American Ninja Warrior 11's Lunatic Ledges in Seattle-Tacoma
The Lunatic Ledges is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the second obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 11 in Seattle-Tacoma.
It consisted of two boards, each with ledges underneath it, with the second board having a handle at the front-side and being placed perpendicular to and lower than the first board.
Competitors must grab the ledges from the first board and build enough swing and momentum to grab the handle on the second board. From there, they must move to the other side of the board and make the dismount to the landing platform.
The obstacle took out a sizable amount of competitors that attempted it in qualifying. A total of 24 competitors during Seattle-Tacoma qualifiers, including Ryan Rowland-Smith, Sarah Schoback, Faris Xero, Alex Ferreira, Abbey Steffl, Michelle Schubert Claussen, Coby Hollier, Dan Fox, and Anna Christensen, and in his final season competing, Jon Stewart.
During Seattle-Tacoma finals, only Jeremy Taiwo fell on the obstacle.
Other Season Appearances[]
American Ninja Warrior 12[]
American Ninja Warrior 12's Lunatic Ledges
On American Ninja Warrior 12, the Lunatic Ledges appeared as the second obstacle during the second and third episodes of the qualifiers.
During the second episode of the qualifiers, only 5 competitors fell on the obstacle out of 35 attempts, including Cassie Dierks. However, during the third episode of the qualifiers, the obstacle became significantly more brutal, as it eliminated 14 out of 36 competitors who attempted it, including several notable competitors such as Bootie Cothran, Stephen Gadberry, Brittney Durant, Brandon Dodson, DC Banks, Elizabeth Leslie, and most shockingly, Michelle Warnky. The Lunatic Ledges in the third qualifier took out the most competitors in a qualifier round that season.
A unique completion occurred during the third episode of qualifiers when David Campbell got stuck on the second board and didn't get enough swing to the landing platform. Campbell opted to climb up the board and make a big jump from a higher distance, managing to clear the obstacle. That technique was used again during the second episode of semifinals of American Ninja Warrior 14, successfully clearing the obstacle as well.
American Ninja Warrior 13[]
American Ninja Warrior 13's Lunatic Ledges
On American Ninja Warrior 13, the Lunatic Ledges appeared as the second obstacle during the first and fourth episodes of the semifinals.
During the first episode of semifinals, the obstacle was once again brutal as ten competitors failed on it, including Jonathan Horton, Jason Grossman, Christian Washington, WeiWei Qin, Chynna Hart, Ruben Arellano, Adam Naids, Christie Brophy, and Sophie Shaft. But during the fourth episode of the semifinals, no one failed on the obstacle.
American Ninja Warrior: Women's Championship 2[]
The Lunatic Ledges returned as the second obstacle during the second Women's Championship in both the first and second rounds. Out of all eleven competitors that reached the obstacle, only Rachel Degutz failed it during the first round.
American Ninja Warrior 14[]
American Ninja Warrior 14's Lunatic Ledges
During American Ninja Warrior 14, the Lunatic Ledges appeared as the second obstacle during the first two rounds of the semifinals. This time, the distance between the starting platform and the first ledge is made larger.
In the first semifinal round, no competitors failed the obstacle. But during the second episode of the semifinals, three competitors failed on it: Brittney Durant, Ruben Arellano, and Julius Ferguson. Both Durant and Arellano failed the obstacle in a previous ANW round (Durant failed the obstacle before in ANW 12 Q3, Arellano failed the obstacle before in ANW 13 SF 1).
American Ninja Warrior 17[]
During American Ninja Warrior 17, the Lunatic Ledges reappeared as the second obstacle during the third and sixth rounds of qualifying after a three season hiatus. While the obstacle mechanically functioned the same as in previous seasons, there was a subtle modification where the first board swung at a slightly different arc than in previous seasons.[1] In the third qualifier, it was slightly hard as it eliminated seven competitors: Peyton Coffin, Wendy Frantz, Taylor Johnson, Maggi Thorne, Tatsumi Yanaba, Whitney Miller, and Demetrius Freeman. In the sixth qualifier, it eliminated six more competitors: Steven Moul, Steven Peters, Daria Beird, Rob Moravsky, Nathanael Honvou, and Jennifer Sanders.
