American Ninja Warrior: Obstacle Design Challenge

American Ninja Warrior: Obstacle Design Challenge is a contest that was first announced on American Ninja Warrior 9. As the name applies, fans may create an obstacle and submit it to the ANWNation website (following its shutdown, an external website). All submissions will be considered by a panel of judges, and a handful will be selected to appear on the following season of American Ninja Warrior. Submissions may be modified, and credit is not always given. Obstacles can be either used during the city qualifiers, city finals, or Las Vegas national finals.

Here are some of the rules on how to submit an obstacle:

Upload a photo of the obstacle's design.
Include the title of the obstacle.
Type a 100-word description and rules on how to attempt the obstacle.
Upload a submission video about the obstacle.

There are some rules pertaining to the obstacles themselves:

The obstacle must be no greater than in 10 feet (3 meters) in height, 8 feet (2.4 meters) in width, and 24 feet (7.3 meters) in length.
The obstacle cannot be automated (using motors to drive the obstacle). Examples of automated obstacles includes but not limited to:
- Free Climbing,
- Goren Hammer,
- Reverse Conveyor,
- Backstream,
- Hedgehog,
- Orugōru,
- Fish Bone,
- Ultra Crazy Cliffhanger,
- Cliffhanger Dimension,
- Planet Bridge,
- Twin Dia, and
- Screwdriver
The obstacle must accommodate competitors' height (5 feet to 7 feet/154 cm to 213 cm) and weight (85 lbs to 250 lbs/38.56 kg to 113.4 kg).
The obstacle must be completely original. Pre-existing American Ninja Warrior obstacles, SASUKE obstacles, or any original obstacle made in the many international formats may not be passed off as an original idea for an obstacle, as it may fall under copyright and patent infringement. However, these obstacles may be thoroughly modified to the extent that they may be considered original.

Additional rules for the submission itself include:

No real-life demonstrations of the obstacle.
No music.

The challenge is only available to U.S. citizens ages 18 years old and above who are currently residing within any of the 50 states and District of Colombia. If a minor wants to submit their entry, they must have a parent or guardian submit the entry on their behalf. Up to two entries can be submitted per person per season.

The winning designer(s) of the obstacle will have an opportunity to go see the obstacle they created come to life up close and personal in an American Ninja Warrior course, as well as a gift bag worth US$250. In each season, one of the selected obstacles will be selected as the "Best Obstacle" in the contest.

While there is only one official winner, multiple selections will be used on each season. This challenge won't appear in American Ninja Warrior 17.

American Ninja Warrior 9[]

With the introduction of the contest on the previous season season, the winning obstacles were used on American Ninja Warrior 9. Eight obstacles submitted by fans were used on this season. Four debuted during the City Qualifiers round, three during the City Finals round (the back half part of the courses), and one during the Las Vegas National Finals.

Among the eight obstacles on the list below:

Four (the Battering Ram, Sky Hooks, Wingnuts, and Iron Maiden) would make their first SASUKE/Ninja Warrior international appearance on Australian Ninja Warrior 2
Two (Crank It Up and Nail Clipper) would make their first SASUKE/Ninja Warrior international appearance on Ninja Warrior France 4, and
SASUKE 35 paid homage to the Double Dipper in a separate obstacle called Dragon Glider.

Obstacle	Position	Course Debut	Designer	Notes
Battering Ram	5th	Los Angeles qualifiers	Luke Pereira	First introduced during Celebrity Ninja Warrior: Red Nose Day. Pereira's name was not revealed upon broadcast and was found via external information.
Sky Hooks	4th	San Antonio qualifiers	Benjamin Tan	Winner of the American Ninja Warrior 9 Obstacle Design Challenge. Youngest winner of the contest at seven years old.
Wingnuts	3rd	Daytona Beach qualifiers	Kevin Carbone	Carbone became the first person to complete his own obstacle, doing so during the Daytona Beach qualifiers and finals. Modified as the Wingnut Alley in Stage Two.
Crank It Up	4th	Kansas City qualifiers	Kevin Brekke	Brekke was later hired to become a professional obstacle designer on ATS (the company that builds the obstacles presented on the show).
Iron Maiden	9th	Kansas City finals	Brett Sims
Nail Clipper	8th	Cleveland finals	Calvin Boyce	Reappeared in Stage Three.
Ninjago Roll	9th	Denver finals	Josephine Starr Stevenson	Promoted The LEGO Ninjago Movie.
Double Dipper	3rd	Las Vegas national finals (Stage One)	Hannah Willie	Doubled variant of the Big Dipper. Credited as "Hannah W." during the broadcast.

American Ninja Warrior 10[]

For the second year, the Obstacle Design Challenge was announced on American Ninja Warrior 9. The winning obstacles would set to debut on American Ninja Warrior 10.

There were four obstacles submitted from the fans that were used on this season. One debuted during the City Qualifiers, two debuted during the City Finals (the back half part of the courses), and one debuted during the Las Vegas National Finals.

Obstacle	Position	Course Debut	Designer	Notes
Slippery Summit	5th	Miami qualifiers	Ciaran Gault
Fallout	9th	Dallas finals	Jake Clark	Promoted Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Cane Lane	9th	Indianapolis finals	Kevin Brekke	Also designed Crank It Up in American Ninja Warrior 9. First person to have two submissions appear on American Ninja Warrior.
Déjà Vu	3rd	Las Vegas national finals (Stage Two)	Kevin Carbone	Winner of the American Ninja Warrior 10 Obstacle Design Challenge. Second person to have two submissions appear on American Ninja Warrior.

