The Ring Chaser is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the third obstacle during the first episode of qualifiers on American Ninja Warrior 12.
Competitors must first work their way through 6 monkey bars that was on a slight incline. Once the competitors applied their weight on the first monkey bar, a ring (14 inches in diameter) would start rolling down on the side, and the competitors must be quick enough on the monkey bars to grab it as it fell. Using this ring, competitors must then make a jump 6 feet across and 10 inches down (identical to the Sky Hooks) before finally dismounting to the landing platform.
If they were not quick enough to grab the ring, they must make the jump using a much smaller ring (8 inches in diameter) hanging at the end of the monkey bars (which had an inverted-V-shaped handles to hold on to), but this would make the jump much harder, as it required more coordination and precision.
On the first episode of the qualifiers, while several top competitors missed the large ring, including Allyssa Beird and Grant McCartney, most of them were able to make the jump with the smaller ring. In all, only five out of 27 competitors that attempted the obstacle failed to complete it, including Anthony Eardley.
On the second qualifiers episode, however, more competitors fell here, as a total of seven competitors fell, including JJ Woods, and most shockingly, Caleb Bergstrom.
Other Season Appearances[]
American Ninja Warrior 13[]
The Ring Chaser appeared back as the third obstacle in the second and third episodes of the semifinals on American Ninja Warrior 13. The distance between hooks seems to have increased though.
In the second semifinal episode, only two competitors failed on the obstacle: Paul Fisher and Sandy Zimmerman. However, in the third semifinal episode, six competitors failed on the obstacle, which were Brian Montagnese, Sophia Lavallee, Josh Wagg, Charity LeBlanc, DC Banks, and Nico Gentry.
American Ninja Warrior 14[]
The Ring Chaser appeared back as the fourth obstacle in the fifth episode of qualifying on American Ninja Warrior 14. Only three competitors (Isaiah Waghiyi, Ryan Slack, and Chris O'Connell) failed the obstacle during its appearance.
Other Appearances[]
Australian Ninja Warrior[]
On Australian Ninja Warrior 5, the Ring Chaser appeared as the fourth obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 3. This time, another set of cradles was added after the first one, and the ring would be used in this pair was fixed as the large one. The obstacle was also paired with the Clockwork as part of the Crossroads' Path B. The smaller ring was 20cm in diameter. And each Sky Hook jump was 2m.
During Heat 1, a big shock happened when Olivia Vivian failed this obstacle during Heat 1, her time was fast enough to get into the Semis, however. There were two more competitors failed this obstacle along with Olivia.
During Heat 3, this obstacle did more damage, taking out five competitors.
The Ring Chaser returned in Australian Ninja Warrior 6, as the fifth obstacle of Heat 1 and heat 4, with no changes to the obstacle.
During Heat 1, a great save on this obstacle happened during Saxon Johnstone's run, where he missed the ring with his hands and caught it with his foot. Only Kahil Evans failed this obstacle.
During Heat 4, three competitors (Matt Bingham, Nathan Ryles and Andrew Luo) failed this obstacle.
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
On Ninja Warrior Poland 4, Ring Chaser, locally called ลapacz Ringรณw (literally Ring Catcher) appeared in the final as the fifth obstacle in Stage One. The length of the track for the ring was revealed to be 2 meters with the gap between the two hooks being 1.5 meters. Only Piotr Kominek failed in the obstacle, and only Piotr Lisiczka failed to catch the first ring and used the spare ring.
Then on Ninja Warrior Poland 5, Ring Chaser appeared as the second obstacle in the semi-finals. It was tough knocking out at least 13 ninjas.
Later on Ninja Warrior Poland 6, Ring Chaser appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 2 and Heat 6. It was the cut off for the Top 10 in both heats as eight ninjas got through it and two failed it and in the next heat, 6 ninjas got through it and 4 failed it.
On Ninja Warrior Poland 8, Ring Chaser appeared as the second obstacle in Stage Two. This time, the gap for the hooks is 2 meters wide. Three competitors failed on it.
