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ANW9 Crank It Up

American Ninja Warrior 9's Crank It Up in Kansas City

Crank It Up is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the fourth obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 9 in Kansas City.

It consisted of three sets of separate handles, and a laché bar after the third set of handles. On this obstacle:

  • Competitors must jump to the first set of handles and crank the handles up (up about 5.5 ft) and back until the handles moved forward, allowing them to advance by making a 3-ft drop to the second set of handles.
  • The second set of handles moved in a similar fashion with the first one, and after completing the second set of handles, competitors must make a 2.5-ft drop to the third set of handles.
  • The third set of handles moved up, but stop at 90 degrees (at the very top).
  • From there, competitors must make a transition to the laché bar, and then to the landing platform to advance.

This obstacle was proven to be a massive toll on the upper-body strength, with many competitors tuckering out halfway through on the second or third handles. To prevent fatigue, many competitors had needed to get a strong transition to conserve arm energy. The obstacle proved to be incredibly brutal. as during Kansas City qualifiers, 35 competitors failed on this obstacle, including Sarah Schoback, Sara Heesen, Maggi Thorne, Annie Dudek, Donovan Metoyer, Michael Bougher, Derrick Pavoni, Jimmy Bogle Jr., Mike Chick, Spencer Johnson, Brittany Reid, Roo Yori, Kirsti Pratt, Deren Perez, Brent Ruffin, Brendan Kelly, Craig Schafer, Brian Doom, and Justin Cranmer. No female competitor could get past the obstacle in qualifying. The obstacle also became the cut off for advancing to Kansas City finals, both with the womens' top 5 and the regular top 30 leaderboards.

During Kansas City finals, the obstacle was modified with the removal of the second set of handles (for a total of two sets of handles), thus increasing the jumping distance between the sets of handles. The jump from the first to second handles is now 7.5-ft, while that of the second handle to the lache bar is 7-ft. Although only 5 competitors (Sarah Schoback, Sara Heesen, Deren Perez, Craig Schafer, and Annie Dudek) fell on the obstacle (all of which failed it in the city finals), the obstacle's upper-body toll was one of the contributions to the Kansas City finals' zero finishers, combined with the elimination rates of the Broken Pipes, Bar Hop, and Floating Monkey Bars, making it the second time in American Ninja Warrior history that no competitor could finish a city finals course (after the Philadelphia finals on American Ninja Warrior 8). This obstacle also served as the cut-off for the womens' top 2.

Also during Kansas City finals, there was a special completion on this obstacle, when Maggi Thorne, who previously failed on the obstacle during Kansas City qualifiers, was able to battle her way through both sets of handles. With every female competitor either failing on Crank It Up or Broken Pipes, she became the first and currently only woman to get past it. Her completion ultimately awarded her the "POM Run of the Night". With her eventually failing on the next obstacle, the Bar Hop, her run also became the third instance where the "POM Run of the Night" was not awarded to a completion on a course.

Other Season Appearances[]

American Ninja Warrior 10[]

ANW10 Crank It Up

American Ninja Warrior 10's Crank It Up in Dallas

On American Ninja Warrior 10, Crank It Up appeared as the fifth obstacle in Dallas. During Dallas qualifiers, it did slightly less damage than during Kansas City qualifiers on the previous season, likely due to its placement as the fifth obstacle. Although the obstacle had eliminated competitors like Andrew Lowes, Nate Burkhalter, Josh Norton, Chris Cambre, Victor Gonzalez, and Louis Moore, it had only taken out 12 competitors in total.  

Also, unlike during Kansas City qualifiers on the previous season, only two female competitors, Karen Wiltin and Quest O'Neal, attempted the obstacle during Dallas qualifiers, likely due to its placement and the high elimination amounts of the previous obstacles (the Catch & Release, Bouncing Spider, and Tuning Forks). However, neither of them completed the obstacle.