American Ninja Warrior 11[]

For the third year, the Obstacle Design Challenge was announced on American Ninja Warrior 10. The winning obstacles would set to debut on American Ninja Warrior 11.

There were six obstacles submitted from the fans, that were used on this season. Four debuted during the City Qualifiers, one debuted during the City Finals (the back half part of the courses), and one obstacle debuted during the Las Vegas National Finals.

Obstacle	Position	Course Debut	Designer	Notes
Walk the Plank	2nd	Los Angeles qualifiers	Jeff Thompson
Coconut Climb	5th	Oklahoma City qualifiers	Till Ebener	Competed on Ninja Warrior Germany three times.
Barrel Roll	3rd	Seattle-Tacoma qualifiers	Tyler Rizzo	Winner of the American Ninja Warrior 11 Obstacle Design Challenge.
Slingshot	5th	Cincinnati qualifiers	Kevin Carbone	First person to have three submissions appear on American Ninja Warrior back-to-back.
Slam Dunk	8th	Cincinnati finals	Kevin McCormack
Iron Summit	2nd	Las Vegas national finals (Stage Three)	Brett Sims	Modified from his own obstacle, the Iron Maiden.

American Ninja Warrior 12[]

For the fourth year, the Obstacle Design Challenge was announced on American Ninja Warrior 11. Just like last year, fans would create an obstacle and must submit it to the ANWNation website. The winning obstacles would set to debut on American Ninja Warrior 12.

There were four obstacles submitted by fans that were used on this season. Two of them debuted during the Qualifiers and the other two debuted during the Semifinals.

Obstacle	Position	Course Debut	Designer	Notes
Weight for It	2nd	Qualifiers EP 1	Unknown
Ring Chaser	3rd	Qualifiers EP 1	Kevin Carbone	Set a record for four submissions to appear on American Ninja Warrior. Carbone later completed this obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 13.
Clockwork	3rd	Semifinals EP 1	Unknown
Corkscrew	8th	Semifinals EP 1	Josh Norton	Winner of the American Ninja Warrior 12 Obstacle Design Challenge.

American Ninja Warrior 13[]

For the fifth year, the Obstacle Design Challenge was announced on American Ninja Warrior 12. Just like last year, fans would create an obstacle and must submit it to the ANWNation website. The winning obstacles would set to debut on American Ninja Warrior 13.

There were two obstacles submitted by fans that were used on this season. One of them were debuted in the Qualifiers rounds, and one debuted in the Las Vegas National Finals.

Obstacle	Position	Course Debut	Designer	Notes
Air Surfer	4th	Qualifiers EP 3	Jennie Bensley	Winner of the American Ninja Warrior 13 Obstacle Design Challenge. Modified as the Epic Air Surfer on Stage Two.
Stalactites	2nd	Las Vegas national finals (Stage Three)	Christian Youst

American Ninja Warrior 14[]

For the sixth year, the Obstacle Design Challenge was announced on American Ninja Warrior 13. Just like last year, fans would create an obstacle and must submit it to the ANWNation website. The winning obstacles would set to debut on American Ninja Warrior 14.

There were four obstacles submitted by the fans used on this season. One debuted in the Qualifiers, two debuted in the Semifinals, and one debuted in the Las Vegas National Finals.

Following the shutdown of ANWNation at the beginning of 2022 prior to American Ninja Warrior 14, an official website was made to continue the challenge in future seasons.

Obstacle	Position	Course Debut	Designer	Notes
Serpent	3rd	Qualifiers EP 1	Unknown
Ghost Town	8th	Semifinals EP 1	Unknown
Box Office	8th	Semifinals EP 2	Unknown (online alias known as RPG445)
Tetherball	5th	Las Vegas national finals (Stage One)	Stacie Harris	Winner of the American Ninja Warrior 14 Obstacle Design Challenge. Oldest known winner of the contest at 50 years old.

American Ninja Warrior 15[]

For the seventh year, the Obstacle Design Challenge was announced on American Ninja Warrior 14. The winning obstacles debuted on American Ninja Warrior 15.

There were two obstacles submitted by the fans used on this season. One of them debuted during the Qualifiers and the other debuted in Las Vegas national finals.

Obstacle	Position	Course Debut	Designer	Notes
The Cubes	5th	Qualifiers EP 3	Grace Quagliata	Winner of the American Ninja Warrior 15 Obstacle Design Challenge.
Pressure Cooker	6th	Las Vegas national finals (Stage Three)	Dr. Steven Bachta	Based on a similar obstacle, Operation, used in local Ninja gyms and competitions.

American Ninja Warrior 16[]

For the seventh year, the Obstacle Design Challenge was announced on American Ninja Warrior 15. The winning obstacles debuted on American Ninja Warrior 16.

So far, 2 obstacles have submitted by the fans has been used on this season.

Obstacle	Position	Course Debut	Designer	Notes
Duck Duck Goose	4th	Qualifiers EP 1	Sam Folsom	Folsom attempted and failed this obstacle during the first qualifying episode, becoming the only person to attempt his fan-created obstacle to fail it. Later completed it on American Ninja Warrior: Couples Championship 2.
Pizza Party	5th	Las Vegas National Finals (Stage Three)	Kevin Brekke	Winner of the American Ninja Warrior 16 Obstacle Design Challenge. Brekke's final obstacle design for American Ninja Warrior.