Utility Pole Slider

The Utility Pole Slider is an obstacle first introduced as the second obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 5 in Miami.

Competitors had to ride a thin pole, with two sets of bars at the top, all laid out horizontally. Then, they must slide down the pole onto a track with a drop at the middle. Finally, they must make a dismount to the landing platform to advance. Competitors could use the pole to put their legs around, but some just rode it by hanging onto a pair of bars.

This obstacle was extremely easy, as no competitor failed, whether during Miami qualifiers or Miami finals.

Ninja Warrior UK
The Utility Pole Slider appeared as the second obstacle on the first three seasons of Ninja Warrior UK. On Ninja Warrior UK, the obstacle was called Telephone Pole Rider, while on Ninja Warrior UK 2 and Ninja Warrior UK 3, the obstacle was simply called Pole Rider.

However, on Ninja Warrior UK and Ninja Warrior UK 2, to make the obstacle harder than the one used on American Ninja Warrior 5, there was a sudden stop just before the end of the track, requiring competitors to time their release from the pole to the landing platform, or else, they would be eliminated. As a result, the obstacle was more brutal, as several competitors failed on this obstacle, whether failed to time the dismount correctly or didn't make the dismount, so competitors were hung up and forced to fall into the water.

Australian Ninja Warrior
On Australian Ninja Warrior, the Utility Pole Slider appeared as the second obstacle in Heat 5, and just like on Ninja Warrior UK 2 and Ninja Warrior UK 3, the obstacle was called as the Pole Rider. However, unlike on American Ninja Warrior 5 and all three seasons of Ninja Warrior UK, the bars were removed, resulting competitors must hug the pole and slide down the pole onto a track in a similar fashion to the Log Grip, except it was thinner.

Then, on Australian Ninja Warrior 2, the Pole Rider appeared as the second obstacle in Heat 5 once again. This time, the track was made similar to the one used on the Cannonball Drop. However, unlike on the previous season, the obstacle was more brutal than ever, as only sixteen competitors could get past it. With the top twenty competitors from each heat advancing to the semifinals that season, the Pole Rider became the cut-off for the competitors in Heat 5 to advance.

Ninja Warrior Poland


On Ninja Warrior Poland 4, the Utility Pole Slider appeared as the second obstacle in Heat 2 and Heat 6. This obstacle turned out to be difficult as it eliminated half of the participants from the course. Then on Ninja Warrior Poland 5, the Utility Pole Slider appeared as the second obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 4.