Salmon Ladder

Salmon Ladder is an obstacle which originally incarnated from SASUKE. Being introduced in the 18th tournament as the second obstacle in the Second Stage, it has been modified into many different variants which was used in many customized series, this including SSAS, ĐHN SASUKE and Sofia the First - Road to SASUKE.

Original version
Its original version appeared as the seventh obstacle in every trials season, and in every regional finals course, or known as semifinals. In the first season, the obstacle consisted of 6 rungs. However, starting on the second season, it was decreased to 5 rungs. This same variant was later used on Sofia the First - Road to SASUKE Season 2 (2020).

First version
The Double Salmon Ladder was the first ever variant of Salmon Ladder to ever appear in any SSAS competition. It first appeared in all four pre-release competitions, where it uses ladders instead of rungs and no bars were provided due to 2D design. It later debuted in SSAS 1 as the second obstacle of the Second Stage. This obstacle originally consists of two walls with five rungs including starting rung on each wall. In SSAS 3, the obstacle was modified with adding one more rung to both two walls.

Throughout its appearance, it was relatively easy. As only 5 competitors failed at this obstacle. Due to a 100% Second Stage clear rate in SSAS 3, the course was redesigned and this variant was removed. This was by far the first and only version of the Salmon Ladder to ever removed without an impetus of a kanzenseiha in SSAS history.

Second version
Due to the course design, the Double Salmon Ladder was modified to Salmon Ladder Nobori and Salmon Ladder Kudari, with it being separated to two different individual obstacles. During its first appearance in SSAS 4, the commentators still calling it Double Salmon Ladder. Because of this, in SSAS C1 onwards, producers had officially separated it to two different obstacles, and meriting it as the name Salmon Ladder Nobori and Salmon Ladder Kudari for avoiding the confusion.

Each wall remained at 6 rungs including the starting rung. Throughout its appearance, it was proven to be much easier than the previous version, as only Black Canary failed this obstacle.

Third version
After 4 kanzenseihas made in SSAS 6, the course was once again redesigned. The Salmon Ladder was no exception, it was evolved with the first part of the obstacle being named Hopping Salmon Ladder. Unlike the previous version, only one bar is provided instead of two.

In its first appearance in SSAS C2, the Hopping Salmon Ladder part was somehow similar to the Flying Bar with the cradles being arranged upwards. Competitors have to negotiate up a track by jumping from one cradle to another, while holding a bar which also used while attempt the Salmon Ladder Kudari. It consists of six cradles, with being one more cradle to the Flying Bar. Once the bar reached the sixth cradle, competitors must jump from the sixth cradle to the first rung of the Salmon Ladder Kudari while holding the bar.

In its first appearance, the obstacle was not attempted by anyone due to the fact that the remaining two competitors both failed at the Flying Chute, ending the tournament. This later modified in the next tournament, now requiring competitors to traversing the set of angled rungs. Despite its difficulty, it didn't eliminate a lot of competitors as expected.

Modification
One-half of this obstacle, the Hopping Salmon Ladder appeared as the first obstacle in the qualifying round's third level on SSAS Beastmaster. Unlike the regular version, it led directly to the Battering Ram as well as the Spider Flip. This obstacle have caused chaos as it almost eliminated 2 whole teams.

It was then reappeared as the eleventh obstacle of the auditions round in the next season. This obstacle was proven to be deadly again, most possibly due to fatigue after completing 10 obstacles without rest.

Fourth version
The fourth version of the Salmon Ladder was revealed on January 17, 2021, as part of promotions for the newly designed course in SSAS 12. The name of the obstacle was unofficial until the taping of the competition, which was revealed to be Overdrive Salmon. Compared to the previous version, it was count as only one obstacle instead of two.

The first five rungs are similar to the Swap Salmon Ladder, except the rungs are not automatically switched sides of the wall. Yet still, competitors cannot climb the Salmon Ladder vertically. Upon reaching the fifth rung and climb two more rungs vertically, competitors must climb the eighth rung which is located opposite of the wall before moving on to the next obstacle, the Flying Bar, in the first three tournaments, or Butterfly Valley starting on SSAS 15. If the bar landed at the top of the wall while attempt to reach the eighth rung, the competitor will be disqualified.

