Stick Slider Training (Harder than it looks!)

[Ninja Chris]

More training for American Ninja Challenge.

This time, we began adding metal rungs to the sides for the Salmon Ladder rather than the old destroyed wooden ones. However, we ran short on time (Adding one rung took about half an hour), so I decided to attempt transferring from the top of the Salmon Ladder to the Stick Slider, to see how it really felt. It just seemed like one of those obstacles that looked harder than it truly was.

I was right! Fear played a big part in this one for me, as you have to completely clear both sides vertically, and have the pipe land back onto it's tracks on the other side. Not that hard, but as you'll see, I failed it once.

The other part is grip. Once you go up and slam against the metal bars, you have to be able to hold on... which I wasn't able to do ALL of the time.

None-the-less, as I continue working with my grip, increasing it, and as I continue practicing this and conquering my fear, I know that one day I'll be able to laugh at this.

[TCM]

0:25 - 0:32 OUCH!

And lol at the first attempt because the wind kept moving the bar towards the end.

You're getting there, as long as it doesn't tear you apart first!

[Ninja Chris]

It's not the wind. It's the design of the obstacle, I'm afraid.

We didn't properly level the bars like we should have, so in the direction I was moving in, the bars were slightly downward.

When the bar slid backwards and then forwards, it was because of it falling out of my grip, as my fingers rolled it the opposite direction. Then gravity had it's way and pulled it downhill.

Think of how you roll a bowling ball. It gets it's forward speed by first rolling backwards on the slippery ground, and then goes forward.

Same thing here, except the surface wasn't slippery, so it physically did go in reverse first.

[TCM]

Now that I look at them again, yeah, that's not level, but I kind of was just hoping the placement of the camera made it look that way

[RiderLeangle]

Well that solves the mystery of if that can happen with stoppers.

And I get it! it was a dumb question! everyone stop calling me out on it! XD

[Badalight]

I have the PERFECT bar for this at home, stoppers and all. I just need the actual obstacle =p

[Oti]

Use your wrists (forearms, actually, I guess) and man-handle that bar. Don't just hang on to it.

If you don't control it, it WILL roll and you WILL fall. Try being more aggressive with it.

And don't worry about your fear. As you gain more confidence in your grip, the fear will go away. Then it'll only be scary when you get tired.

[arsenette]

Aahahahaa poor Rider Can't say I blame everyone for the rants.. it's just funny now

Thanks for the video Sam. Please don't get yourself killed! I am in pain watching you and everyone else when they are putting up their training videos. And people want ME to get on the course? You so crrrrrraaaaaaaaaazy..

[Ninja Chris]

Apr 9, 2009 13:16:37 GMT -5 Oti said:

Use your wrists (forearms, actually, I guess) and man-handle that bar. Don't just hang on to it.

If you don't control it, it WILL roll and you WILL fall. Try being more aggressive with it.

And don't worry about your fear. As you gain more confidence in your grip, the fear will go away. Then it'll only be scary when you get tired.

Well, the thing is that I was attempting this after a day's worth of putting the obstacle together, so I started somewhat tired.

Nonetheless, more grip work, and more practice will help in the long run

[2D2Will]

What do you use to produce the video?

If you can, make sure to adjust it to produce in wide screen format because a 16:9 video in a 4:3 frame does not look good.

But the content itsef is pretty nice. Good job!

[RiderLeangle]

Apr 9, 2009 15:58:28 GMT -5 2D2Will said:

What do you use to produce the video?

Why don't you take a guess

[Badalight]

Well, I actually go my pipe slider up today... though it's not very good XD Guess I'll call it a prototype.
Just picture the old pipe slider, but the track is about half the size, and instead of metal tracks it's rope. Also, finding a landing platform that's high enough isn't easy, So it makes the jump a bit easier aswell. And yes, building momentum is as hard as it looks.