American Ninja Warrior S18E01 (2026)

BRITCOM 3

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Transcript

00:00:02Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas where we're about to roll the dice once again on another season

00:00:08of American Ninja Warrior. Hello and thanks for joining us as we kick off another year.

00:00:13I'm Matt Eisman and I'm Akbar Bajafia Milla. Partner, it feels good to be back. We're gonna

00:00:19have fun this year with some of these new twists including our first ever three lane race course,

00:00:25the triple header. It's gonna be insane. We'll see it in two weeks, but for a look at tonight's

00:00:30course, let's go down to the third member of our team, Zuri Hall. Thank you guys. It is so great

00:00:36to be back. Tonight we are seeing the best ninjas from the west and their first test is the six

00:00:42obstacle course. It starts with a sprint across the shrinking steps. Then it's a brand new obstacle,

00:00:49roller bags. Ninjas need to pull out the handle on the first suitcase and swing over to the second.

00:00:55The third obstacle is Diamond Dash, back for the first time in four seasons. That's followed by

00:01:02Kite Surfer, which requires precision, timing, and grip strength to work their way past the two kites.

00:01:09Obstacle five is the upper body test kaleidoscope, which leads to the warped wall. Run up it and hit

00:01:16the buzzer at under a minute 10 and ninjas earn a shot at the mega wall. Get up the 18

00:01:22and a half foot

00:01:23mega wall. And they'll win $10,000 courtesy of the active cash credit card from Wells Fargo.

00:01:29The active cash credit card earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Terms apply.

00:01:35Thanks Zuri. This season in every qualifying episode, the three of us are picking who we

00:01:41think will be the night's fastest. Akbar, who you got? That's an easy one for me. I gotta go with

00:01:46Josiah Popel. Bro's been training for speed, and I think he's a strong contender and could be the

00:01:51next champion. Wow. All right, that's fair. Look, my money is on Kaden Lebsack. I mean,

00:01:57he is a two-time last ninja standing. He was in the final four last season. Well, I know who

00:02:03I

00:02:03think is going to be standing tall at the end of the night. The night's tallest competitor,

00:02:07six foot six, John Mack. The reach is going to use his size to glide through the course. The

00:02:12guy just became a dad. You know he's running with extra motivation. And lots of others to

00:02:17watch tonight. I mean, Jessie Graff, she is about to run this course in heels. Can't wait to watch

00:02:22that. This season, we split the country into three regions, east, central, and west. Over the next

00:02:29three weeks, 80 ninjas from the western U.S. will battle for 20 spots in the national finals.

00:02:35And nobody is more western than our first athlete, the cowboy ninja Lance Pekas. He's

00:02:42always been a fan favorite, and it's been quite a ninja journey for Lance and his family.

00:02:49Takes off his cowboy hat, and he's going for it. This will be my 15th year competing on American

00:02:54Ninja Warrior, and it's helped me overcome so many obstacles in my own personal life.

00:03:00My wife, Heather, has multiple sclerosis, MS. We came out on American Ninja Warrior about

00:03:06my wife's condition several years ago. I love riding with you, Mommy.

00:03:12I love it, too.

00:03:14She's been that shining light. She's been able to help people through a lot of stuff,

00:03:18and ultimately being able to share our story with everyone across the country has helped

00:03:23us through our own issues as well. I can't honestly even remember the last buzzer I hit.

00:03:28I really hope that changes tonight. It's about time that I wrangled up myself a buzzer.

00:03:36And there's Heather. She's on the sideline once again, along with their kids.

00:03:42And Lance is making history tonight. He's the first ninja to be mic'd up during his run.

00:03:48What's up, cowboy ninja?

00:03:50What's up?

00:03:51How's it going? Howdy!

00:03:53Howdy, man. This is pretty cool to be able to talk to you through the process, man.

00:03:57Give us that insight, because that's what we want.

00:03:59All right. Well, I'm going to attack it the best I can.

00:04:02Obviously, I've had a little bit of experience, so here it goes. It's game time.

00:04:06So, Lance Pekas, show us what you got, buddy.

00:04:11I don't want to be too much of a distraction, but if anybody can handle us going back and forth,

00:04:15it is Lance Pekas.

00:04:16Smooth through the shrinking steps now.

00:04:18He'll be the first to take on this new obstacle, Roller Bags.

00:04:22All right. I'll take this off, just in case.

00:04:24Okay. All right. You don't want to get it messed up.

00:04:26He's got to grab the handle on the first bag and swing to the second.

00:04:30How heavy is that bag, by the way? My goodness.

00:04:35Good power.

00:04:37Uh-oh. All right. Now, this is where he's got to make that transfer.

00:04:40Oh, he's starting to feel it. You hear him.

00:04:44Ooh. Got it.

00:04:46There we go.

00:04:48Lance, you fell on balance last season.

00:04:50Any concerns here on Diamond Bash?

00:04:52Well, hopefully, uh, diamonds are a cowboy's best friend.

00:04:55Okay. All right.

00:04:58I don't know how he's going to run in them jeans.

00:05:00Woo!

00:05:03Oh, so good, Pekas.

00:05:055'8", 165. This guy's upper body strength is legendary.

00:05:11Not going to get bucked off the kite surfer.

00:05:13Time to go surfing.

00:05:15Oh, I like it.

00:05:18Nice.

00:05:23You can hear how strenuous these moves are.

00:05:29Transfer up.

00:05:30I got this! I got this job!

00:05:33Nice.

00:05:34But this is a tough section.

00:05:36You've got to go wide with your hands.

00:05:39Oh, no!

00:05:42The cowboy got bucked off.

00:05:44Now we'll have to wait and see if that's good enough

00:05:46to move on to the Western Regional Finals.

00:05:49Lance, what happened right there?

00:05:51Ah!

00:05:52I went to go wide and then...

00:05:54got caught.

00:05:55Yeah.

00:05:56I didn't play well enough on the kite surfer.

00:06:01Lance, it's always a pleasure watching you compete, my man.

00:06:04Thank you, man.

00:06:05Thank you, Akbar.

00:06:07Well, up next, teenager Lumi Rivera.

00:06:09When this high school student isn't training for ninja,

00:06:12she's chasing down chickens on the family farm.

00:06:19I've got over 115 animals on the farm.

00:06:24Chickens, emus...

00:06:25Death buds.

00:06:26Tortoises, ducks.

00:06:28I've been breeding chickens since I was eight years old.

00:06:30I have cochins, frizzles, Polish, silkies.

00:06:35The hardest part about breeding chickens is they're pretty fast.

00:06:39I have to, like, match their speed to catch up to them.

00:06:42Tonight, I'm going to be extraordinary.

00:06:47Lumi actually named a couple of her chickens after us.

00:06:50They're right here, Akbar.

00:06:52Matt and Akbar are her chickens.

00:06:55I like this.

00:06:56We even have the little crocheted knockouts.

00:07:00Mine's kind of salt and pepper.

00:07:02It looks like Tina Turner there.

00:07:03Yeah, and mine is this color of my alma mater, red and black.

00:07:06That is some aggressive hair right there.

00:07:09Yeah, it is.

00:07:09I don't have that kind of hair.

00:07:11Lumi will have her parents cheering her on,

00:07:14along with her coach, ninja veteran Karsten Williams.

00:07:20Well, let's see what kind of run Lumi Rivera can hatch right here.

00:07:24A bit of a chicken walk across this riding step.

00:07:27Yeah, she's got a sweater around her waist, doing it in style.

00:07:32Let's do it!

00:07:33Now gets to try this new second obstacle.

00:07:35Let's see what she can do here, going for a ride on roller bags.

00:07:38At just 17 years old, 5'6".

00:07:41And you can just see struggling, though, to get that handle deployed.

00:07:44You can see the pars on the right side.

00:07:46There we go.

00:07:47Nice.

00:07:47Uh-oh, uh-oh.

00:07:48A lot of extra swings in another one.

00:07:50There's a little bit of a jerk there.

00:07:52Now she's got to see it.

00:07:53Oh, she needed to let go right there.

00:07:56Now she's going to have to build up on that.

00:07:57It could be hard to recover from this.

00:07:59Oh, she might end up like Humpty Dumpty here.

00:08:02Awkward struggling to get her momentum.

00:08:04Oh, man, she's scrambling like eggs right now, trying to get over.

00:08:09Oh, look at that.

00:08:10Oh, she might be fried.

00:08:12Lumi has to spread her legs.

00:08:15Oh, so he's side over.

00:08:17My goodness.

00:08:19It's a new obstacle, and Lumi couldn't quite figure it out.

00:08:25Lumi just made a bad decision.

00:08:27You can see right there, her legs were over the wall.

00:08:30If she had let go at that point, she would have cleared it.

00:08:33But she held on and could never regain momentum.

00:08:38Season 18 of American Ninja Warrior is ready to take flight.

00:08:42Tonight, we'll see some of the sport's best and fan favorites,

00:08:46including the history-making mom, Sandy Zimmerman.

00:08:50And this year, Sandy's got company.

00:08:52So I asked the family to come back and to do my 10th season with me.

00:08:57Plus, get ready to hit the like button.

00:08:59One of social media's biggest stars, Ben Azalert, is going to take on our course.

00:09:04I think my followers are going to be stoked to see me do this.

00:09:07It's party time on the season premiere of American Ninja Warrior.

00:09:16Welcome back to Vegas, where it's qualifying night for the West Region,

00:09:19and two Olympic hopefuls hit the course while we were away.

00:09:23Charles Mangold III is not only a professional bull rider,

00:09:26he's also trying to make the U.S. bobsledding team.

00:09:30I've got to tip my hat off to him, because that right there is a true athlete.

00:09:33After taking off the cowboy hat, Mangold managed to get past the shrinking steps.

00:09:38Barely.

00:09:39Ooh, that first obstacle looked a little shaky.

00:09:41And then the rookie was buffed off on the rollerbacks.

00:09:44Oh!

00:09:50Akbar and I were on guard,

00:09:52as high schooler Luke Filer showed up his fencing skills at the start line.

00:09:57Filer moved to the U.S. Pentathlon Training Center in Charlotte

00:10:00to prepare for the 2028 Olympics when fencing and ninja

00:10:03will be two of the five events in the pentathlon.

00:10:06With his teammates cheering him on from back in Charlotte,

00:10:10Filer got some practice on one of the other pentathlon disciplines, running.

00:10:14Ooh!

00:10:15Ooh!

00:10:16Be careful.

00:10:17And unfortunately, another event, swimming.

00:10:21Oh, no!

00:10:22He was not on guard right there.

00:10:25I don't even need a mask.

00:10:29Up next, it's a ninja legend.

00:10:31And for Sandy Zimmerman, this is a special season.

00:10:35It marks the 10th anniversary of her AMW debut,

00:10:38so she's brought along the whole family.

00:10:44It's a big season for me.

00:10:46Ten years.

00:10:48Ooh, okay, that's not your ordinary PE teacher right there.

00:10:51So I asked the family to come back

00:10:54and to do my 10th season with me.

00:10:58At first, I was like, ooh, like,

00:11:00I haven't done this in a little while.

00:11:02Now it's in the hands of their teenage son, Brett.

00:11:04After I thought about it more, like,

00:11:06I knew that it would be a lot of fun.

00:11:07And they're moving on to the power tower!

00:11:11Yeah, boy!

00:11:13Ninja Warriors meant a lot to my family.

00:11:16It's been very much a bonding thing.

00:11:19We've watched each other compete.

00:11:20We've supported each other in it.

00:11:22Oh!

00:11:23Charlie holds up his end of the bargain.

00:11:26My favorite American Ninja Warrior memory

00:11:28would have to be my mom hitting

00:11:29the big buzzer in the Tacoma down.

00:11:32Our mom is going to be the next American Ninja Warrior.

00:11:35We're here.

00:11:36Stop it!

00:11:37Ah!

00:11:38Yes!

00:11:39I just think that was so special

00:11:40and just, like, very historic.

00:11:42We were just all so excited for her.

00:11:47This feels like the last chapter.

00:11:51Our kids are getting older,

00:11:53and this may be our last hurrah together,

00:11:55our last chance to be on this stage together,

00:11:59the last chance to make memories through Ninja,

00:12:01which has been such a huge part of our family.

00:12:09So Sandy's going to lead it off then.

00:12:11Brett will run next.

00:12:13Sandy's husband, Charlie,

00:12:14will compete next week along with daughter, Lindsay.

00:12:17Her youngest son, Blake, is only 14

00:12:19and hopes to get his shot on the course next season.

00:12:22Sandy always a fan favorite.

00:12:26Former point guard for the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

00:12:29Looking to be a sure shot here.

00:12:32All right, here we go.

00:12:33You got to check yourself on this new obstacle roller bag.

00:12:36You got to check yourself like TSA.

00:12:385'6", 140.

00:12:41Akwar has had early struggles on the course,

00:12:43wants to be cautious here.

00:12:45Get this handle out.

00:12:48There it is.

00:12:49Use that momentum.

00:12:51And I think this is the perfect time

00:12:52to make that transfer.

00:12:54Good.

00:12:54Got it.

00:12:55She's got clearance.

00:12:55You're good.

00:12:56Oh, oh.

00:12:57Well, that was not pretty,

00:12:59but Akwar, she got to it.