Though being introduced in SSAS 12, its first time being attempted was in SSAS 13. While directly eliminating 3 competitors out of 10 who attempted it that tournament, including Bryson Klein, vReiku on their respective Second Stage debuts, as well as Arthur Curry, which led to his temporary hiatus. It was proven to be a time waster as it led few competitors to either fell due to strict time limit, and even timed out on later obstacles. This is because the obstacle more requiring competitors' precision, taking more time than previous versions.

In terms of indirectly, few competitors who cleared this obstacle found themselves running out of time and may eventually timed out at the last obstacle, notably Yamamoto Yoshiyuki and Daniel Gil.

On SSAS 14, though no modifications made, Jackson Twait who is also new to the Second Stage being the fourth competitor to fail on this obstacle. At the same time, it led Ben Solo to time out later at the fourth obstacle, while two competitors, Morimoto Yusuke and Yamamoto Yoshiyuki both fell on the fifth obstacle with less than 10 seconds left. In addition, Faora was the first woman to clear this obstacle.

In the next tournament, the obstacle ended up defeating one competitor, Richard Hertz, who is also new to the Second Stage. While Sol Soria would become the second woman after Faora in SSAS 14 to clear this obstacle.

In SSAS 16, the Overdrive Salmon was modified, with the rungs being made much thinner than before, requiring competitors to have more precision while attempt the obstacle. Due to the modification, the obstacle was proven to be brutal, eliminating majority of the field on that tournament, and the trend continued in the next tournament.

In the next two tournaments, the obstacle did relatively less damage, as more and more competitors are able to figure out the strategy of clearing the obstacle.

Salmon Ladder Jugo Dan
Another variation of the Salmon Ladder, called Salmon Ladder Jugo Dan was introduced as the second obstacle of the Final Stage, appearing from the same tournament where the Overdrive Salmon was introduced. The obstacle consists of 16 rungs, requiring competitors to climb 15 rungs. Similar specifications to the one in SASUKE, the height of the obstacle was 7 meters. The rungs were positioned facing the back of the tower, allowing competitors didn't have to turn around after completing the Elevator Climb.

Due to the course's difficulty, the obstacle was never attempted until SSAS 18. During that tournament, two competitors, Victor Stone and Nereus, both completed the obstacle. However, due to both of them showing struggles on it, Victor Stone time out midway up the Rope Climb, while Nereus time out just two meters away from kanzenseiha.

In SSAS 19, though the time limit reduced from 50 seconds from the previous tournament to 45 seconds, it still proven to be enough for the two finalists. The first to attempt it, Bruce Wayne, showing few struggles on this obstacle due to inexperience on the variation of the stage, costing precious time and was slow halfway on the Rope Climb due to fatigue, timing out there. The reduced time limit does not stop Nereus however, who later became the sixth person to achieve kanzenseiha with only 0.61 seconds to spare.

First version
The first ever variant of the Salmon Ladder, the Salmon Ladder Nobori and Salmon Ladder Kudari introduced in ĐHN SASUKE 2020: 5th Anniversary. In this version, it consisted of 5 rungs each wall, similar to early version of the Double Salmon Ladder in SSAS 1-2, but with a few differences:
 * The 1st rung of Salmon Ladder Kudari was placed higher than the 5th rung of Salmon Ladder Nobori.
 * Competitors don't need a jump in order to make a dismount.

Despite the modification on the 2nd wall (Salmon Ladder Kudari), it was proven to be ruthless and deadly, taking out many top competitors such as Cedric the Sorcerer, Rey and even one of few grand champions Đặng Đức Anh.

It is also known that some competitors grab the 2nd rung after the transition from the wall of Salmon Ladder Nobori. Despite its extreme difficulty, it was modified into a slightly easier version.

Modification
This version returned as the seventh and eighth obstacle on ĐHN SASUKE Trials 2 (2020). This time it was the seventh obstacle and was renamed as simply Salmon Ladder and had featured some modifications:
 * The first wall has added one more rung, as well as the sixth rung of the first wall has a larger gap between the previous rungs.
 * The second wall remained at five rungs, but the gap between the rungs are slightly larger, similar to the sixth rung of the first wall.

Despite that modification, it was proven to be brutal once again, taking out many top competitors such as Bruce Wayne, Haruno Sakura, Yamamoto Shingo, Darvish Kenji and most shockingly Inazuma Sofia.

