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ANW9 Cannonball Drop

American Ninja Warrior 9's Cannonball Drop in Los Angeles

The Cannonball Drop is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the second obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 9 in Los Angeles.

Competitors must grab onto a 16-inch diameter free-spinning cannonball and ride it down a slightly sloped 28-foot track that starts out 20-feet above water with two drops that would test the grip strength of the competitors.

During Los Angeles qualifiers, the obstacle took out 28 competitors, including Mike Ibasco, Tajma MaBon, Joe Heiden, Sandy Zimmerman, and Liam Buell. Typically, most of its victims failed to acquire a firm grip on the cannonball while sliding down the track, thus making it difficult to resist the jolts on the track. Some also were unable to stick the dismount, either failing to stick a steady landing or ramming onto the side of the landing platform.

During Los Angeles finals, the obstacle ended the runs of Scott Willson, Tyler Vogt, K.C Halik, Westley Silvestri, and Brent Bundy.

CNW Cannonball Drop

Celebrity Ninja Warrior: Red Nose Day's Cannonball Drop

The Cannonball Drop was attempted early during Celebrity Ninja Warrior: Red Nose Day. However, the number of the drops on the track was reduced from two to just one, in order to make the obstacle easier for celebrity competitors. Among the nine celebrity competitors who attempted it, only Nikki Glaser failed to complete it.

Other Season Appearances[]

American Ninja Warrior 10[]

ANW10 Cannonball Drop

American Ninja Warrior 10's Cannonball Drop in Indianapolis

The Cannonball Drop returned on American Ninja Warrior 10, as the second obstacle during Indianapolis qualifiers. Coincidentally, the Indianapolis qualifiers also featured Block Run, in which both obstacles were used in Los Angeles course on the previous season.

During Indianapolis qualifiers, the Cannonball Drop was proven to be more disastrous, as the obstacle ended the runs of Derrick Pavoni, Amy Pajcic, George O'Dell, Sophia Oster, Sean Noel, and most shockingly, Lorin Ball (due to a disqualification when he grabbed the truss). The obstacle eliminated more competitors during Indianapolis qualifiers than during Los Angeles qualifiers on the previous season, ending 32 competitors in total.

ANW10 Cannonball Drop (Miami)

American Ninja Warrior 10's Cannonball Drop in Miami

Later on the same season, the Cannonball Drop reappeared as the second obstacle during Miami finals, replacing the Fly Wheels during Miami qualifiers. The obstacle also swapped place with the Fly Wheels, which replaced the Cannonball Drop during Indianapolis finals. Both obstacles were coincidentally used in Los Angeles course on the previous season.

Although it was just the second obstacle, the Cannonball Drop was proven to be extremely and unexpectedly lethal during Miami finals, as the obstacle was responsible for eliminating a total of 10 competitors, which were:

Each competitor fell in various ways, ranging from losing their grip midway through the obstacle (e.g. Devin Harrelson and Eli Bell), to failing to land safely on the dismount (e.g. Lindsay Eskildsen, Jessica Clayton, Eddy Stewart, and Kevin Carbone). One unique elimination came from Eddy Stewart's run, which resulted in him grasping the truss and falling off the course, technically resulting in a double disqualification. Although she made a great save on it, the obstacle also nearly took out Jessie Graff, when she almost lost her balance at the dismount.

In the end, the Cannonball Drop took out the most number of competitors out of any obstacle during Miami finals, eliminating 31.25% of all 32 Miami finalists who attempted it.

Other Appearances[]

Cannonball Drop[]

Ninja Warrior Germany[]

NWde3 - Stage 1 - Cannonball Drop

Ninja Warrior Germany 3's Cannonball Drop

The Cannonball Drop appeared on Ninja Warrior Germany 3 as the second obstacle of Stage One.

Nwgr four nations 1 cannonball drop

Ninja Warrior Germany: Four Nations Special 1's Cannonball Drop

The obstacle returned in the Four Nations Special 1, as the second obstacle of Stage 1. The second drop of the track had been removed, yet a stopper was placed where the drop originally was.

Ninja Warrior Poland[]

NWP Cannonbal Drop 2

Ninja Warrior Poland 1's Cannonball Drop

The Cannonball Drop appeared on Ninja Warrior Poland as the second obstacle of Stage One. The obstacle turned out to be one of the most difficult in this final, as it eliminated as many as four participants.

NWP4 Cannonball Drop

Ninja Warrior Poland 4's Cannonball Drop

Then, on Ninja Warrior Poland 4, the Cannonball Drop reappeared as the second obstacle in Stage One. Unlike in the first season, the track here had one big drop instead of two smaller ones, making it similar to other zipline/slider type obstacles within the same season. The chain holding the cannonball is also made longer. The obstacle eliminated four competitors.

NWP8 Cannonball Drop

Ninja Warrior Poland 8's Cannonball Drop

On Ninja Warrior Poland 8, the Cannonball Drop appeared again as the second obstacle in Stage One, with the same sliding track as in season 4.

The Cannonball[]

Ninja Israel[]

NWI Cannonball

Ninja Israel's The Cannonball

On Ninja Warrior Israel, a variation of the Cannonball Drop, locally called כדור התותח, translated as The Cannonball, appeared as the second obstacle in the Stage One. On this variation, the track uses a zipline with no drop, making the obstacle very similar to the UFO in Ninja Warrior UK 3. The obstacle was very easy, as no competitor falled on it.

Ninja Warrior Switzerland[]

NWS Cannon Ball

Ninja Warrior Switzerland's The Cannonball

On Ninja Warrior Switzerland, the Cannonball appeared as the second obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 4, which was very similar to the one used in Ninja Warrior Israel.

Competitors' Success Rate[]

  • All results based on the NBC/Polsat/Keshet 12 broadcast and external information found

American Ninja Warrior[]

Cannonball Drop
ANW Clears Attempts Percentage
ANW9 (qualifiers) 77 105 73.33%
ANW9 (finals) 28 33 84.85%
ANW10 (Indianapolis) 72 104 69.23%
ANW10 (Miami) 22 32 68.75%
Total 177 242 73.14%

Ninja Warrior Poland[]

Cannonball Drop
NWP Clears Attempts Percentage
NWP1 20 24 83.33%
NWP4 16 20 80%
NWP8 19 22 86.36%
Total 55 66 83.33%

Ninja Israel[]

The Cannonball
NWI Clears Attempts Percentage
NWI1 28 28 100%
Total 28 28 100%

Trivia[]

  • To date, The Cannonball Drop during American Ninja Warrior 10's Miami finals has the largest knockout rate in a city finals course that had every competitor participating in a city finals course attempted it. Statistically speaking, 10 out of all 32 competitors during Miami finals were eliminated by the obstacle.
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