Carnival

The Carnival is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the fourth obstacle in the first episode of qualifiers on American Ninja Warrior 14.

Competitors must first hold on to two rings attached on an apparatus in which they must tilt over and aid a ball attached on the top into one of three cradles. The intention was for competitors who could roll the ball into a higher cradle would have an easier time completing the obstacle. Once competitors managed to drop the ball in any of the cradles, they must hold onto a suspended ring attached to the bottom of the cradles and make a transition towards the dropped handle and make a dismount to the platform.
 * If the ball lands on the top cradle, painted red and labeled number one, a T-shaped bar would be released,
 * If the ball lands on the middle cradle painted blue and labeled number two, an inverted Y-shaped bar would be released resembling the Spinball Wizard and V Formation.
 * If the ball lands on the bottom cradle painted green and labeled number three, a hanging nunchuck would be released resembling the Flying Nunchucks.
 * If the ball did not land on any cradles, a single small cliffhanger ledge, supported by a chain would be released.

On the first episode of qualifiers, some competitors did roll the ball into the top cradle, but many allowed the ball to roll into the bottom cradle and did not attempt to roll it into a higher one (which would have risked dropping the ball). Most competitors were able to grab the nunchuck and dismount, though a few competitors, such Lindsay Eskildsen, failed it.

On the second episode of qualifiers, it was notable for eliminating Sandy Zimmerman, when the ball missed all the cradle and she failed the transition to the cliffhanger.

Trivia

 * It was revealed on Reddit that at first, ATS team wanted to build a fully automated system for the dropping handles, but due to technological problems, there were 2 people controlling instead (one controlled 1&2 and the other controlled 3&4).