) is a First Stage obstacle introduced in SASUKE 38, replacing Wing Slider. Competitors have to grab a curtain wrapping and slide it down the track 12.2m long to land on a curved platform. Once the competitors land on the curved platform, they will move to the runway on their left to move on to the next obstacle.

The obstacle originated from American Ninja Warrior. However, compared to the original American counterpart, the track is using a beam, a similar design used in Mini Silk Slider as opposed to a zipline, which also has a sharp decline at the end, directly beneath the platform.

To prevent the silk from prematurely going down the track, its ends have Velcro attached to the poles that competitors must remove before attempting the obstacle. There is also a net placed in front of the obstacle in case competitors might overshoot from the curved platform, possibly disqualifying the competitors. Therefore, denoting that jumping forward to the other side redundant due to the distance. As a side note, few competitors may have lost time before attempting due to the wind blowing against the silk.

The obstacle is noticeably easier than Wing Slider, however, it was used because of the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as it was easier to clean compared to Wing Slider, according to Inui Masato. In Silk Slider's case, the producers would simply replace the silk for sanitary purposes every five runs. This was proven as competitors rarely struggle with this obstacle. The reason to it could be the curved platform where competitors can use the edge to stop their momentum upon dismounting, with the speed considerably slower than Rope Glider. It has a higher clear rate compared to other obstacles typically used in its position in First Stage, being easier than its predecessors, with most of those few that failed were due to them overshooting the dismount and ultimately falling off the platform and into the water.

In part with the second kanzenseiha of Morimoto Yūsuke, the Silk Slider is modified in SASUKE 39. This time, the obstacle is now comprised of a singular curtain that competitors must hold onto to reach the landing platform, which was smaller with more curvature.

Compared to the previous tournament, the poles are removed and instead a thin wire is tied to one end of the curtain prevent the obstacle from prematurely going down the track, However, the obstacle would have a slightly higher clear rate compared to the previous tournament due to competitors hold onto the curtain in a similar motion as the Rope Glider, by grabbing the lowest end of the curtain to dismount more efficiently. As a result, only few competitors such as Takeru (Tokyo Hoteison), Higashimura Mei and HIKAKIN failing the obstacle.

Competitors' Success Rate

 * All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found.

American Ninja Warrior
The original incarnation of Silk Slider first appeared as the third obstacle in American Ninja Warrior 6 in Stage One, replacing Rope Glider from the previous season.

Competitors normally either got tangled in the silk or timed their landing wrong. Also, some competitors were disqualified for touching the water with their foot or hand. There were times when competitors did not grab the ends of the silk at the same time, so it slipped out of the rings holding it, forcing the competitor into the water.

This obstacle was proven to be much more brutal than its predecessor, Rope Glider, eliminating top competitors such as David Campbell, Dorian Cedars, Evan Dollard, James McGrath, Dustin Rocho, Alan Connealy, Karsten Williams, Andrew Karsen, Dan Polizzi, Robin Pietschmann, Michelle Warnky, Kevin Bull, Jon Stewart, Thaddeus Robeck, Noel Reyes, John Vogt, Derek Nakamoto, and Justin Kydd. A total of 24 competitors failed on this obstacle, in addition to Elet Hall during USA vs. The World.

The obstacle was brutal for Venice Beach finalists, as it eliminated nine of the sixteen finalists from that region, leading the entire Venice Beach finalists to go out in Stage One. This was the first time in American Ninja Warrior history that the entire city finalists from the same region went out in Stage One.

In American Ninja Warrior 7, Silk Slider returned as the third obstacle in Stage One. However, the landing pad was bigger and less slick, so it was proven to be much easier than the previous season, as only four competitors failed: Dillon Gates, Theo Agu, Caleb Hayre, and Josh Cook.

In American Ninja Warrior 8, it was replaced by Giant Log Grip.

SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia
In SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia 2017, Silk Slider appeared as the first obstacle during Warrior Stage, and had the same specification from American Ninja Warrior 7. However, the obstacle had a decent knockout rate, as several competitors either lost their balance at the landing platform, or didn't release to the landing platform, resulting competitors got hung up and forced to fall into the water.

During SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia: International Competition, the obstacle took out three notable competitors from two different teams: Drew Drechsel and David Campbell from Team USA, and Dion Trigg from Team Europe.

Mini Silk Slider
The second version of Silk Slider, Mini Silk Slider, was first introduced in American Ninja Warrior 7 as the second obstacle in Venice Beach. The obstacle began just like Silk Slider, but when competitors reached the end of a shorter track, they must jump to a rope and swing to the landing mat ahead of them.

Mini Silk Slider retained the difficulty of its original version, as several competitors either didn't jump to the rope when the silk stopped sliding, making it impossible to complete the obstacle at that point, or didn't judge the timing right. The obstacle eliminated 48 competitors during Venice Beach qualifiers, including Kyle Cochran and Rob Moravsky, as well as three more competitors during Venice Beach finals.

Australian Ninja Warrior
Mini Silk Slider has been used on several Ninja Warrior international formats, including Ninja Warrior UK and Australian Ninja Warrior, although the obstacle was simply called Silk Slider (without the word 'Mini'). Also, on some occasions (like in Ninja Warrior Poland 4's Stage 1), the rope at the end of the obstacle was removed, requiring the competitors to time their release from the silk to reach the landing platform.

Competitors' Success Rate

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

シルクスライダー 窗簾滑降