Say Hello to Rockford Ninja Warrior from the Sky

What's better than running the Rockford Ninja Warrior course? Nothing. Okay well, maybe one thing... Experiencing the Rockford Ninja Warrior course as if you were flying!

Check out this amazing aerial work that Eldon Palmer did for us:



And in case you are prone to motion sickness, here are the still aerial shots to view as well:

 

 

Local News Crew on the RNW Course

Today a reporter from News Channel 3 WWMT was on the course to record footage that will début on their Positively Michigan segment. A representative from Rockford Public Schools was on hand to explain their involvement and several of the event organizers and volunteer staff were interviewed for the spot as well. Then one of our local ninjas showed off his skills on some of the obstacles.

Here are a few pictures from the event:

With only a few days remaining until Rockford Ninja Warrior 2014, there was incredible excitement in the air!

Rockford Ninja Warrior Course FAQ

You asked, so we're going to answer!

1. What if it rains?
   A little rain never stopped a ninja! The event will go on as planned rain or shine. The only thing that could hamper the event is severe weather like lightning. In the case of a severe weather incident, we will make a determination of how we should proceed to keep everyone safe and will post updates to keep you informed of what's going on.
   
   
2. What is the cost of admission?
   The event is free to attend. There will be food and merchandise to buy to keep you fed and looking cool. The fee for running the junior course is $10 (ages 14 and younger) and the fee for running the professional course is $40 - both will depend on availability.
   
   
3. How much is parking?
   Parking is free! When you arrive, please follow the instructions of our helpful parking staff to ensure that we get people parked as quickly and efficiently as possible in each of the lots. If we work together, hopefully we'll be able to avoid traffic jams.
   
   
4. When will the American Ninja Warriors be there?
   You may see the American Ninja Warriors on Friday night, as many will be there checking out the course for the first time. Then, the American Ninja Warriors will be at the event all day on Saturday. They will be meeting fans and signing autographs throughout the day and Saturday evening at 6pm they will run the course to show off their skills in a grand finale of this awesome 2-day event.
   
   
5. How early should I get there before competing?
   After registration closes, we will send you information about when you will be running and when we will expect you to be there. This will have a lot of helpful and important information, so keep an eye out for that.
   
   
6. If I'm competing, what should I bring with me?
   You should plan to wear comfortable clothes and sneakers and depending on how confident you are, you may also want a towel and a change of clothes. Also, don't forget your ID and printed ticket.
   
   
7. What are the restrictions on the professional course?
   No one younger than 13 years of age will be allowed to compete on the professional course. You also should not attempt the professional course if you have a medical condition or injury that could put you in danger or if you are pregnant. If you are unsure as to whether you are medically able to compete, please consult with your physician before attempting the course.
   
   
8. Can I request a time to compete?
   Unfortunately, we will not be able to grant requests for specific competition times. Coordinating the schedules and preferences of 150 competitors is just too difficult to manage.
   
   
9. Will I be able to re-try the course if I fail?
   Yes, re-runs will be allowed as time permits. Based on availability, re-runs will be allowed at a price of $20 for the professional course and $10 for the junior course.
   
   
10. What's there going to be for my younger kids to do?
    Even little kids will have fun at the event because we will have plenty of family-friendly kids activities like inflatables, a rock wall, octoball and other games to encourage kids to get active. Kids can also meet the American Ninja Warriors they've seen on TV and watch people run the course.
    
    
11. Can I bring my dog?
    Unfortunately, no - we ask that you please leave all pets at home (dogs, cats, snakes, ferrets, chickens and the like). With everything that will be going on, we're just not going to have any extra room for pets.

Details About the Rockford Ninja Warrior Course

Anyone who has seen American Ninja Warrior knows that there are a lot of different ninja obstacles to choose from when designing a course. So what should you expect from the Rockford Ninja Warrior course?

Wooden Construction

The first thing you should be prepared for is all of the wood. On American Ninja Warrior they have to use metal supports, beams and obstacles because the course has to travel around the country - getting constructed again in every location and then torn down and moved on trucks to its next stop. With Rockford Ninja Warrior, we have the luxury of being able to keep our course in one place. For this reason, we can use quality materials like wood that would be difficult to move once in place and cart across the country. The wood is also a sort of homage to our location at the old Rockford Paper Mill surrounded on all sides by woods and river banks.

Obstacles

The Rockford Ninja Warrior course will feature these challenging obstacles:

• Quintuple Steps - a competitor favorite, these start the course off on a challenging foot
• Balance Beam - we're ninja-tizing your typical gymnastics balance beam
• Wide-Set Monkey Bars - these will force competitors into some high-flying acrobatics
• Rope Swing into Cargo Net - continuing the demands on the upper body, good timing combined with serious stamina will be needed to conquer this obstacle
• Tilting Ladders - these will require a lot of strength as well as the right technique to make the transition between ladders and get across
• Massive 14-Foot Warped Wall - taken from the personal training gym of an American Ninja Warrior, this warped wall is the real deal

This is a picture of the poles that will be supporting this mammoth obstacle course:

Not impressed yet? You will be when you get here, because those are actually telephone poles! You really can't appreciate just how high that is until you stand under one.