00:13:00That has to take a toll.

00:13:02A lot of jolts there for Sandy Zimmerman.

00:13:06See if she can travel through Diamond Dash.

00:13:09Just don't get crossed up.

00:13:11Just like that.

00:13:17We'll see if those extra swings,

00:13:19those jolts on roller bags,

00:13:21they come back to Haunter here on Kite Surfer.

00:13:29Big tree is for down.

00:13:32Going to take a couple extra swings here.

00:13:35Sandy Zimmerman is so focused.

00:13:37She is locked in.

00:13:38Look at her.

00:13:38She is locked in.

00:13:42The top five women from tonight

00:13:43will move on.

00:13:44And with this run,

00:13:45Sandy's giving herself a chance

00:13:46to be one of them.

00:13:48Nice.

00:13:49Oh, my.

00:13:49There it is.

00:13:50There it is.

00:13:51You want to get to the narrow point

00:13:53of that second one.

00:13:55And she's reached the fifth obstacle.

00:13:58Yeah.

00:14:01Sandy's now a successful author

00:14:03and motivational speaker.

00:14:04And she's got this crowd on its feet.

00:14:11Charlie and Lindsey running next week.

00:14:14They better be taking some notes

00:14:15from Mom's Run.

00:14:16But what does she have left

00:14:17for Kaleidoscope?

00:14:20Built a backyard course years ago.

00:14:22She's put in work.

00:14:23And now it's showing back up.

00:14:25Well, it's her 10th anniversary

00:14:27of competing on the show,

00:14:29doing it with her family.

00:14:30It's got to mean so much.

00:14:32But Akbar, a buzzer would be so special.

00:14:34She is ready, Matt.

00:14:35She is ready.

00:14:36That backyard course,

00:14:37known as the Fortress,

00:14:38she trains grip relentlessly.

00:14:40Look how clean and smooth

00:14:42she is with that.

00:14:43But Akbar, these are big reaches.

00:14:46Oh, it's a no!

00:14:48Sandy Zimmerman makes it

00:14:51to the fifth obstacle.

00:14:52A strong run for Sandy

00:14:54on this special season for her.

00:14:56This was vintage Sandy Zimmerman.

00:14:59She put together her best run

00:15:01in five years.

00:15:03She just ran out of grip

00:15:04on Kaleidoscope.

00:15:05Sandy, it's so great

00:15:07to see you out here.

00:15:08What does it mean to you

00:15:09to not just be running

00:15:10with the family supporting,

00:15:11but knowing the family

00:15:12is running alongside you?

00:15:14Man, this is already

00:15:16the most special season for me.

00:15:19And getting to do it

00:15:20alongside my family.

00:15:23Would have been nice

00:15:24to get a buzzer

00:15:25and celebrate it with them.

00:15:26But hopefully another Zimmy

00:15:28is going to get one.

00:15:29Spoken like the true

00:15:30competitor you are.

00:15:31We love it.

00:15:32We'll know soon

00:15:32if you went far enough,

00:15:33fast enough.

00:15:33But great work out here tonight.

00:15:35Thank you so much.

00:15:35Absolutely.

00:15:36Guys, back to you.

00:15:38Coming up,

00:15:38we're going all the way

00:15:39to Guam,

00:15:40where ninja's blowing up.

00:15:42And we've got the first

00:15:43teenage competitor

00:15:44from the island.

00:15:45To put Guam on the map,

00:15:47it's really important

00:15:47to represent the island.

00:15:54Welcome back to Vegas.

00:15:56This year,

00:15:57we are going to see

00:15:58how well you know our ninjas

00:16:00by showing you

00:16:00their baby pictures

00:16:02like this one.

00:16:03Can you guess who it is?

00:16:05We'll narrow it down for you.

00:16:06It's either Sean Bryan,

00:16:08Lance Pekus,

00:16:09or Caden Lefsack.

00:16:11We'll reveal the answer

00:16:13a little later.

00:16:14Thanks, Siri.

00:16:15While we roll away,

00:16:16Brett Zimmerman,

00:16:17the 19-year-old son

00:16:18of Sandy Zimmerman,

00:16:19got his shot at the course.

00:16:21Come on, Brett!

00:16:22Though he's competed

00:16:23on Ninja Junior

00:16:24and with his parents

00:16:25on our family special,

00:16:26this was Brett's

00:16:27first appearance

00:16:28on The Big Show.

00:16:30Oh!

00:16:32Wow.

00:16:33And the new obstacle

00:16:34roller bag

00:16:35sent him packing.

00:16:37Wow, he picked up

00:16:38the wrong luggage.

00:16:40Then it was

00:16:40high school student

00:16:41Ellie Swenson

00:16:42who came out swinging,

00:16:44showing off her dance moves

00:16:45with her brother.

00:16:46This is too cool.

00:16:47Then the 17-year-old

00:16:48danced her way

00:16:49across the early obstacles.

00:16:51Watch the athleticism

00:16:53go to work here

00:16:54on Diamond Dash.

00:16:55There you go.

00:16:55But the rookie's run

00:16:56was cut short

00:16:57on Kite Surfer.

00:16:58Oh!

00:17:02Up next,

00:17:03high school football coach

00:17:04Brandon Dodson.

00:17:05He's competed

00:17:06four times before,

00:17:07but has never made it

00:17:08past the third obstacle,

00:17:09but now he wants

00:17:10to prove to his players

00:17:11you've got to keep fighting.

00:17:14Ready, breathe,

00:17:16cut him.

00:17:16Good job.

00:17:17Let's get it.

00:17:18Being able to shape

00:17:19young people,

00:17:20especially young men,

00:17:21has been awesome.

00:17:22I've been doing my

00:17:23gents club with

00:17:24fourth and fifth grade boys

00:17:25for the past six years.

00:17:26We go over everything

00:17:27from how to tie a tie

00:17:28to accepting

00:17:29and receiving compliments,

00:17:32how to ask for forgiveness,

00:17:33how to behave at a table,

00:17:35manners.

00:17:35Make sure we keep

00:17:37eye contact

00:17:38while we're shaking hands.

00:17:40Being a coach

00:17:40has actually helped me

00:17:42become a better ninja.

00:17:44You have to be able

00:17:44to move on

00:17:45to the next play,

00:17:46and for me,

00:17:47it's letting the failures

00:17:48of the past go,

00:17:49not harping on it,

00:17:50but also learning from it.

00:17:53Ooh!

00:17:54Oh!

00:17:55He lost it!

00:17:56Coach Dot is hitting

00:17:57the buzzer tonight

00:17:58because if I don't,

00:17:58I'm going to hear

00:17:59about it at practice.

00:18:03Well, he's got

00:18:04some of those players

00:18:05watching from his football team,

00:18:07cheering him on.

00:18:08Let's go!

00:18:08Plus his home team,

00:18:10his wife and three daughters.

00:18:13He's a girl dad, too.

00:18:14Look at his beautiful daughters.

00:18:16Ah, look at that.

00:18:19Well, he was a cornerback.

00:18:21Let's see if he can stick

00:18:22with these obstacles here.

00:18:24Yeah, he played college ball

00:18:25at the University of Montana.

00:18:28Real smooth start.

00:18:29This new one,

00:18:30roller bags,

00:18:31get ready for a flight here.

00:18:34And you can see

00:18:35this is timing, Akbar.

00:18:36You have to levitate

00:18:37and pull when your body

00:18:39is weightless.

00:18:42A little trouble

00:18:43getting that first bag released.

00:18:45Let go!

00:18:47That was like an interception

00:18:48right there.

00:18:49He just went out

00:18:49and just grabbed

00:18:50that last handle.

00:18:52Now Diamond Dash.

00:18:54And look at the speedy

00:18:56defensive back go.

00:18:58And the fifth time's the charm

00:19:00for the first time ever.

00:19:01Brandon's made it

00:19:02to the fourth obstacle.

00:19:04But he's got his work

00:19:05cut out for him here.

00:19:06Kite surfer,

00:19:07a tough one.

00:19:08Already ended the night

00:19:09for a couple of ninjas.

00:19:10Watch the hand placement here.

00:19:12Good work.

00:19:15At 37,

00:19:16he's putting together

00:19:17his best run ever.

00:19:19He's showing his players

00:19:20how it's done.

00:19:23Smooth.

00:19:24And didn't expend

00:19:25a lot of energy.

00:19:27At 5'8",

00:19:28he's got plenty of wingspan

00:19:29to kind of go wide here

00:19:30on this big arrow

00:19:32with the kites up.

00:19:33Oh!

00:19:34He missed it!

00:19:39The former quarterback

00:19:40couldn't make the catch,

00:19:41but all in all,

00:19:42a successful run

00:19:43for Coach Dodson.

00:19:45Well, this is

00:19:46the Western qualifiers

00:19:47and no one has come

00:19:49from further west

00:19:49than our next ninja

00:19:51from 6,000 miles away

00:19:53in the island of Guam.

00:19:54This is 16-year-old

00:19:55Rye Flores.

00:19:57Joining him at the star line

00:19:58is his coach,

00:19:59Darren Perez.

00:20:00They're excited

00:20:01because they want

00:20:02to put their island

00:20:02on the ninja map.

00:20:08Being the first ever

00:20:09teenager to represent

00:20:10Guam and American Ninja Warrior,

00:20:11I mean, it's really

00:20:12a privilege,

00:20:12representing the island

00:20:13and more than that,

00:20:15being able to do it

00:20:15with my coach, Darren.

00:20:16Darren started his ninja journey

00:20:1810 years ago

00:20:19when he competed

00:20:20in Kansas City.

00:20:21There you go.

00:20:22Nice!

00:20:23After that run,

00:20:24he wanted to bring ninja

00:20:25to his home island.

00:20:27Before I moved to Guam,

00:20:29there was no ninja available.

00:20:31We are literally

00:20:32in the middle of nowhere

00:20:33and I did not let

00:20:34that stop me.

00:20:35I created something

00:20:36in my backyard

00:20:36and from there

00:20:37it just evolved,

00:20:38training students.

00:20:40The first time

00:20:41I did Ninja Warrior

00:20:41was in Darren Perez's

00:20:43backyard.

00:20:44And now I'm opening up

00:20:45my very own gym.

00:20:47Viva!

00:20:49Guam's first

00:20:51ninja warrior gym.

00:20:53Something I wanted

00:20:54to do for myself

00:20:54ended up evolving

00:20:55into me doing

00:20:56something for my island.

00:20:58Down.

00:20:58There you go.

00:20:59Nice.

00:21:00Light work.

00:21:01Good job, Rye.

00:21:02Rye Flores,

00:21:03one of my top students.

00:21:04There it is.

00:21:06The kid is phenomenal.

00:21:07He is naturally talented.

00:21:10I just feel so happy

00:21:12that I have this opportunity.

00:21:14Darren got his first buzzer

00:21:15last season.

00:21:15I'm getting mine tonight.

00:21:21Rye is the first teenager

00:21:23from Guam to compete.

00:21:24Calls himself King Rye

00:21:26because Rye means king

00:21:27in the native language

00:21:28of Guam.

00:21:30Darren runs next.

00:21:31He's on the sideline

00:21:32flanked by Rye's

00:21:33mom and brother.

00:21:35And lots of family

00:21:36and friends watching

00:21:37back in Guam

00:21:38including Rye's dad

00:21:39there in the middle.

00:21:43Here we go.

00:21:44This kid's propeller hat

00:21:46is so cool.

00:21:47He started wearing it

00:21:48to stand out

00:21:48at Ninja competition.

00:21:50And I think this thing

00:21:51is his secret weapon

00:21:52on the course.

00:21:535'7", 135,

00:21:55just 16.

00:21:56Real smooth.

00:21:57Wow.

00:21:58Oh, we're going to have to...

00:21:59Oh!

00:22:00We're getting some rough

00:22:01dismounts on the rollerbacks.

00:22:06We might have to put

00:22:07a Guam sticker

00:22:07on the luggage.

00:22:10And runs right

00:22:11through Diamond Dash.

00:22:12Come on!

00:22:13Let's hit there!

00:22:15Take it off!

00:22:16Take it off!

00:22:17Matt, he came 6,000 miles

00:22:19just to get here.

00:22:20He wants it badly.

00:22:21He didn't show up

00:22:22just to get on the course.

00:22:23He wants to get

00:22:24through the course.

00:22:25There you go.

00:22:27Let's see if he can

00:22:28fly through kite surfer.

00:22:30This is the big move.

00:22:31With his hands up

00:22:32and around.

00:22:32Nice.

00:22:33Well, I hope that

00:22:34little spinning thing

00:22:34helps him fly even further

00:22:36because he's going to

00:22:37need it on this second kite.

00:22:41Rockbar, he is looking

00:22:42so strong as motor.

00:22:44Hit it.

00:22:44Nice.

00:22:45He's got his foot

00:22:45on the accelerator.

00:22:49The blade isn't even

00:22:50spinning on his hat.

00:22:51And he's still flying.

00:22:54He is pumped up.

00:22:56King Rai.

00:22:57He flew 6,000 miles

00:22:59just to get here.

00:23:00He wants the action, Matt.

00:23:01He wants that smoke.

00:23:02He wants that ninja smoke.