During Dallas finals, similar to during Kansas City finals on the previous season, the second set of handles was removed, leaving with just two sets of handles and creating a larger gap between both of them. Only Chris Cambre, Steven Tucker, and Adam Ster fell on the obstacle; all of which fell on it previously during Dallas qualifiers. Additionally, Barclay Stockett became the second female competitor to complete the obstacle.

American Ninja Warrior 11[]

ANW11 Crank It Up

American Ninja Warrior 11's Crank It Up in Baltimore

On American Ninja Warrior 11, Crank It Up appeared as the fifth obstacle in Baltimore. This time, the laché bar was placed lower and almost equally high as the second set of handles, requiring competitors to endure the drop when transitioning from the third set of handles. Now the jump between sets of handles is 6 feet, and that from the last set of handles to the lache bar is 7 feet.

During Baltimore qualifiers, a total of 14 competitors failed on the obstacle, including Allyssa Beird (who was the only female competitor to attempt the obstacle), Eli Bell, Ryan Lee, Logan Kreglow, Clayton Mirage, and Alex Goodwin.

During Baltimore finals, similar to during Kansas City finals on American Ninja Warrior 9, and Dallas finals on the previous season, the second set of handles was removed, leaving with just two sets of handles and creating a larger gap between both of them. This time, seven competitors failed on this obstacle, including Eli Bell, Daniel Eiskant, Justin Andelin and Kevin Liang. The obstacle was also served as the cut-off for the top 2 female competitors, since three of the four women who made it there (Abby Clark, Angela Gargano, and Karter Ohlson) failed on it. Additionally, Allyssa Beird became the third female competitor to complete the obstacle.

Other Appearances[]

Ninja Israel[]

NWIsrael2021 Crank It Up

Ninja Israel 3's Crank It Up

On Ninja Warrior Israel 3, the Crank It Up, locally called כוח עליון (literally Force Majeure) appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 1, Heat 11 and Heat 12. It is paired with the Arm Rings as part of Route B of the Crossroads. Compared to its appearance on American Ninja Warrior, the handles were placed higher during the rotation (horizontal instead of angled down like the original version), thus reducing the range competitors have to crank up, and the laché at the end of the obstacle was removed, meaning that competitors must swing to the landing platform directly after crank the third set of handles. Despite that, because of the significantly reduced number of attempts, the obstacle was unbelievably difficult, as it eliminated all three competitors who attempted it, including Avraham Poupko in Heat 1, who was disqualified for dismounting without locking in the third set of handles. This resulted in all competitors in Heat 12 choosing Route A to avoid this obstacle, leaving this obstacle with a 0% clear rate in all Heats that it appeared in.

NWI4 Crank SM1

Ninja Israel 4's Crank it Up in Semifinal 1, Semifinal 5 and Repechage Semifinal

Then, on Ninja Warrior Israel 4, the Crank It Up appeared as the third obstacle in Semifinals, with two variations:

  • Firstly, the original version of Crank it Up appeared on Semifinal 1, Semifinal 5 and Repechage Semifinal, with a laché as a medium to reach the first set of handles. Also, the gap between the third set of handles and the landing platform was larger to avoid future disqualifications similar to Avraham Poupko during Heat 1 in the previous season,
  • NWI4 Crank It Up

    Ninja Israel 4's Crank It Up to Bag Grab in Semifinal 2 and Semifinal 4

    Secondly, a variation of Crank it Up appeared on Semifinal 2 and Semifinal 4, with the third set of handles replaced by a punchbag-shaped pendulum (similar to the one used on the Jumper Cables). Therefore, this version was known as Crank it Up to Bag Grab (called locally as כוח עליון אל שק אגרוף).

This time, because it was placed earlier in every Semifinals course that it appeared in, no competitors failed on both variations of this obstacle.

