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Post by Philip on Sept 1, 2017 13:15:41 GMT -5
Is there anyone else who doesn't love the pure strength-based obstacles? Sure, the Invisible Ladder is visually impressive, but I actually think it's more biased against the women than obstacles that (sometimes deceptively) require strength plus technique. Rolling Thunder, Crank it Up, Rail Runner, and Circuit Board come to mind as obstacles that require a very high level of strength, but are not an absolute test of strength: they also require some combination of dynamic movement, body control, flexibility, finesse, and balance. I find it exciting to see women succeed at these obstacles, and it's a fair fight in large part because there's a heavy (and often hidden) technique component. The closer an obstacle gets to becoming a straight-up weightlifting challenge, the less the women are going to be able to compete head-to-head against men. Women who can't outlift men in a gym can still blow them away on a rock climbing course via technique and savvy. To an outsider it might appear as if they won a strength showdown, but that's because the rock wall is the hidden equalizer to basic physiological differences. To me, the Invisible Ladder and the Elevator Climb are more a straight-up strength test, and less the strength-and-technique combination that's produced the legitimately memorable runs by women (Jessie Graff and Jessie Labreck's legit Vegas-qualifying runs, not the 5th-place, reached-second-obstacle, new women's rule runs). NBC has boxed themselves in a corner here: it won't be easy for them to revert to a less upper-body-dependent final obstacle, so Kacy may hold the title of "only woman to hit a city finals buzzer" long after it becomes routine for women to clear Vegas stages. I mean very few men can beat the Elevator Climb anyways, so it's an equal opportunity obstacle All the top women are capable of beating it.
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alc
Harashima Masami
Posts: 10
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Post by alc on Sept 1, 2017 15:46:23 GMT -5
I mean very few men can beat the Elevator Climb anyways, so it's an equal opportunity obstacle All the top women are capable of beating it. Well, all the top men are capable of beating it too - just not when they're gassed at the end of a grueling city finals course. I could be wrong, and it'll be interesting to see if I am, but I would expect to see women hit the buzzer of Vegas Stages 1 and 2 multiple times before a woman other than Kacy hits a City Finals buzzer. On a biceps beefgate like the Invisible Ladder or Elevator Climb (which I agree is a dangerous and inferior successor), there's just not much room for technique or efficiency or a creative approach. The top women nowadays are so strong, the first thing you notice is their strength, but they're still not going to ever have the biceps strength of the top male competitors. They make up for it with grip strength, core strength, flexibility, and body control, as well as efficiency and strategy in plotting out moves. Some obstacles lend themselves better to that than others. I am NOT saying that "women can't do it" - I look forward to Jessie continuing to break down barriers - but I am placing a bet out there that women will outsmart the Vegas obstacles well before they outmuscle the City Finals enders.
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DonalM
Nakata Daisuke
Posts: 953
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Post by DonalM on Sept 1, 2017 18:24:43 GMT -5
I mean very few men can beat the Elevator Climb anyways, so it's an equal opportunity obstacle All the top women are capable of beating it. Well, all the top men are capable of beating it too - just not when they're gassed at the end of a grueling city finals course. I could be wrong, and it'll be interesting to see if I am, but I would expect to see women hit the buzzer of Vegas Stages 1 and 2 multiple times before a woman other than Kacy hits a City Finals buzzer. On a biceps beefgate like the Invisible Ladder or Elevator Climb (which I agree is a dangerous and inferior successor), there's just not much room for technique or efficiency or a creative approach. The top women nowadays are so strong, the first thing you notice is their strength, but they're still not going to ever have the biceps strength of the top male competitors. They make up for it with grip strength, core strength, flexibility, and body control, as well as efficiency and strategy in plotting out moves. Some obstacles lend themselves better to that than others. I am NOT saying that "women can't do it" - I look forward to Jessie continuing to break down barriers - but I am placing a bet out there that women will outsmart the Vegas obstacles well before they outmuscle the City Finals enders. If Daytona had the Invisible Ladder this year, I think Jessie would have cleared the course. I believe grip strength is tested just as much as bicep in the final climbs, and Jessie has a rock climber's grip strength. In fact, I'll bet Jessie finishes the finals course in LA next year.
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Post by Matt Midoriyama on Oct 29, 2017 10:30:19 GMT -5
I mean, I'll admit I like the Invisible Ladder, but honestly it seems like a misstep putting an obstacle like that after 9 other obstacles is a bit OP, so I wouldn't mind it replacing a Salmon Ladder or being a Final Stage type thing, but as for final obstacle of a regional I honestly enjoy the Spider Climb even though it's easy AF The Spider Climb was easy but 5 still failed it. I think they should do half a Spider Climb and then a rope climb like in Team Ninja Warrior Half spider half rope would be my pick as well. Good traditional obstacle, tough but beatable. Even if it just gets one season so we can have another female finisher (all being well) and move on from the Kacy era for good.
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