During the last round of semifinals, Ryan Stratis was the only one to fail the obstacle.
American Ninja Warrior: Women's Championship 5[]
The Lunatic Ledges appeared as the second obstacle during the first round of the fifth Women's Championship. Out of the sixteen competitors who reached the obstacle, only Zhanique Lovett failed the obstacle.
Other Appearances[]
In some international Ninja Warrior formats, the Lunatic Ledges featured a trampoline as a medium to reach the first board (similar to the Double Pendulum).
Ninja Israel[]
Ninja Israel 3's Lunatic Ledges
In Ninja Warrior Israel 3, the Lunatic Ledges, locally called המטוטלת הכפולה (literally Double Pendulum) appeared as the fourth obstacle in Route B of Heat 6 and Heat 10, and in Route A of Heat 8 and Heat 16. Unlike American Ninja Warrior, due to the fact that the first board was placed higher and further compared to American Ninja Warrior's version, the obstacle featured a trampoline as a medium to reach the first board, making the obstacle very similar to the Double Pendulum, hence the local name of this obstacle. This made the obstacle was very brutal, especially in Heat 6 and Heat 10, as it eliminated in total 14 out of 33 competitors who attempted it.
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
Ninja Warrior Germany 5's Lunatic Ledges (Schwung-Bretter)
In Ninja Warrior Germany, the Lunatic Ledges, locally called Schwung-Bretter (literally Swing Boards) first appeared in Ninja Warrior Germany 5, serving as the second obstacle of the Semi-finals of said season. The handle on the first board was removed which required the competitors to hold onto the sides of the second board. The obstacle proved to be easy, with only six out of the 51 competitors who attempted this obstacle failing it.
Ninja Warrior Germany: Celebrity Special 4's Lunatic Ledges (Schwung-Bretter)
Then in the Ninja Warrior Germany: Celebrity Special 4, the Lunatic Ledges re-appeared, serving as the second obstacle of the First Stage of said format. Compared with the Lunatic Ledges iteration, that has been used in the regular fifth season, this iteration had a few significant differences, in order to be easier for the celebrity competitors:
- The first board was placed on the height level of the second board.
- In addition to that, the first board was not installed at a slant.
- This, however, increased the distance between the starting platform and the first board.
- The competitors now had to simply jump onto the first board and had to shift their body, in order to the generate momentum, rather than holding onto the ledges underneath the first board and building up swing with a swing motion.
- The second board now included a handle that was placed on the front-side of the board, unlike in the regular fifth season.
Ninja Warrior Germany: Four Nations Special 3's Lunatic Ledges (Schwung-Bretter)
Then in the Ninja Warrior Germany: Four Nations Special 3, the Lunatic Ledges re-appeared, this time serving as the second obstacle in the First Stage. This time, the obstacle once again differed in two points, compared with the other two Lunatic Ledges iterations, with the first difference being the design of the two boards, which got changed from a silver-grey and reddish design to a red, silver-grey and bluish design, making it more similar to the Lunatic Ledges iterations of American Ninja Warrior, and with the second difference being the fact, that the second board was installed at a slant rather than being installed vertically, making the obstacle very similar to the one used in Ninja Warrior France 5.
In this appearance of the Lunatic Ledges, the obstacle once again proved to be rather easy, with only Ishay Halfon from Team Israel and Judith Carroll from Team Australia, out of the 12 competitors who attempted this obstacle, failing it.
Ninja Warrior Germany 8's Lunatic Ledges
On Ninja Warrior Germany 8, Lunatic Ledges appeared as the second obstacle of Preliminary Round 2. With as similar specification as its previous appearance.