00:23:04Well, his dad was a swimmer

00:23:06for Guam in the 92 Olympics.

00:23:07He's got some athletic genes

00:23:09and it's showing.

00:23:10But Rai doesn't want

00:23:11to go swimmer tonight.

00:23:13Yeah, he looks so smooth.

00:23:15But this is where

00:23:16Kaleidoscope gets tough.

00:23:18He's got to reach up

00:23:19and rotate the panels down.

00:23:21Just like that.

00:23:24Now it's to swing over

00:23:25and land on that small ledge

00:23:27and he's got it.

00:23:29How about it?

00:23:30Get out of there, young fella.

00:23:31He's done it.

00:23:32The cane.

00:23:33Could be our first

00:23:34finisher tonight.

00:23:36King Rai.

00:23:37Looking to ascend to the throne

00:23:40and get that buzzer.

00:23:43Look at Mauro

00:23:44getting ready to cry.

00:23:45He gave the propeller

00:23:46a little spin.

00:23:48And he does it.

00:23:50King Rai.

00:23:51A buzzer on his rookie run.

00:23:54And the ninja from Guam

00:23:55is our first finisher

00:23:57of the season.

00:23:58Good job, Rai.

00:23:59Good job.

00:24:00There you go.

00:24:04Hey, bud, what do you want

00:24:05to tell some other kids

00:24:06watching around the globe

00:24:07who maybe feel like

00:24:09Ninja Warriors

00:24:09a world away from them?

00:24:11What do you want

00:24:11to tell those kids?

00:24:12Really doesn't matter

00:24:13how small or big

00:24:15your country is,

00:24:16how hard it is to train.

00:24:17As long as you want it,

00:24:18it's a lot of dedication.

00:24:20We just keep going.

00:24:21And that's all that matters.

00:24:22We keep putting in the time

00:24:23and we're here right now.

00:24:24It shows.

00:24:25Started in Guam.

00:24:26Now you're here, baby.

00:24:28Hit that buzzer, kid.

00:24:29Let's go.

00:24:30Come on.

00:24:32They're celebrating in Guam

00:24:34tonight.

00:24:34Rai Flores delivers.

00:24:37Come on.

00:24:40Come on.

00:24:40Coming up,

00:24:41it's been a stressful time

00:24:42for John Mack.

00:24:43His newborn baby

00:24:44has been fighting

00:24:45for his life.

00:24:46Now he'll try to bring home

00:24:48a buzzer

00:24:48for his family.

00:24:50Sweet boy,

00:24:51can we wake up?

00:24:52When American Ninja Warrior

00:24:54returns.

00:25:00Welcome back

00:25:01to Qualifying Night

00:25:01for the West Region.

00:25:03Minutes ago,

00:25:05we saw Guam's

00:25:06Rai Flores

00:25:07get the first buzzer

00:25:08of the season.

00:25:08And while we were away,

00:25:10Rai's mentor

00:25:11Darren Perez

00:25:12got his shot.

00:25:15Raising that flag proudly.

00:25:17After flying the flag

00:25:18for Guam,

00:25:19Perez then started

00:25:20flying through the course.

00:25:21Oh, nice!

00:25:23The Coast Guard recruiter

00:25:24was cruising

00:25:25and he powered his way

00:25:27through the final obstacles.

00:25:28Let's go, baby!

00:25:29Come on, get up that wall.

00:25:30He gave Guam

00:25:31the island's

00:25:32second buzzer

00:25:33of the night.

00:25:35Viva!

00:25:37Then the Myler family,

00:25:39better known

00:25:39as social media superstars,

00:25:41the Ninja Kids,

00:25:42kicked off their second season

00:25:44on Ninja Warrior.

00:25:46Look, the kids love them, Matt.

00:25:4817-year-old Paxton Myler

00:25:49was the first

00:25:50of the three siblings

00:25:51who will compete this year

00:25:52for the family

00:25:53that has 40 million subscribers

00:25:55on YouTube.

00:25:56Paxton made it

00:25:57to the national finals

00:25:58last year,

00:25:59but tonight...

00:26:00Oh!

00:26:02The tilt!

00:26:03He was cut down

00:26:04on Kite Surfer.

00:26:05That may not be enough

00:26:06to move on,

00:26:07but his twin sister,

00:26:08Peyton,

00:26:09and older brother,

00:26:10Ashton,

00:26:10will get their chance

00:26:11next week.

00:26:12Our next Ninja

00:26:13almost didn't make it

00:26:14to the start line

00:26:15this year.

00:26:16It's Utah's

00:26:17John Mack,

00:26:18who was living

00:26:18at the hospital

00:26:19until just a few days ago

00:26:21as his new baby boy

00:26:22was fighting

00:26:23for his life.

00:26:26My wife and I

00:26:27were on a baby moon

00:26:28having a lovely time

00:26:29before our little boy

00:26:30was born

00:26:31when all of a sudden

00:26:32my wife started

00:26:33to have some complications.

00:26:36My wife had

00:26:37an emergency C-section.

00:26:39Jason was 11 weeks

00:26:41premature.

00:26:42And then,

00:26:43after a few hours,

00:26:44he took a very sharp

00:26:46left turn.

00:26:49They could not figure out

00:26:50what was wrong with him,

00:26:51but his health

00:26:52was rapidly declining.

00:26:55A few days later,

00:26:57when the doctors told me

00:26:57that we might...

00:26:59we might not be able

00:27:00to take him home...

00:27:05you know,

00:27:06broke my heart.

00:27:08I've always wanted

00:27:09to be a dad.

00:27:10My wife's always

00:27:10wanted to be a mom.

00:27:12And to feel so much love

00:27:14and then be told

00:27:15we might not

00:27:16be able to have it

00:27:17was one of the hardest

00:27:21things I've ever

00:27:22had to deal with.

00:27:25My whole life

00:27:26seemed to just stop.

00:27:33After a few days,

00:27:34they found out

00:27:35that he had pneumonia.

00:27:37And they were able

00:27:37to start him

00:27:38on antibiotics.

00:27:39He perked up

00:27:40really quick,

00:27:41started gaining weight,

00:27:42and has been happy

00:27:43and smiling

00:27:44ever since then.

00:27:47I'm really,

00:27:48really excited

00:27:48and grateful

00:27:49for this opportunity

00:27:50to run in jewelry

00:27:50this year.

00:27:51It means a lot more

00:27:52to me.

00:27:53You and Mom

00:27:53going to cheer me on?

00:27:54You guys going to watch me?

00:27:56Eventually,

00:27:57I'll be able

00:27:57to show him this run

00:27:58and tell him

00:27:59that I ran for him.

00:28:03Jason,

00:28:04I'm going to hit

00:28:05this buzzer for you,

00:28:06buddy.

00:28:08And there's his wife,

00:28:10Ashley,

00:28:10and baby son,

00:28:11Jason.

00:28:12So glad they're

00:28:13doing okay now.

00:28:18John's also got

00:28:19his mom on the sideline

00:28:20along with other

00:28:21family and friends.

00:28:22And John is my pick

00:28:24to be fastest

00:28:25of the night.

00:28:25With that newborn,

00:28:26he's going to be

00:28:27running with a purpose.

00:28:28Plus,

00:28:29he's 6'6",

00:28:30our tallest competitor.

00:28:33All right,

00:28:34let's see if Matt's

00:28:35got the right pick

00:28:35tonight.

00:28:36Well,

00:28:37right now,

00:28:37Darren Perez

00:28:38has the top top

00:28:39on a minute 43.

00:28:40I know John

00:28:41can beat that.

00:28:42Doesn't want to be

00:28:42hanging out

00:28:43on this course

00:28:44with his big pass.

00:28:45Would love to get

00:28:45a finish in under

00:28:46a minute 10,

00:28:47so he'll get a shot

00:28:48at winning 10 grand

00:28:49on the mega wall.

00:28:50That was easy.

00:28:52Watch the steps here.

00:28:53Stay centered.

00:28:54Nice.

00:28:55Akbar,

00:28:56he is effortlessly flying.

00:28:57And the kite surfer

00:28:59with that big reach

00:29:00is looking easy.

00:29:01Wow.

00:29:01You see that?

00:29:02That's exactly how

00:29:03you're supposed to do that.

00:29:04He made it easy.

00:29:06That's as efficient

00:29:07as we've seen.

00:29:08And then to go through that.

00:29:09Okay,

00:29:09John is moving.

00:29:11Might be on to something here.

00:29:12Yeah,

00:29:13I'm feeling pretty good

00:29:14about my pick right now.

00:29:15Let's go.

00:29:17He is like a Mack truck

00:29:18on this course.

00:29:19He is just crushing it.

00:29:22His reach is going to help him,

00:29:24but 200 pounds

00:29:25is a decent amount

00:29:26of mass right here.

00:29:27These are big reaches.

00:29:28Look at him locking it up.

00:29:32Nice.

00:29:33This is a big transfer.

00:29:35Akbar,

00:29:35he's going to have

00:29:36about 15 seconds

00:29:37if he can get this dismount.

00:29:38He's got to go now.

00:29:39Go, big fella.

00:29:40Go, big fella.

00:29:42And it's going to be close.

00:29:44John Mack delivers.

00:29:52Akbar,

00:29:53I said he was going to go fast,

00:29:55and I was right.

00:29:56You did.

00:29:57Matt,

00:29:57you were right.

00:29:59God,

00:30:00you're a new father.

00:30:01I salute you,

00:30:02my brother.

00:30:03I know your wife's

00:30:04with Jason right now.

00:30:05They're watching.

00:30:06What do you want

00:30:06to say to him, bud?

00:30:07I love you guys

00:30:08so very,

00:30:09very much.

00:30:12Well,

00:30:13there's dad strength

00:30:14and there's dad speed.

00:30:16You did that

00:30:16really fast, man.

00:30:18So, John,

00:30:18he's right.

00:30:19The time to need

00:30:20for a shot at the Mega Wall

00:30:21was a minute 10.

00:30:22You did it in 104,

00:30:23so get down there

00:30:25for $10,000,

00:30:27brother.

00:30:29You can buy

00:30:30a lot of diapers

00:30:31with that one.

00:30:32Mega Wall!

00:30:33Mega Wall!

00:30:35He'll be the first

00:30:36this season

00:30:37to attempt

00:30:37the 18.5-foot wall.

00:30:39Only three ninjas

00:30:40conquered it last year.

00:30:42Akbar,

00:30:42I picked this guy

00:30:43to be the fastest

00:30:44of the night,

00:30:44and he just set

00:30:45a very high bar.

00:30:46Can he also

00:30:47take home 10K?

00:30:49Oh!

00:30:50Oh!

00:30:53So close.

00:30:55Almost had it.

00:30:56That close.

00:30:59But just an inspired run

00:31:01by John Mack

00:31:02after all he and his wife

00:31:03have been through

00:31:04the past few weeks.

00:31:05And he sits atop

00:31:06our current leaderboard.

00:31:08Remember,

00:31:08only those in the top 20

00:31:09at the end of the night

00:31:10will move on.

00:31:12And the top five

00:31:13get a buy

00:31:13in the first round

00:31:14of the regional finals.

00:31:16Still to come,

00:31:17we're going up,

00:31:19up, and away

00:31:19with a ninja

00:31:20who has one of the coolest

00:31:22jobs on the planet.

00:31:23It's pretty intense,

00:31:24but it's a lot of fun.

00:31:25When American Ninja Warrior

00:31:27returns!

00:31:32So did you figure out

00:31:34who this little guy

00:31:34grew up to be?

00:31:36That baby in the bow tie?

00:31:39Became the cowboy ninja

00:31:40Lance Pekas.

00:31:43Well, we've got a ninja

00:31:44from the cowboy state

00:31:45headed to the start line

00:31:46right now.

00:31:47Carrying the flag

00:31:48from Wyoming.

00:31:49It's college student

00:31:50Gabe Villalobos.

00:31:52He's just the third ninja

00:31:53ever from his home state.

00:31:59It takes a lot of work

00:32:00to be a ninja in Wyoming.

00:32:01I mean, you have to drive

00:32:02like 200 miles

00:32:03just to get to your next

00:32:04ninja gym

00:32:05because there's only one,

00:32:06you know?

00:32:06I'm from one of the biggest

00:32:08towns.

00:32:08There's only 26,000 people

00:32:09in the whole town.

00:32:10I mean, there's more cows

00:32:11than people in Wyoming,

00:32:12you know?

00:32:13This is one of the biggest

00:32:14things that happened

00:32:15in Wyoming, honestly,

00:32:16and I cannot wait

00:32:18to represent

00:32:18and make everyone proud

00:32:19back home.

00:32:25His run is big news

00:32:27in Wyoming,

00:32:27so they're watching

00:32:28at his gym.

00:32:30And he's got a group

00:32:31on the sideline,

00:32:32including his dad.

00:32:36Let's go, Wyoming!

00:32:41Gabe's last name,

00:32:42Villalobos,

00:32:43means Village Wolf.

00:32:47Let's see if he can

00:32:48attack our course,

00:32:50Akbar.

00:32:50He says that's one

00:32:51obstacle down.

00:32:52We've already seen

00:32:53a few ninjas struggle

00:32:54here on this new

00:32:55obstacle roller bags.