Ninja Warrior Germany[]

Nwgr4 crank it up

Ninja Warrior Germany 4's Crank It Up

Crank It Up made its first appearance in Ninja Warrior Germany 4 (locally called Einraster) in the first, fourth, and fifth preliminary round as the fifth obstacle. With a rope at te end of the obstacle. Two women were the only ones to fail it in the first two rounds and Jonathan Jung failed it in the fifth round where everyone who made it to the obstacle moved on.

Nwgr5 crank it up

Ninja Warrior Germany 5's Crank It Up

Crank It Up made another appearance in Ninja Warrior Germany 5 in the first and fourth preliminary round. as the seventh obstacle, with a lache bar added the start instead of the end. Out of 21 attempts, 10 failed it.

Nwgr6 crank it up

Ninja Warrior Germany 6's Crank It Up

It reappeared in Ninja Warrior Germany 6 in the third preliminary round. It was brutal as out of seven attempts, only one completed it.

Nwgr8 crank it up

Ninja Warrior Germany 8's Crank It Up


It reappeared in Ninja Warrior Germany 8 in the second preliminary round. Compared to last season, out of twelve attempts, three failed it.

Ninja Warrior France[]

Nwfr4 crank it up

Ninja Warrior France 4's Crank It Up

Crank It Up was the fourth obstacle of Path B of Heats 2 & 3 in Ninja Warrior France 4. It consisted of three handles and a lache bar at the end.

Nwfr7 crank it up

Ninja Warrior France 7's Crank It Up

Then, on Ninja Warrior France 7, it returned as the fourth obstacle of Path B of Crossroads. This time, there were two sets of handles only, with a shorter transition between them, the original third handle was replaced by a lache bar. Another lache bar was placed at the start of the obstacle.

Nwfr8 crank it up

Ninja Warrior France 8's Crank It Up

On Ninja Warrior France 8, Crank It Up appeared as the third obstacle of the Semifinals. With two sets of handles and a rope at the end of the obstacle.

Nwfr8 crank it up finals

Ninja Warrior France 8's Crank It Up in the finals

Nwfr8 crank it up female

Ninja Warrior France 8's Crank It Up in the finals (female version)

It later returned in the finals as the third obstacle of Stage 2. For female competitors, a rope was added at the end.

Competitors' Success Rate[]

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

American Ninja Warrior[]

ANW Clears Attempts Percentage
ANW9 (qualifiers) 25 60 41.67%
ANW9 (finals) 21 26 80.79%
ANW10 (qualifiers) 14 26 53.85%
ANW10 (finals) 21 24 87.5%
ANW11 (qualifiers) 12 26 46.15%
ANW11 (finals) 25 32 78.13%
Total 118 194 60.82%

Ninja Israel[]

NWI Clears Attempts Percentage
NWI3 (Heat 1) 0 2 0%
NWI3 (Heat 11) 0 1 0%
NWI3 (Heat 12) 0 0 N/A
NWI4 (Semifinal 1) 4 4 100%
NWI4 (Semifinal 2) 11 11 100%
NWI4 (Semifinal 4) 18 18 100%
NWI4 (Semifinal 5) 6 6 100%
NWI4 (Repechage Semifinal) 4 4 100%
Total 43 46 93.48%

Trivia[]

ANWDesign - Crank It Up

The prototype design of the Crank It Up, in which Kevin Brekke submitted for the American Ninja Warrior: Obstacle Design Challenge

  • Crank It Up was one of the eight obstacles that won the first edition of American Ninja Warrior: Obstacle Design Challenge, and designed by Kevin Brekke, who would later hired to become a professional obstacle designer at the ATS Team, the company that builds the obstacles for American Ninja Warrior. Brekke would additionally later be a competitor on American Ninja Warrior 13.
  • The obstacle's original design had some handles with one rotator and some others with two independent rotators, but later only handles with one rotator were used.

External Links[]

American_Ninja_Warrior_-_Crashing_the_Course-_Kansas_City_(Presented_by_POM_Wonderful)

American Ninja Warrior - Crashing the Course- Kansas City (Presented by POM Wonderful)

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