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,

Aftermath

 * The original idea of the Hopping Salmon Ladder later appeared on American Ninja Warrior 13 as part of a Power Tower obstacle, it was named Angled Salmon Ladder.