00:33:00Well, we've got six

00:33:01brutal obstacles here.

00:33:03This one is brand new.

00:33:04And you can see him

00:33:05taking extra swing

00:33:06and not looking confident,

00:33:08Akbar.

00:33:08But he's throwing

00:33:09up the deuces.

00:33:11He's through two.

00:33:12The Village Wolf

00:33:13still alive.

00:33:14Let's check out

00:33:15his footwork here

00:33:16on Diamond Dash.

00:33:18These balance obstacles

00:33:19always lethal,

00:33:20even for a wolf.

00:33:22You can see him

00:33:22holding up fingers

00:33:23after him.

00:33:23Oh!

00:33:24Hold up that three!

00:33:26Hold up that three!

00:33:27There it is!

00:33:30The wolf is alive!

00:33:33And now let's see

00:33:35if this wolf can fly

00:33:36on Kite Surfer,

00:33:38Akbar.

00:33:39The way the night

00:33:39is shaping up

00:33:40probably needs to get

00:33:41through this

00:33:41to have a chance

00:33:42to move on.

00:33:46Well, Akbar,

00:33:47he is looking

00:33:48to establish himself

00:33:49as the greatest ninja

00:33:50from Wyoming

00:33:51of all time.

00:33:52To do that,

00:33:53he'd need to match

00:33:54Colby Frontiero

00:33:55who hit a buzzer

00:33:56way back in Season 5

00:33:5713 years ago.

00:34:00Well, the Kite Surfer,

00:34:01this wide point,

00:34:0248 inches.

00:34:03I like how he grabbed

00:34:05the more narrow part

00:34:06of this.

00:34:07Be careful with the tilt.

00:34:09But he is through

00:34:10and he can hold

00:34:12up four fingers.

00:34:14And if he can get

00:34:16through the next

00:34:16two obstacles

00:34:17and hit a buzzer,

00:34:18he'd match the greatest

00:34:19performance ever

00:34:20by a Wyoming ninja.

00:34:22A proud accomplishment

00:34:23for this rookie

00:34:24just 23 years old.

00:34:25Well, here it is.

00:34:26This is his drive

00:34:27for five

00:34:28to become the greatest

00:34:29in Wyoming history.

00:34:32Well, what a story

00:34:33of perseverance.

00:34:34Can the Village Wolf

00:34:35fight on kaleidoscope?

00:34:38Big transfer here.

00:34:41Ooh, man,

00:34:42I'm not confident

00:34:43about that swing.

00:34:44It looks like

00:34:44he's starting

00:34:45to gas out.

00:34:46Come on, Dave.

00:34:49Oh, you can see it, Akbar.

00:34:51The Wolf's legs

00:34:53didn't give out,

00:34:54but it's gripped.

00:34:55It does not set the mark

00:34:56as the best ever

00:34:57Wyoming ninja,

00:34:58but still pretty good run

00:35:00by this rookie.

00:35:01You can see he was

00:35:02starting to feel it,

00:35:03and as he went

00:35:04for the last panel,

00:35:05his fingers just peeled off,

00:35:07and the Wolf got wet.

00:35:09Ow!

00:35:11Well, we'll have to wait

00:35:12and see if his pace

00:35:13was good enough

00:35:13to move on

00:35:14to the Western Regional Finals.

00:35:17Up next on the course

00:35:18is Utah's

00:35:19Allie Tibbetts-Wooden,

00:35:20better known

00:35:21as the Flippin' Ninja.

00:35:22Oh, she flippin'.

00:35:24Allie recently

00:35:25had her second child,

00:35:26and to get back

00:35:27in ninja shape,

00:35:28she teamed up

00:35:28with a couple of other

00:35:29Utah ninja moms.

00:35:32All right, mamas,

00:35:33let's go.

00:35:34So in St. George,

00:35:36we have this little mom posse

00:35:37with Kendall

00:35:38and Maddie Howard and I.

00:35:39Maddie Howard

00:35:40keeping the pressure

00:35:41on Wooden.

00:35:42Now they're neck and neck,

00:35:44and here comes Kendall.

00:35:45It's a nice little group

00:35:46we have.

00:35:47We all have kids

00:35:48around the same age.

00:35:49We like to train ninja together,

00:35:51and then our kids

00:35:52can kind of play.

00:35:53Underneath.

00:35:54Go under, go under.

00:35:55It's really helped me train

00:35:56and get ready for the season.

00:35:57So three up, three down?

00:35:58Sure.

00:35:59I mean, I'm sure

00:36:00we could even do

00:36:00two up, two down,

00:36:01whatever you want.

00:36:02You don't have to push pause

00:36:04on your own dreams

00:36:06and athletic goals

00:36:07just because you're

00:36:08in the season

00:36:09of having your kids

00:36:10and growing your family.

00:36:12Looking strong.

00:36:13The mom posse

00:36:14is going to make

00:36:15it happen this year.

00:36:19We'll see Kendall

00:36:20compete next week.

00:36:22Maddie's taking

00:36:22a year off,

00:36:23and Zuri

00:36:24has decided

00:36:24to step in

00:36:25and help Allie's

00:36:26husband with

00:36:26babysitting duties

00:36:27during the run.

00:36:29Oh, my gosh.

00:36:31Oh.

00:36:35Maddie missed

00:36:36last season

00:36:37because she was

00:36:38pregnant with her daughter,

00:36:39but now Allie's back

00:36:40for the third time.

00:36:42She is ready

00:36:43to do her ninja thing.

00:36:44Well, let's see

00:36:45what she can do

00:36:45on roller bags.

00:36:48I've been there before,

00:36:49traveling with little ones.

00:36:51It's not easy,

00:36:52especially when you've

00:36:53got some roller bags.

00:36:56And you see

00:36:57the athlete's

00:36:58just hesitating

00:36:59on that first swing

00:37:00and taking another one,

00:37:01Agua.

00:37:02All right,

00:37:02got to really feel it,

00:37:03got to roll.

00:37:05Nice.

00:37:06As clean

00:37:06a dismount

00:37:07as we've seen.

00:37:08That was smooth.

00:37:10Let's see if she can

00:37:10stay firm

00:37:11on Diamond Dash.

00:37:13Allie is super,

00:37:14super athletic.

00:37:15The Diamond Dash

00:37:16should be pretty easy.

00:37:17Watch it.

00:37:18Watch it.

00:37:18Nice.

00:37:19Light on her feet.

00:37:21And the mom

00:37:22posse approves.

00:37:23She looks like

00:37:24she's got this.

00:37:25You can see that

00:37:265'6", 125.

00:37:28She's been working

00:37:29on her upper body strength.

00:37:31Matt,

00:37:31a lot of this

00:37:32goes back to her origin.

00:37:33Being a gymnast

00:37:34at a very young age,

00:37:35she's been doing that

00:37:36for a long time.

00:37:38Trying to be

00:37:38the second woman

00:37:39to get past

00:37:40Kite Surfer tonight.

00:37:41Watch this transfer down.

00:37:43Bounce it up.

00:37:44Nice.

00:37:44This obstacle,

00:37:45Kite Surfer,

00:37:46has already knocked out

00:37:47five ninjas.

00:37:49You got it.

00:37:50Yeah!

00:37:52Makes it to the

00:37:52second, Kite,

00:37:53but this is a big move.

00:37:54Got to go wide

00:37:55around those edges.

00:37:57Oh, no!

00:37:59Oh, no!

00:38:00And she flips out,

00:38:02missing that hand

00:38:04placement on Kite Surfer.

00:38:06Allie Tippett's

00:38:07wouldn't splashes down

00:38:08on the fourth obstacle.

00:38:09But still,

00:38:10a solid run,

00:38:11and the mom posse

00:38:12can be proud.

00:38:14Coming up,

00:38:15he's one of the biggest

00:38:16social media stars

00:38:17in the world,

00:38:18and Ben Azalert's

00:38:20latest stunt

00:38:20is running

00:38:21the Ninja Warrior

00:38:22course.

00:38:23This, for me,

00:38:23is all about

00:38:24just, like,

00:38:24making a childhood

00:38:25dream come true.

00:38:26That's just ahead

00:38:27on American Ninja Warrior.

00:38:33Welcome back

00:38:34to Las Vegas,

00:38:34where we're about

00:38:35halfway through

00:38:36our first night

00:38:36of qualifying.

00:38:37And these ninjas

00:38:38are starting off

00:38:39the season strong.

00:38:41Vegas native

00:38:42Kobe Player

00:38:42came to play.

00:38:44The 30-year-old rookie

00:38:45was rolling

00:38:46through the course.

00:38:47Oh, wow!

00:38:48This former circus

00:38:49performer put on

00:38:50a show for his

00:38:51hometown crowd.

00:38:52Oh!

00:38:53The flip!

00:38:54He made his way

00:38:55to the buzzer,

00:38:56becoming our

00:38:57fourth finisher

00:38:58of the night.

00:38:59Well, they say

00:39:00the house always wins,

00:39:01but tonight,

00:39:02it's the player

00:39:03who comes out

00:39:04on top!

00:39:06Ontario, California's

00:39:07Xavier Ochoa

00:39:08showed his strength

00:39:10at the start line

00:39:11and then showed

00:39:12his speed

00:39:13on the course,

00:39:14confidently racing

00:39:15across the early

00:39:16obstacles.

00:39:17One of the faster

00:39:18runs we've seen

00:39:19to this point.

00:39:19The three-time veteran

00:39:20had never made it

00:39:22past the fifth obstacle,

00:39:23but did so tonight.

00:39:25Yeah!

00:39:26Yeah!

00:39:27Yeah!

00:39:28And he climbed up

00:39:29the wall to become

00:39:30the night's fifth finisher.

00:39:32And Xavier Ochoa

00:39:34gets that buzzer!

00:39:37Oh, my God!

00:39:39Up next is 24-year-old

00:39:41grad student

00:39:41and rocket scientist

00:39:43Max Manson.

00:39:44He's one of several

00:39:45athletes competing

00:39:46this year

00:39:46from Stanford University.

00:39:48All of them

00:39:48were inspired

00:39:49to try this sport

00:39:50by former ninja

00:39:51and their good friend,

00:39:52Vincent Payne.

00:39:56I first met Vince

00:39:57at a climbing team

00:39:58practice,

00:39:59and I just remember

00:40:01thinking,

00:40:02this is probably

00:40:03the most interesting

00:40:04person I've ever met.

00:40:08He was the Stanford ninja,

00:40:09setting up obstacles

00:40:10on campus.

00:40:12This is definitely

00:40:12a circus person move.

00:40:13Vince was definitely

00:40:16super eccentric.

00:40:17Gnarly.

00:40:18He made a lot

00:40:19of his own clothes.

00:40:20Just so many talents.

00:40:24Always just setting up

00:40:25these amazing adventures

00:40:26that really kind of

00:40:27brought us together.

00:40:31Last summer,

00:40:33Vince and I were

00:40:33attempting this long

00:40:35ridge traverse

00:40:35along the continental divide.

00:40:38And the only way

00:40:39to really do it

00:40:40is to move

00:40:40light and fast.

00:40:42And lots of loose rock.

00:40:45That's when

00:40:45the accident happened.

00:40:57We know that Vince

00:40:58would be heartbroken

00:41:00if we ever stopped

00:41:01adventuring,

00:41:01and so we keep going

00:41:03to make him proud.

00:41:07It's been cool

00:41:09to get to kind of

00:41:09see the legacy

00:41:10he left behind,

00:41:11and I'm excited

00:41:13to bring that

00:41:14with me when I run.

00:41:21And there are

00:41:22two other ninjas

00:41:23from Stanford.

00:41:24Benny Hesser

00:41:24who competes next week,

00:41:25and Sam Boshan

00:41:26who runs later tonight.

00:41:28They're on the sideline

00:41:29along with Max's parents.

00:41:32It was Vince

00:41:33who got him

00:41:34into the show

00:41:34last year.

00:41:35What a tragic loss.

00:41:37And Max Manson

00:41:38was a natural

00:41:38for this sport.

00:41:39He's a top rock climber

00:41:40and also a rocket scientist,

00:41:42so he knows

00:41:43all about speed.

00:41:44This guy

00:41:46doesn't just want

00:41:47to design rockets.

00:41:48He loves being in the sky.

00:41:49This guy's gotten

00:41:50into skydiving,

00:41:51Akbar.

00:41:52Yeah, that's real dangerous.

00:41:53He likes all that stuff

00:41:54that can fly.

00:41:55Well, he's flying

00:41:57through the course.

00:41:57Yeah, you want to avoid

00:41:58free-falling here

00:41:59on Kite Surfer.

00:42:00He likes rockets.

00:42:01He likes skydiving.

00:42:02I'm sure he's

00:42:03going to love

00:42:03Kite Surfer.

00:42:11Making good progress.

00:42:13A lot of forward thrust

00:42:14here for this

00:42:15rocketry student.

00:42:18Now Kaleidoscope.

00:42:196'1", 180

00:42:21on the bigger side.

00:42:22The bigger your payload,

00:42:24the more that grip strength

00:42:25gets taxed.

00:42:26That's a pretty good

00:42:27amount of weight

00:42:27to try to keep in orbit

00:42:29here on Kaleidoscope.

