The Monkey Peg is an obstacle first introduced as the fifth on American Ninja Warrior 5 in Miami, and then returned on American Ninja Warrior 6 in Venice Beach, once again as the fifth obstacle.
It consisted of two sections. The first section was angled upward and has pegs that were placed alternately (the Monkey Bar section). The second section was a downward-angled pegboard with holes in it (the Pegboard section), and a peg in each of the first two holes. On ANW6, each section is 10 feet (3.048 meters) long.
After competitors traversed the first section, they must make a transition to the two loose pegs on the second section. Once there, they must move the two pegs from hole to hole, to reach the landing platform. On American Ninja Warrior 5, competitors must reach a small platform similar to the one used in the Circle Cross, and then the landing platform.
Monkey Pegs[]
The second version of the Monkey Peg (called Monkey Pegs) appeared as the fourth obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 7 in San Pedro (Military).
However, unlike on the original Monkey Peg, this version was entirely made with the arch-shaped pegboard. There were a total of twelve pegs, with ten stationary pegs that competitors must traverse in a similar fashion to the Monkey Bar section of the Monkey Peg, and two removable pegs that competitors must move from hole to hole in a similar fashion to the Pegboard section of the Monkey Peg.
A modified version of this obstacle (called Swinging Peg Board) would later appear as the eighth obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 9 during Los Angeles finals and Celebrity Ninja Warrior: Red Nose Day (shown during Stephen Amell's run).
Other Appearances[]
SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia[]
On SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia, the Monkey Peg appeared as the third obstacle during Semifinal Stage 1, which was very similar to the one used on American Ninja Warrior 5 and American Ninja Warrior 6, except the Monkey Bar section has seven alternating bars and was placed straight (rather than at upward incline), as well as the Pegboard section (rather than at downward incline).
Then, on SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia 2017, the Monkey Peg appeared as the third obstacle during Semifinal Stage 2, which was very similar to American Ninja Warrior 7's Monkey Pegs, except the pegboard was made taller and there were ten pegs instead of twelve (eight stationary pegs and two removable pegs).
However, during SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia: International Competition, the stationary pegs were removed, leaving with just two removable pegs at the start of the obstacle. Also, some of the holes at the bottom part of the pegboard had been covered, which made it harder for the competitors to traverse the obstacle. As the result, the obstacle needed more time to complete than during the regular season, resulting in the time limit being raised from 300 seconds to 360 seconds for this tournament.
Ninja Warrior UK[]
Monkey Pegs appeared as the fourth obstacle in Stage 2 on Ninja Warrior UK 3, following the Salmon Ladder with a laché between two obstacle. This version consists of only the peg board, now slanted downward towards the landing platform.
Ninja Warrior Italy[]
Monkey Pegs appeared as the fourth obstacle during the quarterfinals in Ninja Warrior Italy. However, this version has only the set of monkey bars (same set as American Ninja Warrior 5). The pegboard was replaced by the Doorknob Grasper.
Ninja Warrior France[]
Monkey Peg appeared in Ninja Warrior France 2 as the second and third obstacle of Stage 2, as the monkey bars and peg board were treated as separate obstacle. It had the configuration similar to that in American Ninja Warrior 6.
Ninja Warrior Austria[]
Monkey Peg appeared in Ninja Warrior Austria 3, as the fifth obstacle of Heat 3 & 5. A horizontal peg boad was used instead of a downward-angled one.
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
On Ninja Warrior Germany 2, Monkey Peg appeared as the fifth obstacle of Preliminary Round 7. It had the same arrangement as the Austrian version.
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
On Ninja Warrior Poland 3, the Monkey Peg, locally called Małpi Gaj, appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 3 and Heat 5. Compared to the original version, the peg board was not directed downwards but straight (similar to the one used in SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia). It was the toughest obstacle in the qualifying rounds as it eliminated the most participants, including those who qualified for the semi-finals in the shortest time possible. The obstacle for women was modified; on the board with pegs, there were 4 pegs instead of two, on which the participants had to move instead of rearranging them in order to get to a landing mattress.
Then, on Ninja Warrior Poland 5, the Monkey Peg, now locally called Trasa Małpy, appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 3 and Heat 5. It was paired with the Spinning Log as part of the Route A of the Crossroads. In Heat 3, only two competitors decided to take this obstacle, but none managed to complete it. In Heat 5, two competitors attempted and finally completed it.
Ninja Israel[]
In Ninja Warrior Israel, the Monkey Peg appeared in a form of the Monkey Peg to Cargo Net, locally called טיפוס יתדות לרשת (literally Climbing Pegs to the Net) appeared as the fourth obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 6. Unlike American Ninja Warrior, the obstacle featured only a straight pegboard with five pegs and 46 holes, with the holes each being arranged to a figure similar to an arrow, and a cargo net (similar to the one used in Jump Hang) as a medium to reach the landing platform.
Later, in the same season, the Monkey Peg to Cargo Net re-appeared as the fourth obstacle in the Finals' Stage One with a minor modification. The number of the pegs in the pegboard was reduced to three, and the obstacle featured three objects from Minefield, with two objects in front of the pegboard and a cone in front of the Cargo Net.
Ninja Warrior Switzerland[]
On Ninja Warrior Switzerland, the Monkey Peg appeared as the fourth obstacle in Heat 1, Heat 3 and Heat 5, which was very similar to the Monkey Peg to Cargo Net in Ninja Warrior Israel, albert with a red dangling shape-grip as a medium to reach the cargo net.
American Ninja Warrior Junior[]
Not to be confused with Snake Crossing, the third obstacle in Pittsburgh for American Ninja Warrior 7.
On American Ninja Warrior Junior 3, the Monkey Pegs in American Ninja Warrior 7 (renamed as the Spike Crossing) appeared as the third obstacle for Bracket 2, consisting of kids aged 11-12.
The obstacle featured various pegs sticking out of the arch in various uncorrelated spots. Those stable pegs are stylized as red spikes in the first-half, and rounded gray moving pegs in the second-half. Unlike its regular season counterpart, the arch was colored red, and the outline of the holes colored onyx. The arch also has a downward fade into black.
Five competitors fell on this obstacle, including Kiran Narwani.
Trivia[]
- The Monkey Peg was one of the few obstacles from American Ninja Warrior 5 that were not borrowed from SASUKE, KUNOICHI, or VIKING (although the obstacle uses a pegboard, which has been used before for the Ultimate Plank in VIKING).
- The Monkey Peg is a fusion of a traditional set of monkey bars and a pegboard. As the obstacle is derived from these two generic obstacles, so is its name.