Post by m4tt3r0x on Oct 3, 2015 14:46:52 GMT -5
As the years have gone by, the producers of ANW have steadily increased their focus on upper body obstacles in city qualifiers and finals. Excluding the steps, wall, and the typical single balance obstacle of each region, every other obstacle is more or less centered on the competitor's upper body (This year more than ever with the removal of the Spider Climb and the addition of so many new upper body obstacles). Vegas' course is still similar to that of the original from Sasuke, but I think there is definitely still a case to be made here as well. The only non-upper body specialized stage in Vegas, and I suppose Sasuke as well, is the first stage (Yes, the other 3 stages do have parts that incorporate other parts of the body to a lesser extent, but you get the idea). But the problem that I have is that Vegas' first Stage isn't even that feared. You don't see too many ninja gyms across the country focusing on building obstacles such as the Jumping Spider or Spinning Bridge; they're for the most part all focused on the upper body. I think there should be new additions to Vegas' first Stage that will actually strike fear into the rock climbers who as of late have been dominating the competition, and perhaps play more into the parkour guys' strengths that made them who they were in earlier ANW's.
So my petition of sorts is this: Since the only seriously challenging obstacles in ANW anymore are upper body (ex. Cannonball Alley, Invisible Ladder, Salmon Ladder, Ultimate Cliffhanger, Flying Bar, etc.), I think the next season should go back to earlier ANW and Sasuke's roots and level out the upper and lower body obstacles. Start inventing new obstacles that strike fear into the rock climbers. When the Warped Wall first made its debut over a decade ago, it was feared. Let's get ideas like that again. Or even just start taking ideas from Sasuke again! Tackle Machine + Warped Wall? Circle Slider? Roller Hill? Even obstacles that involve unorthodox skills like the Rolling Escargot and Flying Chute! We don't have to dumb down the intensity of Stage 3 for this. But we certainly don't need every city regional turning into some quazi-third stage. And make the First Stage awesome again. Laches into a cargo net? BORING.
If you agree or disagree with me, let me know below.
So my petition of sorts is this: Since the only seriously challenging obstacles in ANW anymore are upper body (ex. Cannonball Alley, Invisible Ladder, Salmon Ladder, Ultimate Cliffhanger, Flying Bar, etc.), I think the next season should go back to earlier ANW and Sasuke's roots and level out the upper and lower body obstacles. Start inventing new obstacles that strike fear into the rock climbers. When the Warped Wall first made its debut over a decade ago, it was feared. Let's get ideas like that again. Or even just start taking ideas from Sasuke again! Tackle Machine + Warped Wall? Circle Slider? Roller Hill? Even obstacles that involve unorthodox skills like the Rolling Escargot and Flying Chute! We don't have to dumb down the intensity of Stage 3 for this. But we certainly don't need every city regional turning into some quazi-third stage. And make the First Stage awesome again. Laches into a cargo net? BORING.
If you agree or disagree with me, let me know below.