00:42:30Max was a successful

00:42:32Division I pole vaulter

00:42:33at Stanford.

00:42:34He's a good

00:42:34all-around athlete.

00:42:36Well, these rockets

00:42:37students, they don't

00:42:38spend all their time

00:42:39in the lab.

00:42:39This guy also a rock

00:42:41climber.

00:42:41You can see that grip

00:42:42strength serving him

00:42:43well.

00:42:45Look at this, Akbar.

00:42:47I don't know what

00:42:47the equation is

00:42:48for what he's doing,

00:42:49but whatever it is,

00:42:51it equals success.

00:42:5414 and a half feet away,

00:42:56and he gets that buzzer.

00:43:10Well, it was awesome

00:43:11watching you, Max.

00:43:13I know on your mind

00:43:14it's got to be your buddy

00:43:15Vince Payne.

00:43:16He got you into this

00:43:17sport.

00:43:18What's it mean standing

00:43:19here having to hit that

00:43:19buzzer?

00:43:20So special just to be

00:43:21able to kind of, you know,

00:43:23carry on what he got me

00:43:24into, and yeah, I

00:43:26definitely felt him out

00:43:26there with me on the

00:43:27course.

00:43:27Oh, man, that's special.

00:43:29That's real special, man.

00:43:30We love Vince, man.

00:43:31I know how much you love

00:43:32him.

00:43:32Hit that buzzer one more

00:43:33time.

00:43:34An amazing run.

00:43:36So Max joins our other

00:43:38finishers on the leaderboard.

00:43:40We're up to six so far.

00:43:41Remember, only the top 20

00:43:43at the end of the night

00:43:44will move on.

00:43:45It's looking like you need

00:43:46to reach Kaleidoscope to

00:43:47have a chance.

00:43:49Coming up.

00:43:50The Beckstrands are the

00:43:51first family of Ninja.

00:43:53Kai's our defending champ.

00:43:55He got it.

00:43:55Yeah.

00:43:55His brother Luke's a top

00:43:57competitor.

00:43:58What a run.

00:44:00And tonight, their sister

00:44:01Bailey and their dad,

00:44:02Brian, can make history

00:44:03of their own when American

00:44:05Ninja Warrior returns.

00:44:10It's Ninja's opening night

00:44:12featuring athletes from the

00:44:13West region.

00:44:14And minutes ago, Utah's

00:44:15Viola Kepao honored her

00:44:17Hawaiian heritage.

00:44:18The high schooler's great

00:44:19grandfather was a warrior

00:44:21chief in Hawaii.

00:44:22And Kepao looked like a

00:44:23warrior as she raced

00:44:25through the early obstacles.

00:44:26Wow.

00:44:27Kepao.

00:44:28Oh.

00:44:30The 18-year-old was

00:44:31looking to advance past

00:44:32qualifying for the fourth

00:44:33straight season.

00:44:34She's got to reach up

00:44:36and she's got to make

00:44:36those turns.

00:44:37Ooh.

00:44:39Though she fell on the

00:44:40fifth obstacle, her fast

00:44:42time means she's in a good

00:44:43position to move on.

00:44:46Daniella Blanchard moved

00:44:47from New York to L.A.

00:44:49to live and train with

00:44:50Ninja great Jesse Graff.

00:44:51And it seems to have

00:44:53paid off.

00:44:54Two years ago, Blanchard

00:44:55fell on the first obstacle.

00:44:57But tonight, she confidently

00:44:58made her way to the fifth.

00:45:00Now get out of there, Daniella.

00:45:03Ooh.

00:45:04Ooh.

00:45:05I see you.

00:45:06I see you.

00:45:07Blanchard was poised to become

00:45:09the first woman in a buzzer

00:45:10this season until she came up

00:45:12short on her three attempts

00:45:14at the warp wall.

00:45:16Oh!

00:45:17Oh!

00:45:18Oh, she had it!

00:45:19Still, she's in a good

00:45:20position to move on.

00:45:22Well, we've got a dance party

00:45:24at the start line.

00:45:25This hip-hop troupe is from

00:45:27St. George, Utah, and out

00:45:28front is our next ninja,

00:45:30Bailey Beckstrand, who loves

00:45:32dancing almost as much as

00:45:34she loves ninja.

00:45:35Oh, yeah, you can tell.

00:45:36Look at that.

00:45:37Her family's been busting moves

00:45:39on the course for more than

00:45:40a decade.

00:45:45I am the fifth Dexter

00:45:47to take on the A&W course.

00:45:48My dad and my brothers

00:45:49have all had buzzers.

00:45:51Using that mohawk.

00:45:52He just set the record.

00:45:54He is now the new youngest

00:45:56ever to hit a buzzer on stage

00:45:57one.

00:45:58Luke!

00:46:00What a run!

00:46:03Watching everything they do

00:46:04has always just pushed me

00:46:05to become better because I've

00:46:06always wanted to do

00:46:07everything that they do.

00:46:08Little sis wants to show

00:46:10the whole family.

00:46:11Sheik and Ninja as well.

00:46:12Since last season, I've just

00:46:14been trying to get in the gym

00:46:15more and training more with

00:46:16my brothers and taking their

00:46:18advice more.

00:46:19I'd say I feel pretty ready to

00:46:21follow in the family legacy

00:46:22and hopefully get a buzzer

00:46:23this season.

00:46:30Our dad, Brian, runs next.

00:46:32He's over there with Mom,

00:46:33Holly, and brothers Kai and

00:46:34Luke, who'll both run next

00:46:36week.

00:46:39Well, last year, an impressive

00:46:41rookie campaign made it to that

00:46:43fifth obstacle.

00:46:44Well, Matt, what Bailey has been

00:46:46doing is she's been training with

00:46:47her brothers Kai and Luke, and

00:46:50that really has upped her game.

00:46:51And I think we're going to see a

00:46:52big difference from what she did

00:46:54last season to this season.

00:46:55That means getting a buzzer, Matt.

00:46:57Well, it's so great.

00:46:58The Zimmermans, the Beckstrands,

00:47:00the Barons, all of these great

00:47:02ninja families showing what this

00:47:04sport is all about.

00:47:06But only 5'1 needs big strides on

00:47:09Diamond Dash.

00:47:11Right through it.

00:47:12Well, I will say, Matt, she danced

00:47:13her way through Diamond Dash.

00:47:15One thing I can tell you about

00:47:17Bailey, she is fearless.

00:47:19She's been doing ninja training

00:47:20since she was four years old.

00:47:22That's 12 years of ninja.

00:47:26Bailey, such confidence, Akbar.

00:47:28What a difference a year makes.

00:47:30Well, the confidence really does

00:47:31come from the preparation.

00:47:32She was born into a ninja family,

00:47:35Matt.

00:47:35She's had no choice.

00:47:37This is the family business.

00:47:38They have two ninja gyms in

00:47:41St. George, Utah.

00:47:42St. George, not that far away from

00:47:44here, about an hour away from

00:47:46where we are today.

00:47:49Nice.

00:47:50The transfer.

00:47:52Another big performance.

00:47:54And she's back facing the fifth

00:47:56obstacle yet again.

00:48:01Made it to the fifth obstacle last

00:48:02year, but couldn't get past it.

00:48:04This would mean so much to her if

00:48:06she can conquer it this season.

00:48:07And if she does, she's assured of

00:48:09moving on.

00:48:11Well, she's attacking it with no

00:48:13hesitation.

00:48:14Bailey only weighs 106 pounds,

00:48:17but such strength.

00:48:18Matt, I try to read the body

00:48:19language of the athlete as they're

00:48:21on this course.

00:48:22But confidence, though, is there

00:48:23that she's had the training.

00:48:25She's had the preparation.

00:48:26Look at that.

00:48:27Look at the technique.

00:48:28Her dad set a goal that both

00:48:30he and Bailey would make it to the

00:48:32national finals.

00:48:34Matt, I called it earlier.

00:48:35She's getting it.

00:48:36She's about to do it.

00:48:37She could get a shot at her very

00:48:38first buzzer.

00:48:40Yes.

00:48:41Yes.

00:48:42Bend it like Beckstrand.

00:48:43Bailey!

00:48:45Beckstrand!

00:48:46Yep.

00:48:49Looking to be the fourth member

00:48:51of the family to get a buzzer.

00:48:53You got this.

00:48:55This is so cool.

00:48:56Kai's good.

00:48:57Nick's good.

00:48:59Bailey's good.

00:49:00Everybody's good.

00:49:0114 and a half feet away from

00:49:03getting her first ever buzzer.

00:49:07Come on, Bailey.

00:49:08Come on, Bailey.

00:49:09She's right there home.

00:49:11Bailey Beckstrand gets the buzzer.

00:49:14That's Bailey Beckstrand.

00:49:16Oh, my word.

00:49:23What a smile.

00:49:27Welcome.

00:49:28Welcome to the top of the warped

00:49:31wall.

00:49:32Is this how you dreamt it?

00:49:34It doesn't feel real yet,

00:49:36so it feels like a dream.

00:49:38Yeah.

00:49:39Well, it's got to be a good dream.

00:49:40We've talked so much about your

00:49:42brother, Kai, about your brother,

00:49:44Luke, about your dad, Brian,

00:49:46but this time it's all about Bailey.

00:49:49How good did that first buzzer feel?

00:49:51Really good.

00:49:53Now, come on.

00:49:53You made it to the top of that

00:49:55warped wall.

00:49:56I want to see a little bit of

00:49:57dance move.

00:49:58Come on, play that music.

00:50:02There it is.

00:50:04Oh.

00:50:05Hit that buzzer.

00:50:06Hey.

00:50:08Come on, man.

00:50:09We corn made that, man.

00:50:11How about the Beckstrand?

00:50:13Well done.

00:50:14Way to go, Bailey.

00:50:15Well done.

00:50:16One day I'm going to dance just like Bailey.

00:50:18So now, for the first time,

00:50:20four members of one family have hit buzzers.

00:50:23Bailey just got her first.

00:50:24Her dad, Brian, has three.

00:50:26Her brother, Luke, has eight buzzers so far.

00:50:28And leading the way, our defending champion, Kai,

00:50:31with 19 buzzers in his four seasons.

00:50:33Wow.

00:50:34That's 31 buzzers for the Beckstrands.

00:50:37Well, they got a chance to add another right now

00:50:39as the 47-year-old patriarch of the Ninja Dynasty,

00:50:42Brian Beckstrand, heads to the start line.

00:50:45Made history five years ago when he and Kai

00:50:47became the first father and son duo

00:50:49to hit buzzers the same night.

00:50:51Now, he can make more history as part of the first

00:50:54father-daughter duo to do it.

00:50:56Bailey just did her part.

00:50:58Now, it's up to dad.

00:51:01At 47, he's one of the Knights' older competitors,

00:51:04but this firefighter is in tremendous shape.

00:51:06The Beckstrand's Ninja Journey started 11 years ago

00:51:09when Brian first competed.

00:51:11He got a buzzer his first time on the course.

00:51:15Oh, no!

00:51:16Oh!

00:51:17Matt, that was close.

00:51:19Let's look at it again.

00:51:20His right hand was coming off the handle early,

00:51:23and he just barely got that left leg over the wall.

00:51:26Woo!

00:51:27The dismount on this obstacle

00:51:28is really giving our ninjas trouble tonight.

00:51:31That firefighter, almost a five-alarm fire.

00:51:34Oh, get it, get it, get it, get it.

00:51:36But one thing that he does,

00:51:38he gives a lot of credit

00:51:39and has a lot of respect for his kids

00:51:41and how far Ninja has really pushed them,

00:51:43and it's also his kids pushing him.

00:51:45Matt, he's now back in the weight room.

00:51:47He's training with Kai.

00:51:49He's now big-pressing, 235 pounds,

00:51:52squat 250, deadlifting, 405.

00:51:546'2", 185.

00:51:56One of the bigger athletes we'll see out here.

00:51:58Does he have the grip strength

00:51:59to survive kite surfer?

00:52:01Both hands on.

00:52:02Both hands on.

00:52:03Let's go on.

00:52:05Got it.

00:52:06Nice.

00:52:06Well, Akbar,

00:52:08Brian Beckstrand's last buzzer

00:52:10was in season 13.

00:52:12Matt, he's gonna change that.

00:52:13I feel it.

00:52:14Yes, sir.

00:52:14Matt, come on.

00:52:15Open to make Ninja history

00:52:17with his daughter, Bailey,

00:52:18but with his size,

00:52:19landing on these tiny ledges of Kaleidoscope.

00:52:22Gonna be a challenge.

00:52:24All right.

00:52:24Now, we gotta remember,

00:52:26these things,

00:52:26it does have a little roll to it,

00:52:28so he's gotta roll with it,

00:52:30just like his core rolls.

00:52:31And you can see, Akbar,

00:52:32he's going in circles.

00:52:33This is a real struggle.

00:52:35Expending a lot of grip strength.

00:52:39Ryan Beckstrand,

00:52:40the firefighter,

00:52:41ends up in the water

00:52:43and misses out

00:52:44on becoming the first

00:52:45father-daughter buzzer duo.

00:52:48He spent a lot of time

00:52:49going in circles

00:52:50at the start of Kaleidoscope.