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
In Ninja Warrior Germany 6, the Ring Chaser, locally called Ring-Jagd, appeared as the fifth and penultimate obstacle of the Semi-finals. This time, the obstacle was placed directly after the Criss Cross Salmon Ladder with no rest between those obstacle. In addition, once competitors completed the transition to the ring, they can reach for an additional waiting/lachรฉ bar before dimounting to the landing platform. It knocked out as many as 13 ninjas and everyone who made it their qualified for Stage 1.
On Ninja Warrior Germany 7, Ring Chaser appeared as the third obstacle of Preliminary Round 5, being fused with Floating Steps as a single obstacle.
Ring Chaser returned in Ninja Warrior Germany 8 as the second obstacle of Preliminary Round 5 and 6.
Ninja Warrior France[]
On Ninja Warrior France 6, Ring Chaser, locally called L'รฉchelle de Vitesse (literally The Speed Scale), would appear as the third obstacle of Qualification 1. It is paired with the Corkscrew as part of Route B of the Crossroads. The obstacle would be slightly modified for female competitors, as the two rings would be the same, removing the need to chase after the ring. In addition, a third ring was added in the second hook, meaning that female competitors can just reach to the ring instead of doing the transition using the rings.
It returned in Ninja Warrior France 8 as the second obstacle of Qualifications 2.
Ninja Warrior UK[]
On Ninja Warrior UK 6, the Ring Chaser appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heats 1, 4, 5 and 7. This version added a lachรฉ bar right after the last hook.
Ninja Israel[]
On Ninja Warrior Israel 4, the Ring Chaser, literally translated ืจืืืฃ ืืืืขืืช appeared as the fourth obstacle in Heat 3 and Heat 14. However, another set of cradles was added after the first one, making the obstacle similar to the one used in Australian Ninja Warrior 5.
The obstacle was very easy in Heat 3, as no competitors failed on it. However, in Heat 14, the obstacle was relatively difficult, as it eliminated two out of five competitors who attempted it.
Competitors' Success Rate[]
- All results based on the NBC/Polsat/Keshet 12 broadcast and external information found.
American Ninja Warrior[]
ANW | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
ANW12 (QF EP 1) | 22 | 27 | 81.48% |
ANW12 (QF EP 2) | 23 | 30 | 76.67% |
ANW13 (SF EP 2) | 37 | 39 | 94.87% |
ANW13 (SF EP 3) | 31 | 37 | 83.78% |
ANW14 (QF EP 5) | 40 | 43 | 93.02% |
Total | 133 | 176 | 75.57% |
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
NWP | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
NWP4 | 9 | 10 | 90% |
NWP8 | 10 | 13 | 76.92% |
Total | 19 | 23 | 82.61% |
Ninja Israel[]
NWI | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
NWI4 (Heat 3) | 6 | 6 | 100% |
NWI4 (Heat 14) | 3 | 5 | 60% |
Total | 9 | 11 | 81.82% |
Trivia[]
- Ring Chaser may have been named after a term used in the sports industry, specifically basketball, wherein an athlete is willing to quit on their teammates and join their rivals in order to grab a championship.
- The Ring Chaser is yet another obstacle designed by Kevin Carbone, marking the fourth season in a row that featured a new obstacle designed by him, preceded by the Wingnuts and Wingnut Alley on American Ninja Warrior 9, the Dรฉjร Vu on American Ninja Warrior 10, and the Slingshot on American Ninja Warrior 11.
- The Ring Chaser appeared alongside the Slingshot during the first episode of qualifiers on American Ninja Warrior 12, making it the third instance that there were two obstacles designed by Kevin Carbone on the same course. This previously happened in Stage Two on American Ninja Warrior 10 (featuring the Dรฉjร Vu and Wingnut Alley), and in Cincinnati qualifiers and finals on American Ninja Warrior 11 (featuring the Wingnuts and Slingshot).
- The Ring Chaser is partially based off of the Sky Hooks, which also came from the Obstacle Design Challenge.
- The Ring Chaser is the first obstacle in American Ninja Warrior to have an independent moving element triggered by the competitor and is the second obstacle in any SASUKE/Ninja Warrior format to have this quality, after Hishouchu from KUNOICHI and before Overpass, also from American Ninja Warrior.