On ĐHN SASUKE Trials 3 (2021), this version returned as the second and third obstacle of the Play-offs Round 2, with it's design was very similar to the SASUKE 31 version. However, it had featured some modifications:


 * The first wall was decreased to 5 rungs, the second wall was decreased to 4 rungs, but the gap between the rungs are slightly larger than the one used on SASUKE.
 * On the Salmon Ladder Kudari, the rung was automatically switched after competitor had to traverse it downwards, similar to the Swap Salmon Ladder's rung.

This modification making the obstacles were brutal once again, elimating all 3 competitors who attempted it. However, Black Canary was advanced to ĐHN SASUKE 2021: 10th Anniversary due to her further result at the Salmon Ladder Kudari.

On ĐHN SASUKE 2021: Ninja Warrior, the Salmon Ladder Kudari returned as the third obstacle of the Second Stage, and it was preceded by the Overdrive Salmon with no rest. However, the obstacle was very similar to the Up-Down Salmon Ladder, in which competitor should transfer the bar from the second wall of the Overdrive Salmon to the Salmon Ladder Kudari.

On ĐHN SASUKE 2022: Sofia's 10th Anniversary, the Salmon Ladder Kudari was modified. The gap between the fourth and fifth rung was longer than the first three rung.

Second version
The second variant of the Salmon Ladder, called Up-Down Salmon Ladder debuted as the third obstacle of the Second Stage on ĐHN SASUKE: Ninja Warrior Season 6. This time, it was a reverse of the previous version. However, there were a few differences compared to the previous version:
 * Only one bar is provided instead of two.
 * The second wall was slightly lower than the the first wall.

This obstacle was relatively easier, as no one ever failed on this obstacle, likely due to low number of First Stage clears. On ĐHN SASUKE Rising 2020, two competitors failed on this obstacle, Jagon11 and cwrpg02. Thanks to their Safety Pass, cwrpg02 got pass this obstacle, but Jagon11 didn't. In the next two seasons, the obstacle took out nobody and was modified since.

Third version
The third variant, called Salmon Flip appeared as the second obstacle of the Second Stage in ĐHN SASUKE 2021: 10th Anniversary. It was a fusion of the previous Up-Down Salmon Ladder, Pipe Slider and Spider Flip. On this obstacle:
 * Firstly, competitor slide the pipe on the first Pipe Slider track.
 * After slide to the end of the first track, competitor reach the bar from the first wall of the Up-Down Salmon Ladder, which had 6 rungs, as well as the sixth rung of the first wall has a larger gap between the previous rungs.
 * After reach the sixth rung of the first wall, competitor must gain enough momentum to swing to the second wall, which had 6 rungs.
 * After reach the sixth rung of the second wall, competitor must reach the pipe and on the second Pipe Slider track and slide it which led to the landing platform.

On its first appearance, only Ethan Swanson fell on this obstacle. Despite that, this version was used only one season, and it was modified after Inazuma Sofia's kanzenseiha on ĐHN SASUKE 2021: 10th Anniversary.

Modification
Host nam7ccaothang later announced in the Discord server of Sofia the First Channel that the Salmon Flip returned as the fourth obstacle of each qualifiers in ĐHN SASUKE Trials 4 (2023). However, unlike ĐHN SASUKE 2021: 10th Anniversary, the first part have only 4 rungs, and the second part was replaced by:


 * Pipe Fitter (in Vietnam qualifiers)
 * ??? (in Japan qualifiers)
 * ??? (in America qualifiers)
 * ??? (in Europe qualifiers), and
 * ??? (in Asia qualifiers)

This modification making the obstacle is the fusion of the Pipe Slider and the original Salmon Ladder.

Fourth version
After Inazuma Sofia's kanzenseiha on ĐHN SASUKE 2021: 10th Anniversary, the Salmon Ladder was increased from two to three parallel wall sets. The first two parallel walls were renamed as Overdrive Salmon, while the final wall was the returned of the Salmon Ladder Kudari. However, unlike SSAS, the Overdrive Salmon was very similar to the Criss Cross Salmon Ladder, in which:
 * The first wall set had three rungs, with a much larger gap between the second and third rungs that forced the competitors to switch to the other wall, and
 * The second wall set had four rungs, with the fourth rung which is located opposite of the wall before moving to the Salmon Ladder Kudari.

