Sideways is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the fifth obstacle during the fourth episode of qualifiers on American Ninja Warrior 12.
Competitors must swing sideways along three tilting boards, before rotating 90 degrees to grab a handle on a perpendicular board which would slide down a short track. Then, they must make their way across three more boards (with a 6-inch/15.24-centimeter drop from the fourth to fifth tilting board) very similar to the first three, before dismounting to the landing platform. This obstacle also added a rotating platform at the end before the landing platform.
It took out seven competitors, including Karsten Williams, Meagan Martin, Kyle Schulze, Jeri D'Aurelio, and Sophia Oster.
The obstacle returned in the first episode of the semifinals, but the handle on the perpendicular board was removed, and competitors instead grabbed the board directly at the sides in a similar fashion to the Unstable Bridge or Wave Runner. Despite the obstacle taking out seven competitors in qualifiers, no competitor failed on it.
Other Season Appearances[]
American Ninja Warrior: Women's Championship[]
Sideways returned as the fifth obstacle in the first Women's Championship. Two women, Ashley McConville & Allyssa Beird, fell on the obstacle in the first round, and Jessie Graff shockingly fell on this obstacle in the second round.
American Ninja Warrior 13[]
Sideways returned as the fifth obstacle in the fifth episode of the qualifiers on American Ninja Warrior 13, with the same structure from the previous season's qualifiers.
It eliminated 18 competitors, exactly half of those who attempted it. Many notable veterans were among those who failed it, including Flip Rodriguez, Megan Rowe, Taylor Amann, Jamie Ross, Leif Sundberg, Andrew Yori, Donovan Metoyer, Marquez Green, Nathan Green, Ben Martin, Kyle Schulze (for the second year in a row), Sem Garay, Logan Broadbent, and Nick Hanson. The obstacle served as the cut-off for the top 30 competitors.
American Ninja Warrior 15[]
On American Ninja Warrior 15, Sideways returned as the fourth obstacle in the runoffs during the second, third, sixth, and seventh qualifier episodes, and later appeared during the third semifinal episode. Due to the nature of the obstacle being in a side-by-side course, there would be instances where competitors would fail the obstacle due to rushing.
This time, the obstacle proved to be somewhat challenging. In the runoffs, competitors such as Sandy Zimmerman, Erick Zamorano, and Jason Grossman failing the obstacle. In the semifinals, it took out ninjas such as Benjamin Drake, Austin Hair, Cal Plohoros, Ian Dory, Rachel Brown, Grant McCartney, Ryan Stratis, DC Banks, Kyle Schulze (for the third time), Jessie Graff (for the second time), and most surprisingly, Daniel Gil.
American Ninja Warrior Junior[]
The Sideways appeared as the third obstacle for Bracket 3, consisting of kids aged 13-14, for American Ninja Warrior Junior 3.
The obstacle's tilting panels were reduced to four, and all were put at the start of the obstacle, on a straight path to grab the handleboard. A total of 19 competitors fell on this obstacle, in no small part due to its precision-based technique in a Ninja vs. Ninja race.
Other Appearances[]
Ninja Israel[]
On Ninja Warrior Israel 4, the Sideways, locally called דרך המדפים (literally Shelf Way) appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 3 and Heat 14, which was very similar to the one used in American Ninja Warrior 12. In Heat 14, the obstacle was very easy, as all three competitors attempted and cleared it.
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
On Ninja Warrior Poland 7, the Sideways appeared as the second obstacle in the finals' Stage Two. This version contained five boards, each of the same size, and each subsequent board was hung higher. None of the competitors failed on this obstacle.
Then, on Ninja Warrior Poland 8, the Sideways reappeared in the final, this time as the fifth obstacle in Stage One, with several differences compared to the seventh season, mainly the addition of a trampoline as a medium to get to the first board and the reduction of the number of boards from five to four. In the final, the obstacle turned out to be a little more difficult than in the previous season, as 5 competitors failed it.
Competitors' Success Rate[]
- All results based on the NBC/Keshet 12/Polsat broadcast and external information found
American Ninja Warrior[]
ANW | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
ANW12 (QF EP 4) | 15 | 22 | 68.18% |
ANW12 (SF EP 1) | 22 | 22 | 100% |
Women's Championship | 11 | 14 | 78.57% |
ANW13 (QF EP 5) | 18 | 36 | 50% |
Total | 66 | 94 | 70.21% |
Ninja Israel[]
NWI | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
NWI4 (Heat 3) | ? | ? | ? |
NWI4 (Heat 14) | 3 | 3 | 100% |
Total | ? | ? | ? |
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
NWP | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
NWP7 | 10 | 10 | 100% |
NWP8 | 14 | 19 | 73.68% |
Total | 24 | 29 | 82.76% |