00:52:52His spinning created a moving target

00:52:54for him to grab on the second ledge,

00:52:56and he just couldn't get a handle.

00:53:00But he has a good chance

00:53:02to be in the top 20 and move on.

00:53:04He could still join Bailey

00:53:05in the regional finals.

00:53:07And sons Kai and Luke

00:53:08might be there, too.

00:53:09They get their chance

00:53:10at the course next week.

00:53:12Up next,

00:53:13it's an unbelievable story.

00:53:15The Serrano family

00:53:16nearly lost their dad

00:53:17in a horrible explosion.

00:53:19His hard hat melted onto his head.

00:53:21He literally ran through fire.

00:53:23But dad battled back,

00:53:24and now his two kids

00:53:26will battle the course

00:53:27in his honor

00:53:28when American Ninja Warrior returns.

00:53:34It's qualifying night

00:53:35for the West region,

00:53:36and a couple of Californians

00:53:38just took on the course.

00:53:39Sam Boshan's family

00:53:41owns a winery in Napa Valley,

00:53:42and he brought us

00:53:43a bottle of his best.

00:53:45We raise a toast

00:53:46to Sam Boshan.

00:53:49Boshan's a grad student

00:53:50in mechanical engineering

00:53:51at Stanford,

00:53:52so you know he's smart,

00:53:53and he had the early obstacles

00:53:55figured out.

00:53:56Let's go, baby!

00:53:57The 22-year-old was captain

00:53:59of the Stanford climbing team,

00:54:00but he couldn't get a grip

00:54:02on Kite Surfer.

00:54:03Whoa!

00:54:07Concord, California's

00:54:08Sean Bryan,

00:54:09better known as

00:54:09the Papal Ninja,

00:54:10has never failed

00:54:11to finish a qualifying course.

00:54:13The older he gets,

00:54:14the better he gets.

00:54:16The Catholic church worker

00:54:17is competing

00:54:17in his 11th season

00:54:19and shows no signs

00:54:20of slowing down.

00:54:21He's got to go right now.

00:54:23He's got to go right now.

00:54:24He finished

00:54:25in under a minute 10.

00:54:26Nice.

00:54:27Which earned him

00:54:27a shot at the Mega Wall.

00:54:29Mega Wall!

00:54:30Mega Wall!

00:54:31Mega Wall!

00:54:32Let's go, let's go!

00:54:34Oh!

00:54:35Oh.

00:54:36Though he came up short,

00:54:37he's in position

00:54:38to get one of the five buys

00:54:39in the regional finals.

00:54:42The force is strong

00:54:44with this next athlete, Akbar.

00:54:46Arona Spader's a graphic artist

00:54:48who does cosplay

00:54:49and stunt work,

00:54:50and on the weekends,

00:54:51she likes to go up,

00:54:52up, and away.

00:54:57I work grounds crew

00:54:58for hot air balloons.

00:55:01I help get the balloons

00:55:02up in the air,

00:55:03and then I get them

00:55:04down safely.

00:55:06Wrangling a balloon

00:55:07is like pulling

00:55:07a five-story building.

00:55:09It is very strong.

00:55:10It is very, like,

00:55:12strenuous on your body,

00:55:13but you've got to make sure

00:55:13the balloon comes up safely.

00:55:17It helps with body control,

00:55:19my strength,

00:55:19my grip strength,

00:55:20a lot of body awareness

00:55:22because that's the biggest thing

00:55:23that you need

00:55:23when you're doing ninja.

00:55:25Sometimes you get

00:55:26to ride in the balloon.

00:55:31Super peaceful

00:55:31and just calming,

00:55:32and you kind of watch

00:55:33the whole town.

00:55:34They're like little Lance

00:55:34at the bottom.

00:55:35I love it.

00:55:37Tonight,

00:55:38nothing's going to hold me down.

00:55:44In addition to her high-flying hobbies,

00:55:46Arona also coaches

00:55:47at her ninja gym in Arizona.

00:55:49Some of her students

00:55:50have come out to watch.

00:55:55Was a high school

00:55:56national champ in track.

00:55:58We know she's got speed.

00:56:02She had very little training

00:56:03before competing last year,

00:56:05and she fell on the second obstacle.

00:56:06She's much more prepared

00:56:08this season.

00:56:15Well, trouble getting

00:56:16that handle deployed.

00:56:17Come on.

00:56:18Come on.

00:56:20Got it.

00:56:21Nice.

00:56:22Used to wrangling

00:56:23those hot air balloons,

00:56:25which sounds fun,

00:56:26but could be a dangerous job.

00:56:27Nice.

00:56:28She did it, Matt.

00:56:29She's gone further

00:56:30than she did last year.

00:56:32Now the former track star

00:56:34will try to sprint

00:56:35across Diamond Dash.

00:56:37Got it.

00:56:39And look at that smile.

00:56:41She's enjoying this.

00:56:44Four women have made it

00:56:45past kite surfers so far.

00:56:46If Arona can join them,

00:56:48it will greatly improve

00:56:49her chances of moving on.

00:56:515'7", 130.

00:56:52Good reach.

00:56:54It's the second kite

00:56:56where we've seen

00:56:56ninjas have trouble.

00:56:58The arms start to get tired.

00:56:59Knife holding.

00:57:02This is so taxing, Akbar.

00:57:06Right here.

00:57:08Look this up.

00:57:09Here it is right here.

00:57:09You're there.

00:57:10Yeah.

00:57:11Nice.

00:57:12Big transfer here.

00:57:14Get narrowed.

00:57:15Get deep.

00:57:17Big hits.

00:57:18Got it.

00:57:19Fingertip save.

00:57:21Ooh.

00:57:22That was a double save.

00:57:24And she's through.

00:57:26Arona Spader

00:57:28in her second year.

00:57:30And she is soaking it all in.

00:57:33Can I see you?

00:57:34I think she's elated

00:57:36with her performance

00:57:36to this point.

00:57:38Can she get through this?

00:57:39And you can see

00:57:40she's got her warrior tattoo,

00:57:42her warrior artwork

00:57:43on her hands.

00:57:45You want it?

00:57:46Woo!

00:57:47Akbar just looking

00:57:48so much more confident

00:57:49than what we saw last year.

00:57:52Well, sometimes you just need

00:57:53to get a little bit

00:57:53of that experience.

00:57:55Get it out of you first.

00:57:57Remaining calm,

00:57:57doing a good job

00:57:58getting power with the hips.

00:57:59All right, here's the test.

00:58:00Here's the test right here.

00:58:02Big reach.

00:58:03Okay, she's got

00:58:04the long straight arms.

00:58:05You know,

00:58:05she's got to go up for it.

00:58:06The longer she hangs.

00:58:08No!

00:58:12Can't make the grab,

00:58:13but a huge improvement

00:58:14for Arona Spader.

00:58:16We'll have to wait

00:58:16and see if that's good enough

00:58:17to move on

00:58:18as one of our top five women.

00:58:22Up next,

00:58:22a 16-year-old rookie

00:58:24from Austin, Texas,

00:58:25Simeon Serrano.

00:58:27He's competing

00:58:27with his older sister,

00:58:29Salome,

00:58:29who runs next.

00:58:31They're going to take

00:58:31on the course this year

00:58:32to honor their dad.

00:58:36Two years ago,

00:58:37my dad was in an explosion

00:58:40at an oil refinery

00:58:41in California.

00:58:43He was covered

00:58:44with third-degree burns.

00:58:46His hard hat

00:58:47melted onto his head.

00:58:49He literally

00:58:50ran through fire.

00:58:52We didn't know

00:58:53if he would be alive

00:58:55when we got there.

00:58:56I just remember

00:58:57being, like,

00:58:57really quiet,

00:58:59pondering, like,

00:59:00what am I going to do

00:59:00if, like, my dad's gone?

00:59:05The next couple months,

00:59:06there were a lot

00:59:07of instances

00:59:08where when I said

00:59:10goodbye to my dad,

00:59:11I thought that might

00:59:12be the last time.

00:59:17His recovery

00:59:18took about eight months,

00:59:20and during that time,

00:59:21he went through

00:59:2220 surgeries.

00:59:25He never should have survived,

00:59:29and he made it.

00:59:33He's taken me

00:59:34to Ninja Warrior

00:59:34forever since I was,

00:59:36like, really young.

00:59:37Having my dad here

00:59:38watching me tonight

00:59:39means that I can fulfill

00:59:40a part of his dream

00:59:41as well as mine.

00:59:43That looks crazy.

00:59:44Oh, my gosh.

00:59:45That is cool.

00:59:45As a dad

00:59:46and as a parent,

00:59:47I couldn't be more proud

00:59:48of them

00:59:49and what they're accomplished.

00:59:51My dad has shown me

00:59:52that nothing is impossible,

00:59:53so I'm coming

00:59:54for that buzzer.

00:59:57And there's Jerome

00:59:58on the sideline

00:59:59cheering on his kids

01:00:00with the rest of the family.

01:00:05Competing

01:00:05in front of their dad,

01:00:07what a special moment.

01:00:08Well, Simeon said

01:00:09his dad really taught him

01:00:10that when bad things happen,

01:00:11you can make it worse

01:00:12with a bad attitude,

01:00:13or you can choose

01:00:14a positive mindset,

01:00:15and that's what

01:00:16this family's done.

01:00:18And they've got to feel

01:00:20so good seeing their son

01:00:21out here

01:00:21on the second obstacle.

01:00:25And what a great motivation

01:00:26to have their father

01:00:28on the sideline,

01:00:29a person who's overcome

01:00:30so much the 20 surgeries

01:00:32and everything else

01:00:33that he had to go through

01:00:34to fight for his life.

01:00:35His kids,

01:00:36they have a big challenge

01:00:37in front of them right now.

01:00:38He's just 16 years old,

01:00:41Akbar.

01:00:41Think of all he's endured

01:00:43watching his father

01:00:44battle back,

01:00:45and out here

01:00:46on the fourth obstacle

01:00:47in his rookie campaign,

01:00:49showing that Serrano

01:00:50family strength.

01:00:51Nice.

01:00:51You've got to figure it out.

01:00:52This is a big one.

01:00:54We're seeing a lot of

01:00:55ninjas so far tonight,

01:00:56not riding that bungee

01:00:57on that spool.

01:00:59Little extra swing.

01:01:01And Akbar,

01:01:02I don't mind it.

01:01:02We're seeing a rookie

01:01:03make sure of the transfer.

01:01:06Nice.

01:01:07At 5'11", 140,

01:01:08he's got wingspan

01:01:09and he's life.

01:01:11Yeah, he is bringing

01:01:12so much joy to his family.

01:01:15Well, how appropriate

01:01:16they're on the kaleidoscope.

01:01:18No matter what you look at

01:01:19with the kaleidoscope,

01:01:20it always appears

01:01:21more beautiful.

01:01:21I think that's something

01:01:22the Serranos have learned

01:01:23how to do.

01:01:25But let's see if it's

01:01:26still looking pretty

01:01:26as he gets through

01:01:27this obstacle, Akbar.

01:01:28You can see he's struggling

01:01:30a little bit.

01:01:30The kaleidoscope is moving.

01:01:31He's trying to get

01:01:32a little grip.

01:01:33Got it.

01:01:34Well, he's relying

01:01:35on his youth, Akbar.

01:01:36You're right.

01:01:36Not being terribly efficient.

01:01:38And those swings,

01:01:39that's still expending

01:01:40extra energy.

01:01:41Long reaches.

01:01:42Nice.

01:01:4316 years old.

01:01:44All right, Akbar.

01:01:45Crushing it.

01:01:47You have this.

01:01:48Let's go.

01:01:48A lot of movement,

01:01:49though, side to side.

01:01:51Can he get the dismount?

01:01:53He's got to get out of there.

01:01:55Nice.

01:01:56Nine in, Serrano.

01:01:58Wow.

01:01:5814 and a half feet away

01:02:00from him to buzzer.

01:02:01And Dan is getting

01:02:02the chance to witness

01:02:03all of this.

01:02:04Oh, my goodness.

01:02:06Goodness.

01:02:07Just incredible.

01:02:08Bravo.

01:02:12Simeon Serrano

01:02:14hits a buzzer

01:02:15with his father watching.

01:02:17Looking at your father's courage

01:02:19over the past couple years,

01:02:20what's the lesson

01:02:21you think your father

01:02:22has taught you

01:02:22that you carried with you

01:02:23on this course?

01:02:24Wake up and just be

01:02:25the best person you can

01:02:26every day.

01:02:27Well, Simeon, you did.

01:02:28I'll tell you what.

01:02:29Why don't you go down

01:02:30and celebrate with your dad

01:02:31right now?

01:02:32You just got a buzzer.

01:02:34Akbar, what a display

01:02:36of courage.

01:02:36And I know as excited

01:02:38as Simeon is to hit

01:02:39that buzzer,

01:02:40his dad's got to be

01:02:41even happier.

01:02:42So let's update

01:02:43our leaderboard.

01:02:44Remember, the top five

01:02:45at the end of the night.

01:02:46Get a bye in the first round

01:02:48of the regional finals.

01:02:49Simeon's finish has him

01:02:50currently in the sixth position

01:02:52and he's guaranteed

01:02:53to move on.