On this obstacle, competitors have to:
 * Move the bar up one rung to reach the second rung.
 * Then, after reaching the second rung of the first wall set, competitors must make a transfer to the second wall set by jumping from the second rung of the first wall set to the second wall set.
 * Then, competitors must climb the second wall set until reaching the second rung.
 * Then, competitors must make a transfer back to the first wall set by jumping from the first rung of the second wall set to the second rung of the second wall set.
 * After that, competitors must make a transfer back to the second wall set by jumping from the second rung of the first wall set to the third rung of the first wall set.
 * Finally, competitors must climb to the fourth rung which is located opposite of the wall before moving to the Salmon Ladder Kudari. If the bar landed at the top of the wall while attempt to reach the seventh rung, the competitor will be disqualified.

Due to the fact that nobody cleared the First Stage in the obstacle's first appearance in ĐHN SASUKE 2021: Ninja Warrior, the obstacle was never attempted. It was set to return for ĐHN SASUKE 2021: Ninja Warrior 2, but it was never attempted one again due to the fact that nobody cleared the First Stage.

On ĐHN SASUKE 2022: Ninja Warrior 3, 8 competitors attempted the obstacle. Due to the brutal of the Overdrive Salmon, as most competitors had a mistake while climb the opposite rung, it was eliminated 4 out of 8 competitiors.

Modification
On ĐHN SASUKE 2022: Sofia's 10th Anniversary, the Overdrive Salmon was modified. Unlike the previous version, this obstacle would also be attempted immediately after completing the Giant Walk the Plank with no rest. The second and fifth rung was moved to the second wall, white the third and fourth rung was moved to the first wall. Also, the gap between the second and third rung, as well as the fifth and sixth rung was longer. On this modification, competitors have to:

This modification made it more deadly than the previous version. As most competitors had a mistake while climb the opposite rung, it eliminated 6 out of 8 competitors who attempted it. Most shockingly, it eliminated current SSAS grand champion: Nereus, as well as three ĐHN SASUKE grand champions: Hyuuga Hinata, Orm Marius and Inazuma Sofia. Also on the same season, the obstacle have a unique completion as Đặng Đức Anh skipped the first three rung of the Salmon Ladder Kudari by directly transfer from the fourth rung of the second wall of Overdrive Salmon to the fourth rung of the Salmon Ladder Kudari.
 * Make a transfer to the second wall set by jumping from the first rung of the first wall set to the second wall set.
 * Then, after reaching the second rung of the second wall set, competitors must make a transfer back to the first wall set by jumping from the first rung of the second wall set to the second rung of wall set.
 * Then, competitors must climb the first wall set until reaching the third rung.
 * Then, competitors must make a transfer back to the second wall set by jumping from the third rung of the first wall set to the second rung of the second wall set.
 * After that, competitors must climb the second wall set until reaching the third rung.
 * Finally, competitors must climb to the fourth rung which is located opposite of the wall before moving to the Salmon Ladder Kudari.
 * Just like the previous version, if the bar landed at the top of the wall while attempt to reach the seventh rung, the competitor will be disqualified.

First version
The original variant of the Salmon Ladder appeared on Sofia the First - Road to SASUKE Season 2 (2020) as the second obstacle of the Second Stage. This time, it only consists of 5 rungs including the starting rung. Similar to its appearance on SSAS P, rungs were portrayed by ladders.

Same to Salmon Ladder's early appearance at SASUKE, competitors must negotiate the final rung and land to a bar onto a declining track (called as Stick Slider, which was also an individual obstacle). On its first appearance, no one ever failed on this obstacle, once again likely due to low number of attempts. It reappeared on the next season and again it eliminated no one. In Sofia the First - Road to SASUKE Season 4 (2023), the Salmon Ladder was redesigned to the real SASUKE version. With it's real design, the obstacle become more deadly for women competitors, as most competitors were strugged while move the bar up to the next rung or move the bar up to the Stick Slider's track. As a result, the obstacle eliminated 8 out of 10 competitors who attempted it. Most shockingly, the obstacle eliminated current ĐHN SASUKE and Sofia the First - Road to SASUKE's grand champion Inazuma Sofia, as well as formerly ĐHN SASUKE grand champion Hynata Hyuuga.