Gliding Ring, SASUKE 22
The Gliding Ring (グライディングリング) is a Third Stage obstacle that replaced the Pipe Slider in the 18th Competition course redesign. Its appearance is similar to the Circle Slider, a First Stage obstacle from SASUKE 17. However, the track is shorter and the ring is smaller. Its function is similar to the Pipe Slider, where the competitor needs to push the ring to the end position and swing off the ring over a fairly large gap onto the finishing platform to reach the Final Stage. The ring is held in place by a stopper at the beginning to keep it from sliding down the track prematurely There is only one track holding the ring, and the ring's final position also seems to be at the same height as the gap, making the jump needed for success quite difficult. The distance from the ring to the platform is unknown.
Due to the difficulty of previous third stage obstacles, the Gliding Ring was not attempted in SASUKE 18, 19, or 20. In the 21st Competition, this obstacle was named the Gliding Ring but an error in design required Nagano Makoto, the only competitor to attempt the obstacle, to force the ring down the track. This error was fixed in SASUKE 22 and Urushihara Yuuji easily glided down along the track and became the first to clear it. The goal mat was placed further from the ring as a result, ensnaring Takahashi Kenji in SASUKE 23. However, both Nagano Makoto and Kanno Hitoshi cleared it. In SASUKE 24 six contestants attempt this obstacle. Of the six that attempted it in SASUKE 24, the first, Tajima Naoya, lost his grip when he failed to move the ring past the stopper prior to trying to start the ring down the track.
Final Ring
Final Ring, SASUKE 20
In SASUKE 18 - SASUKE 20, the final obstacle in the Third Stage was named the Final Ring (ファイナルリング). Aesthetically, it looks identical to the Gliding Ring. It is unknown if anything was changed to warrant the name change in SASUKE 21, except for the stopper. In SASUKE 23 and SASUKE 24, G4 used the name again.
Competitors' Success Rate
- All results based on the TBS broadcast and external information found
| SASUKE | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 19 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 20 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 21 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| 22 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| 23 | 2 | 3 | 66.67% |
| 24 | 5 | 6 | 86.67% |
| Total | 8 | 11 | 72.73% |