01:02:54Among the women,

01:02:55Bailey Beckstrand

01:02:56leads the way,

01:02:57but there are still

01:02:58many top ninjas to run.

01:03:01Up next,

01:03:02if you don't know him,

01:03:03your kids will.

01:03:04Ben Azalard's

01:03:05outrageous YouTube videos

01:03:07have earned him

01:03:08millions of followers.

01:03:09Now, he's ready

01:03:11to take on our course

01:03:12when American Ninja Warrior

01:03:14returns.

01:03:19Welcome back to Vegas

01:03:20in our first night

01:03:21of the new

01:03:22American Ninja Warrior season.

01:03:25Minutes ago,

01:03:26it was an emotional moment

01:03:28as Simeon Serrano

01:03:29hit a buzzer.

01:03:30And while we were away,

01:03:31his sister Salome

01:03:32got her shot

01:03:33on the course.

01:03:34The 18-year-old

01:03:35from Texas

01:03:36looked like she might

01:03:37match her brother's

01:03:38performance.

01:03:38She said,

01:03:39I am not gonna let

01:03:40my little brother

01:03:41outdo me.

01:03:41But on Kite Surfer,

01:03:43she lost her grip.

01:03:44Oh!

01:03:47Well, our next ninja

01:03:48is one of the biggest

01:03:49social media stars

01:03:50in the world.

01:03:51This is California's

01:03:52Ben Azalard.

01:03:54His outrageous videos

01:03:55on YouTube

01:03:55have earned him

01:03:56millions of devoted fans

01:03:57and competing

01:03:58on Ninja Warrior

01:03:59is something he's been

01:04:00dreaming about

01:04:01for years.

01:04:03I'm Ben.

01:04:04I'm a YouTuber.

01:04:04What's up, guys?

01:04:05Welcome back to my channel.

01:04:06On YouTube,

01:04:07I have like 65 million

01:04:08subscribers.

01:04:09Cross-platforms,

01:04:10probably in like

01:04:10the 80 million range.

01:04:11We do a lot

01:04:12of adventurous stuff.

01:04:13Woo-hoo-hoo!

01:04:15This, for me,

01:04:15is all about just like

01:04:17making a childhood dream

01:04:17come true.

01:04:18Answering that question

01:04:19of can I do

01:04:20American Ninja Warrior?

01:04:21I've shown that I have

01:04:22this agility,

01:04:24but also like it's never

01:04:26been all put together

01:04:26at once.

01:04:27So I think seeing me

01:04:28do this course

01:04:28is going to be really cool

01:04:29because childhood me

01:04:30definitely thought I could,

01:04:31so I've got to find out.

01:04:32I think my followers

01:04:33are going to be stoked

01:04:34to see me do this.

01:04:35Let's go.

01:04:40Watching Ben

01:04:41will be his girlfriend,

01:04:41Hannah,

01:04:42a social media star

01:04:43in her own right.

01:04:44She's on the sideline

01:04:45with other friends

01:04:46and family.

01:04:50He's had almost

01:04:50no Ninja training.

01:04:52He's just going to win

01:04:52it and rely on

01:04:53his athleticism.

01:04:55Good start.

01:04:57Click and subscribe

01:04:58right now

01:04:59because this

01:05:00is roller bags.

01:05:01Well, this guy

01:05:02isn't just making videos.

01:05:03This guy is an incredible

01:05:05athlete, a skateboarder,

01:05:06does a lot of tricks there.

01:05:10And you know Ben's

01:05:11gone through a lot

01:05:12of airports.

01:05:16Oh, wow!

01:05:17He knows how to get

01:05:18through roller bags.

01:05:21That's how you want

01:05:22to dismount off

01:05:22that obstacle.

01:05:23And it's 6'1", 185.

01:05:26Ben Azalard,

01:05:27a big boy,

01:05:28coming up big

01:05:28on our course

01:05:29and right through

01:05:30Diamond Dash.

01:05:32Akbar, smash that

01:05:34like button.

01:05:34No wonder this guy's

01:05:35got so many followers.

01:05:38Ben Azalard,

01:05:39a work of art here.

01:05:40Can he handle

01:05:41Kite Surfer?

01:05:42Matt, Ben is here

01:05:43to not only show

01:05:44his athleticism,

01:05:45but also to prove

01:05:46that he's more

01:05:47than just a famous

01:05:48YouTuber.

01:05:49He's 185, Akbar.

01:05:50That's a decent amount

01:05:51of weight.

01:05:51Watch this transfer.

01:05:52And that is going

01:05:53to come right up.

01:05:54Oh, he missed

01:05:55that opportunity

01:05:56to ride the momentum

01:05:57from the bungee

01:05:58up onto Kite Surfer.

01:06:00And you can see, Akbar,

01:06:01he's going up and down.

01:06:02He's trying to get

01:06:03some front-to-back movement.

01:06:04And this is expending

01:06:05a lot of energy.

01:06:07He's going to lose

01:06:07that grip.

01:06:08Oh, good transfer.

01:06:09Watch out for the tilt

01:06:10as he makes this transfer.

01:06:12If he doesn't make

01:06:13simultaneous contact,

01:06:14it can tilt on you

01:06:15and throw you off.

01:06:17Oh!

01:06:20Ben Azalard,

01:06:21tremendous run,

01:06:22but down on Kite Surfer.

01:06:24Ben got off

01:06:25to a good start

01:06:26and sailed across

01:06:27the first three obstacles.

01:06:29Didn't have great technique

01:06:31on Kite Surfer

01:06:32and couldn't make the grab

01:06:33on the second kite.

01:06:35But an impressive run

01:06:36for this ninja rookie.

01:06:39Ben, congratulations

01:06:40on your purse

01:06:41right on the course.

01:06:42Had you ever done

01:06:43any ninja training before?

01:06:45Zero ninja training.

01:06:46Not even one day.

01:06:48I thought I was falling

01:06:48on obstacle number one.

01:06:50But I passed it.

01:06:51You look good out there.

01:06:52Round of applause.

01:06:53Well done.

01:06:54It was great to see you

01:06:55out here,

01:06:55and I hope we see you

01:06:56again soon.

01:06:56Thanks for coming out.

01:06:57Thank you so much.

01:06:58I'll be back.

01:06:58Absolutely.

01:06:59You heard it here first, guys.

01:07:00We'll be back.

01:07:01Well, at the start of the night,

01:07:03we picked who we thought

01:07:04would be the fastest.

01:07:05My man, John Max,

01:07:06the only one to run so far,

01:07:08so he's got the time to beat.

01:07:09But Zuri,

01:07:10it's time for your choice.

01:07:12Kaden Lefsack

01:07:13is headed to the start line

01:07:14right now,

01:07:15and I just know

01:07:15he's going to get

01:07:16the job done tonight, guys.

01:07:18Well, twice he's been

01:07:19last ninja standing,

01:07:21and at just 20 years old,

01:07:22he's already got

01:07:2324 career buzzers.

01:07:26There's a big group

01:07:27on the sideline for Kaden,

01:07:28including his parents

01:07:29and his girlfriend,

01:07:30former women's champion,

01:07:32Katie Bone.

01:07:35We expect him to go fast,

01:07:37and if he's under a minute's end,

01:07:39he'll earn a shot

01:07:40at the Mega Wall.

01:07:41Well, Kaden is really focused

01:07:43on his speed this year,

01:07:45but with speed,

01:07:46mistakes can happen.

01:07:50Zuri, your choice

01:07:51is looking pretty good, though.

01:07:52This is a pretty smooth run

01:07:54so far.

01:07:55He's been focusing

01:07:55on explosiveness

01:07:57with his training this year.

01:07:58You can see that right now.

01:08:00You guys,

01:08:01I think he's going

01:08:01to bring it home.

01:08:02Can he link the transfer?

01:08:03Oh, no!

01:08:04That's for swings!

01:08:06That's where he needed

01:08:07to be smooth.

01:08:07That's going to cost him

01:08:08some time.

01:08:10Well, that was

01:08:10one or two seconds

01:08:11right there.

01:08:12With these margins,

01:08:13he's going to have

01:08:14to make it up here

01:08:14on Kaleidoscope.

01:08:17Well, and you don't

01:08:18want to rush Kaleidoscope.

01:08:20You want to be efficient.

01:08:21It's easy to make

01:08:21a mistake here,

01:08:22and it's going to be close,

01:08:23but I don't know

01:08:24if he's going to beat

01:08:25John Mack for the fastest time.

01:08:30Zuri, I don't mean

01:08:31to tell you this

01:08:31on television,

01:08:32but you're wrong.

01:08:34You know,

01:08:34it hurts to hear, Akbar.

01:08:37But he's still going fast, though.

01:08:38But he's still getting

01:08:39the job done.

01:08:40Yes, he is.

01:08:40He's getting to that buzzer.

01:08:42Kaden left side.

01:08:49Well, Kaden Lebsack,

01:08:51you continue to impress us.

01:08:53You didn't get

01:08:54the fastest time

01:08:55of the night,

01:08:55but you did earn

01:08:57a shot at the Mega Wall,

01:08:58brother.

01:08:59So head on down

01:09:01for a shot

01:09:01of $10,000.

01:09:03Let's go, Kaden.

01:09:04All right.

01:09:05Let's go.

01:09:06Well, what about

01:09:06predictions here, Zuri?

01:09:07You think he's got it?

01:09:08I've got faith.

01:09:09You know what?

01:09:10He's taking it to the top.

01:09:11Hit that buzzer, Lebsack.

01:09:14Well, he tried

01:09:16the Mega Wall

01:09:16back in season 15

01:09:18and came up short.

01:09:19You got this.

01:09:20We all think he's got it.

01:09:23Oh!

01:09:26Doesn't get the $10,000,

01:09:28but he's almost assured

01:09:29of landing in the top five

01:09:30and getting a bye

01:09:32in the regional finals.

01:09:34Coming up.

01:09:35Those are high heels,

01:09:36and Jesse Graff's

01:09:38going to run the course

01:09:39in them.

01:09:39And the crowd's

01:09:40fired up to see it.

01:09:42That's next

01:09:43on American Ninja Warrior.

01:09:50Two more ninjas

01:09:51took on our course

01:09:52minutes ago.

01:09:53College student

01:09:53Emily Gardner,

01:09:54known as Big M,

01:09:56brought the big energy.

01:09:57That she is jumping

01:09:58for joy

01:09:59after every single obstacle.

01:10:01A freshman

01:10:02at the University of Tampa,

01:10:03the four-time ninja veteran

01:10:05enjoyed every moment.

01:10:08I see you.

01:10:09I see you.

01:10:10cheered on by her dad

01:10:11who got her started

01:10:12in ninja,

01:10:13the 18-year-old

01:10:14conquered kaleidoscope.

01:10:16And made it up

01:10:17the warp wall

01:10:18for her very first buzzer.

01:10:24Where she paid tribute

01:10:26to her dad.

01:10:27I love you so much,

01:10:28and I am so grateful

01:10:29towards you

01:10:30for getting me

01:10:31into this sport.

01:10:31Dad, I love you.

01:10:32I love you too.

01:10:33We all love you.

01:10:34Great job.

01:10:40Casey Boutier

01:10:41is a four-time

01:10:42Olympic speed skater

01:10:43who now makes

01:10:44custom shoes

01:10:44for athletes,

01:10:45including ninja

01:10:46Jesse Graff.

01:10:47Though the Colorado native

01:10:48wasn't always smooth,

01:10:50he did skate his way

01:10:51past the first four

01:10:52obstacles.

01:10:53Woo!

01:10:54Woo-hoo!

01:10:55Woo-hoo!

01:10:56Woo-hoo!

01:10:57Woo-hoo!

01:10:58Woo-hoo!

01:11:00Woo-hoo!

01:11:01Woo-hoo!

01:11:07That was amazing.

01:11:09So now,

01:11:10it's Jesse's turn,

01:11:11and Zuri's gonna

01:11:12get her started.

01:11:13Guys,

01:11:14Jesse Graff's

01:11:14had lots of memorable

01:11:16moments on our course

01:11:17over the years,

01:11:17and she's about

01:11:18to add another one.

01:11:20Jesse is about

01:11:21to run the course

01:11:22in high heels.

01:11:28In 2011,

01:11:30on a stunt job,

01:11:31we choreographed

01:11:32all these flips

01:11:32and kicks

01:11:33and spins,

01:11:34and then they

01:11:34hand me a pair

01:11:35of four-inch heels.

01:11:37I went to the

01:11:38costume department

01:11:39and was like,

01:11:39hey, could you

01:11:40just cut off

01:11:41the heel,

01:11:42and I'll walk

01:11:43on my toes,

01:11:43and then I can

01:11:44pop up and down

01:11:45when I need to.

01:11:46They looked at me

01:11:47like I was a lunatic.

01:11:49Do what you want!

01:11:52Do what you want!

01:11:53Do what you want!

01:11:54Do what you want!

01:11:56Much better!

01:11:57One day,

01:11:58I was rollerblading

01:11:59with Casey Boutier,

01:12:00a modern-day cobbler,

01:12:02and so I pitched

01:12:02this idea,

01:12:03how do we make

01:12:04a wedge that's

01:12:05more compressible,

01:12:06that goes completely

01:12:07flat,

01:12:07that has no potential

01:12:09of messing up

01:12:10your ankles,

01:12:10but that pops out

01:12:12instantly.