Ninja Warrior France[]
Ninja Warrior France 5's Lunatic Ledges
In Ninja Warrior France 5, the Lunatic Ledges, locally called Le Double Pendule (literally Double Pendulum like Ninja Warrior Israel 3) appeared as the second obstacle of Qualification 2, which was very similar to the one used in Ninja Warrior Israel 3 (since the obstacle featured a trampoline as a medium to reach the first board due to the fact that the first board was placed higher and further compared to American Ninja Warrior's version), except the second board was installed at a slant rather than being installed vertically.
Ninja Warrior France 5's Lunatic Ledges without a trampoline
However, for some unknown reasons, the trampoline was later removed, making the obstacle very similar to the one used in American Ninja Warrior.
Ninja Warrior France 7's Lunatic Ledges
Then, in Ninja Warrior France 7, the Lunatic Ledges returned as the third obstacle of Qualification 1. It was paired with Tilt-A-Whirl as part of Route A of the Crossroads. This time, no trampoline was present, yet a rope was used after the second board.
American Ninja Warrior Junior[]
American Ninja Warrior Junior 3's Lunatic Ledges in Bracket 1 and 2
On American Ninja Warrior Junior 3, the Lunatic Ledges appeared as the second obstacle in all three brackets. However, there was a small launchpad as medium to reach the first boards.
In first two brackets, there was a cargo net as medium to reach the landing platform easier.
American Ninja Warrior Junior 3's Lunatic Ledges in Bracket 3
While in Bracket 3, the cargo net was removed, making the obstacle very similar to the one used in regular American Ninja Warrior seasons.
Competitors' Success Rate[]
- All results based on the NBC/RTL/Keshet 12 broadcast and external information found.
American Ninja Warrior[]
| ANW | Stage | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANW11 | Qualifiers | 68 | 92 | 73.91% |
| Finals | 32 | 33 | 96.97% | |
| ANW12 | QF EP 2 | 30 | 35 | 85.71% |
| QF EP 3 | 22 | 36 | 61.11% | |
| ANW13 | SF EP 1 | 29 | 39 | 74.36% |
| SF EP 4 | 38 | 38 | 100% | |
| Women's Championship 2 | 16 | 17 | 94.12% | |
| ANW14 | SF EP 1 | 38 | 38 | 100% |
| SF EP 2 | 35 | 38 | 92.1% | |
| ANW17 | QF EP 3 | 32 | 39 | 82.1% |
| QF EP 6 | 34 | 40 | 85% | |
| SF EP 3 | 39 | 40 | 97.5% | |
| Women’s Championship 5 | 15 | 16 | 93.8% | |
| Total | 428 | 501 | 85.43% | |
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
| NWG | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| NWG5 | 45 | 51 | 88.23% |
| NWG: FNS3 | 10 | 12 | 83.33% |
| Total | 55 | 63 | 87.30% |
Ninja Israel[]
| NWI | Stage | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NWI3 | Heat 6 | 2 | 6 | 33.33% |
| Heat 8 | 6 | 8 | 75% | |
| Heat 10 | 4 | 10 | 40% | |
| Heat 16 | 7 | 9 | 77.78% | |
| Total | 19 | 33 | 57.58% | |
Trivia[]
- In American Ninja Warrior, the Lunatic Ledges shared similar qualities to several obstacles:
- Tick Tock: both obstacles involved the competitors to build enough swing and momentum to grab an object while landing on the ledges below it.
- Ledge Jump: the design of the boards for the Lunatic Ledges was incredibly similar to the ones used on the Ledge Jump.
- In Ninja Israel and Ninja Warrior France, the Lunatic Ledges also shared similar qualities to the Double Pendulum, since it featured a trampoline as a medium to reach the first board, and the Lunatic Ledges was given the local name of Double Pendulum in its appearances on Ninja Warrior Israel 3 and Ninja Warrior France 5.