01:12:13Do what you want!

01:12:15And six months later,

01:12:17he'd created

01:12:18a solution.

01:12:19I can perform obstacles

01:12:21just as well

01:12:22in hero heels

01:12:22as I can

01:12:23in any standard

01:12:24ninja shoe.

01:12:26Tonight,

01:12:27I'm ready to put

01:12:28these hero heels

01:12:29to the ultimate test.

01:12:34Man, this is a first.

01:12:35This is pretty cool.

01:12:36And the man

01:12:37who crafted those shoes,

01:12:38Casey Boutier,

01:12:39who just ran,

01:12:40is on the sideline

01:12:41along with a big group

01:12:42of Jessie's friends

01:12:43and her mom,

01:12:44Ginny.

01:12:46Well, a real test

01:12:47for these shoes

01:12:48right away

01:12:48on Shrinking Steps.

01:12:49You need good traction,

01:12:50and she gets through

01:12:52no problem.

01:12:53She is looking

01:12:53stylish and smooth

01:12:55as ever.

01:12:56Wow.

01:12:57Pushes her body

01:12:58so hard.

01:13:00Says she's up

01:13:01to 41 pull-ups.

01:13:03Oh, that's more

01:13:04pull-ups than I can do.

01:13:07And looking real smooth.

01:13:08Here's the test

01:13:09for the hero heels.

01:13:11I like them heels.

01:13:13Oh, come on!

01:13:15In addition to a heel,

01:13:17she's wearing

01:13:17a peacock feather skirt.

01:13:19Well, peacock

01:13:20is the streaming home

01:13:21for Ninja.

01:13:26Well, I hope

01:13:26there's a patent

01:13:27on those heels, Nick,

01:13:28because that is

01:13:29a pretty cool thing.

01:13:30Nice.

01:13:32Well, it's been

01:13:33a strong night

01:13:34for the women,

01:13:34so Jessie needs

01:13:35to get through

01:13:36this obstacle

01:13:37if she wants

01:13:37to move on.

01:13:38It'll be the 11th time

01:13:40she's advanced

01:13:40past qualifying,

01:13:41more than any other woman.

01:13:43Well, I can tell you

01:13:44right now,

01:13:45Jessie Graff

01:13:45looks like she's

01:13:46on the heel

01:13:47of another buzzer.

01:13:49her 8th career buzzer

01:13:51with the handstand.

01:13:56Well, Akbar,

01:13:58two women have already

01:13:58hit buzzers tonight,

01:13:59Bailey Beckstrand

01:14:00and Emily Gardner.

01:14:03Jessie's gonna try

01:14:04to join them.

01:14:05It would be

01:14:05her 8th career buzzer.

01:14:09Well, just remarkable, Akbar.

01:14:11Surgically repaired shoulders.

01:14:12Oh, really?

01:14:13I can't tell.

01:14:14But her living room,

01:14:16her house,

01:14:16is a climbing

01:14:18Ninja Odyssey gym.

01:14:20It's insane.

01:14:21She literally

01:14:22eats and breathes

01:14:24ninja.

01:14:24Go into her house

01:14:26and you'll see

01:14:26obstacles everywhere.

01:14:28Well, here it is,

01:14:30Jessie Graff,

01:14:32a little fall

01:14:33and her pose.

01:14:34Wait a second,

01:14:35though, Matt.

01:14:36Warped wall

01:14:37in heels?

01:14:38Warped wall in heels?

01:14:40Hey, Jessie,

01:14:42warped wall in heels?

01:14:44How will I do it?

01:14:45I don't know.

01:14:46This is gonna be

01:14:47a ninja milestone.

01:14:49The first person

01:14:50to ever run up

01:14:51a warped wall

01:14:52in high heels.

01:14:54There it is.

01:14:55There it is.

01:14:57Jessie Graff does it.

01:15:05Wow.

01:15:11Jessie,

01:15:12your eighth buzzer,

01:15:13you do it

01:15:13in high heels.

01:15:15What's it like

01:15:16being out here

01:15:16competing against

01:15:17so many of these athletes

01:15:18who you inspired

01:15:19to get into the sport

01:15:20in the first place?

01:15:21Oh, my gosh.

01:15:22They inspire me

01:15:22so much now.

01:15:24It's like this sport

01:15:25has risen to a level

01:15:26that I never imagined

01:15:28would be possible.

01:15:29I'm so, so happy

01:15:30I get to be part of this sport.

01:15:32Our real art superhero,

01:15:35Jessie Graff,

01:15:36delivers again.

01:15:37Thank you,

01:15:37everyone.

01:15:38Thank you, guys.

01:15:45Coming up,

01:15:46Josiah Popel

01:15:47is one of the favorites

01:15:49to win it all.

01:15:50Can Akbar's pick

01:15:51for fastest time

01:15:52come through?

01:15:53He is next

01:15:54at American Ninja Warrior.

01:16:01Welcome back to Vegas

01:16:02where a couple of familiar faces

01:16:04hit the course

01:16:05while we were away.

01:16:06First,

01:16:07it was six-time

01:16:08ninja veteran

01:16:08Max Feinberg.

01:16:09He's got a nice plan.

01:16:11He's got a vision.

01:16:12The college student

01:16:13always features

01:16:14pink ribbons

01:16:14on his sideline

01:16:15to raise awareness

01:16:16for breast cancer.

01:16:17His mom

01:16:18is a breast cancer survivor.

01:16:20Good job,

01:16:21Max Feinberg.

01:16:22The 21-year-old

01:16:23has never failed

01:16:24to finish a qualifying course

01:16:25in his five previous seasons,

01:16:27and he kept his streak

01:16:28alive tonight.

01:16:32Then it was our old friend

01:16:33Cal Plahoros,

01:16:34who's now an actor

01:16:35whose stage name

01:16:36is Cal Polentino.

01:16:39And action.

01:16:40When we first met Cal

01:16:42years ago

01:16:42on Ninja Junior,

01:16:44he was an undersized kid

01:16:45from Pennsylvania,

01:16:46but he's muscled up

01:16:47and moved to Hollywood

01:16:48to pursue a career

01:16:50in entertainment.

01:16:51He's got the moves,

01:16:52he's got the look,

01:16:53he's got the physique.

01:16:54He's ready.

01:16:55He looked like

01:16:56an action hero tonight.

01:16:58Not just finishing

01:16:59the course,

01:16:59but doing it fast enough

01:17:00to earn a shot

01:17:01at the mega wall.

01:17:05Though he came up short

01:17:06on the 18-and-a-half-foot wall,

01:17:08he's one of our

01:17:09top five fastest finishers,

01:17:10so he'll get a bye

01:17:12in the regional finals.

01:17:14So we are down

01:17:15to our final runner,

01:17:16and it's 19-year-old

01:17:18Josiah Papel.

01:17:19And he's Akbar's pick

01:17:20to be the fastest

01:17:21of the night.

01:17:23Matt, I've been a fan

01:17:25of Josiah since Ninja Junior.

01:17:27Josiah putting the pressure

01:17:28on Josiah Papel

01:17:31hits the buzzer.

01:17:33Think about it.

01:17:34Reaches stage four

01:17:35in just his second season.

01:17:3720 career buzzers

01:17:38before he turned 20.

01:17:40And Josiah Papel

01:17:42does it.

01:17:44And he's been the fastest

01:17:45in qualifying

01:17:46the past two seasons.

01:17:48Fastest time of the night.

01:17:50He lost to RJ Roman

01:17:52in the round of 32

01:17:53last year.

01:17:54That just means

01:17:55he's coming in to tournament.

01:17:56I'm back in it to win.

01:17:58I really have that drive

01:17:59and that fire.

01:18:01I'm picturing myself

01:18:02as the champion.

01:18:07His girlfriend,

01:18:08Jojo Grubisic,

01:18:09will be watching

01:18:10along with Josiah's dad,

01:18:12Frank,

01:18:12and other friends.

01:18:13His mom and siblings

01:18:14watching from back home

01:18:15in New Jersey.

01:18:17And as a final runner,

01:18:19Josiah knows

01:18:19what he needs to do.

01:18:20It has to be my guy,

01:18:22John Mack's time

01:18:23with a minute four.

01:18:24Zuri's pick,

01:18:25Caden Lebsack,

01:18:26sits in second place.

01:18:27I have confidence in him.

01:18:32All right.

01:18:33Let's go, Josiah.

01:18:34Make me look good.

01:18:35And if he can finish

01:18:36in under a minute,

01:18:3710 seconds,

01:18:37he'll get a shot

01:18:38at the Mega Wall.

01:18:40He's just 19 years old.

01:18:41He has 20 total buzzers.

01:18:43Just an insane start

01:18:45to his ninja career.

01:18:49Josiah is blazing

01:18:51through this course right now.

01:18:52What'd I tell you,

01:18:53though, Zuri,

01:18:54he's built for this course.

01:18:56Tremendous balance.

01:18:57Oh, just as smooth

01:18:58as we've seen anyone

01:18:59here on Kite Surfer.

01:19:01Well, I love it.

01:19:02He's going fast,

01:19:03but he's doing it efficiently.

01:19:04That's what I like.

01:19:05He is picking this course apart.

01:19:07Well, your pick

01:19:08is looking pretty good

01:19:09right now.

01:19:1124 seconds still to go.

01:19:13I picked him

01:19:13because I really believe

01:19:15in his talent.

01:19:17He's going to probably

01:19:18do this in under a minute.

01:19:19Josiah Pappel, though.

01:19:21Nice.

01:19:21And look at that.

01:19:22Under a minute.

01:19:24That's what I'm talking about.

01:19:26Oh, he has to reach for him.

01:19:30Hey, good job, man.

01:19:32And here it is,

01:19:33the big smile.

01:19:36Hey, man.

01:19:36That was a double whammy

01:19:38for you, Josiah.

01:19:39You got the fastest

01:19:40time of the night

01:19:41and you made me a winner

01:19:42because you were

01:19:43my pick tonight.

01:19:44Well done.

01:19:45Let's go.

01:19:46Well, actually,

01:19:47that's a triple whammy

01:19:48because you get a shot

01:19:50at the Mega Wall.

01:19:53You got it?

01:19:54Should I put my money on you?

01:19:55You got it?

01:19:56It's been 1,096 days

01:19:57since I got the Mega Wall last.

01:19:59Okay.

01:19:59Wow.

01:20:00Not that you're counting.

01:20:01Right, right.

01:20:031,096 days

01:20:04since he last got it.

01:20:06That was back in 2022,

01:20:08but he's failed

01:20:09on his last two attempts.

01:20:12Four other ninjas

01:20:13have tried the 18.5-foot wall tonight.

01:20:15None have been successful.

01:20:18He wants it.

01:20:21There he is!

01:20:22Oh, my!

01:20:25Well, 1,096 days,

01:20:27it was worth the wait.

01:20:29You just earned $10,000

01:20:31courtesy of the Active Cash

01:20:33credit card from Wells Fargo.

01:20:35The Active Cash credit card

01:20:36earns unlimited 2% cash rewards

01:20:38on purchases.

01:20:39Terms apply.

01:20:40Hey, today is your day.

01:20:42In fact, we're just gonna make

01:20:43this National Josiah Propel Day,

01:20:45huh?

01:20:46How about that?

01:20:47I'll take it.

01:20:48Well, impressive.

01:20:501,096 days,

01:20:51I'm sure it was worth the wait,

01:20:53but I know you got a goal,

01:20:54and that is to hit that buzzer

01:20:56at the end.

01:20:56And you've just taken

01:20:57one step closer.

01:20:59Let's go celebrate

01:20:59with your friends and family, buddy.

01:21:01Matt, what'd I tell you?

01:21:02What'd I tell you?

01:21:03Today was a big day

01:21:05for Josiah Propel.

01:21:06He got the fastest time.

01:21:07He got the mecca wall.

01:21:08I mean, the dude is

01:21:09balling out!

01:21:10And he's moving on

01:21:11to the regional finals.

01:21:13He and all the other ninjas

01:21:14in the top five

01:21:14will have a bye

01:21:15in the first round.

01:21:16They'll go straight

01:21:17to the triple header,

01:21:18our three-lane race course.

01:21:20We had 12 finishers in all,

01:21:21including Guam's Darren Perez

01:21:23and 16-year-old Simeon Serrano.

01:21:26Also advancing

01:21:27is Brian Beckstrand,

01:21:28so in two weeks,

01:21:29he'll get another chance

01:21:31to hit a buzzer

01:21:31with his daughter, Bailey,

01:21:33who sits atop

01:21:34the women's leaderboard.

01:21:35She's one of three

01:21:36female finishers,

01:21:37along with Jesse Graff

01:21:39and Emily Gardner.

01:21:41So that wraps it up

01:21:42for tonight's season premiere.

01:21:45For Akbar Bajabia,

01:21:46Milla and Zuri Hall,

01:21:47I'm Matt Eisman,

01:21:47and we'll see you

01:21:48right back here next week

01:21:49on American Ninja Warrior.

01:21:52What he said.

01:21:53Yeah, that's my line.

01:21:54Alright.

01:21:55.

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