Ninja Rules

General Rules

This is not a timed event, but obstacles must be completed by 1:00pm.

- - You may walk the trail, but please stay on pathways, and do not approach animals behind fences that are not on the marked trail.
Animal challenges (sets of obstacles) must be completed consecutively and in order: easy, medium, and hard or 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
- - **Rule applies unless showing-off. See #9 for the show-off rule.**
  - **Warped Wall is also an exception to this rule – see Komodo Dragon**
Only 1 attempt per obstacle.
- - An attempt begins when the competitor’s feet leave the ground or starting platform.
  - If a participant fails, they must move to the next obstacle or forfeit further attempts on that animal challenge.
  - No obstacle re-tries
The maximum rest time in between obstacles within animal challenges is 30 seconds!
Each obstacle must be attempted alone.
Competitors may look over each obstacle at animal challenges, but once they step on the starting platform or attempt the first obstacle, their animal challenge has begun. They must complete the remaining obstacles with a maximum break of 30 seconds in between each obstacle.
Gloves and chalk are permitted on the course.
Ninja Volunteers have the final say on whether a competitor’s attempt was successful or not.
Show-Off Rule
- - Competitors may choose to skip the easy and medium obstacles to complete the hard obstacle only and if their attempt is successful, they are awarded all 3 possible points for that animal challenge. If their show-off attempt is unsuccessful, they will receive 0 points for that animal challenge, and their attempts at the easy and medium difficulty obstacles are forfeited. Competitors must alert the Ninja Volunteer prior to their show-off attempt.
  - ** Show-Off is not available on the following animal challenges: 4,8,9, or 10.
Link Points (New for Spring 2024)
- Bonus Points worth 1/4 of a normal point for linking two obstacles together without touching the ground or hanging ladder.
- There are 4 link points available and they are only found on Animal Challenges 8,9, and 10.
- They are easy to spot because there is always a hanging ladder in between the two linkable obstacles above the dismount hay bales.(when linking, competitors skip the hay bales and the hanging ladder)
- A successful link attempt = dismounting from 1st obstacle and catching and holding onto the second obstacle.
  - If a competitor fails the second obstacle after a successful link, they receive the link point, the 1st obstacle point, but not the second obstacle point.
  - They also forfeit further attempts at the second obstacle.
- A failed link attempt = unable to reach or catch the next obstacle.
  - Does not disqualify you from attempting that obstacle. Will need to climb hanging ladder and attempt from there.
  - Must land at least past the hay bales for the failed attempt to qualify for the 1st obstacle point.

Animal Challenges

14 Animal Challenges + Bonus Challenge

Animal Challenge Rules

Animal Challenge #1

Giant Eland

Giant Eland Information:

Giant Elands can weigh up to 2,000 lbs. and can jump 9’.8” into the air from a standstill!

3 Obstacles

Wall Jump

Objective:

Get over the walls. A 2,000 lb eland can jump it, can you?

Obstacles:

#1 Climb over the 4’8″ tall wall

#2 Climb over the 6’8″ tall wall

#3 Climb over the 9’8″ tall wall

Obstacle Specific Rules:

You must attempt alone.
When both feet leave the ground, your attempt has begun.
Obstacles must be attempted in order easy, medium, and hard.
You have 3 total attempts on the Animal Challenge Giant Eland.

If two attempts are used on easy, then you only have 1 attempt left for medium and 0 for hard.

You can use any part of the wall structure during your attempt.
As soon as you complete the 1st obstacle you must attempt the 2nd within 30 seconds. (only a 30 second break in between obstacles!!) (Or a 30 second break between attempts on the same obstacle)
You cannot use the ladder on the left-hand side of the hard wall during your attempt.
If you fail to clear the hard wall, you must use the ladder to climb the wall and move onto the next animal challenge.

If you are going to show-off (attempt the hard obstacle only for 3 points and at risk of not getting any points if you fail) you must notify one of us before the attempt.

Animal Challenge #2

Python

Burmese Python Information:

Burmese Pythons can reach 23 feet or more in length and weigh up to
200 pounds with a girth as big as a telephone pole.

3 Obstacles

Log Weave

Objective:

Traverse the logs without touching the ground.

Obstacles:

#1 Cross by going over the logs using hands and feet.

#2 Cross by going under the top row and above the bottom row of logs.

#3 Cross by weaving 26′ of logs: Over one log and under the next.

Obstacle Specific Rules:

You must attempt alone.
When both feet leave the ground, your attempt has begun.
You have 1 attempt on each obstacle at python.
Cannot touch the ground while traversing the obstacles.
Do not touch or use any vertical poles.
Obstacle 1 must use hands and feet traverse.
Obstacle 3 must start by going over the first log, not under!
You can use any part of the horizontal wood pole structure during your attempt. NOT any vertical poles.
As soon as you complete the 1st obstacle you must attempt the 2nd within 30 seconds. (only a 30 second break in between obstacles!!)
If you are going to show-off (attempt the hard obstacle only for 3 points and at risk of not getting any points if you fail) you must notify one of us before the attempt.
All 3 obstacles have lanes wide enough for at least two people at a time.

Animal Challenge #3

African Penguin

African Penguin Information:

African Penguins swim up to 12mph. An average dive lasts 2.5 minutes and is regularly about 98 ft in depth. Penguins can “fly” as high as 6’ into the air! This move is called porpoise.

Oil spills account for large amounts of deaths per year for African Penguins. It takes approximately 7 gallons of oil to make 1 car tire. Each tire crossing is approximately 100 gallons of oil.

3 Obstacles

Oil Spill

Objective:

Jump over each oil spill: 4′, 5′, and 6′ tall wall of tires.

Obstacles:

#1 Jump over a 4′ tall tire wall

#2 Jump over a 5′ tall tire wall

#3 Jump over a 6′ tall tire wall

Obstacle Specific Rules:

You must attempt alone.
When both feet leave the ground, your attempt has begun.
You have 3 total attempts on the Animal Challenge African Penguin.

If two attempts are used on easy, then you only have 1 attempt left for medium and 0 for hard.

You can use any part of the tire to get over the wall.
Any part of your body can touch the tire wall.
You cannot use any wood including the support legs to get over the tire wall.
As soon as you complete the 1st obstacle you must attempt the 2nd within 30 seconds. (only a 30 second break in between obstacles!!) (Or a 30 second break between attempts on the same obstacle)

If you are going to show-off (attempt the hard obstacle only for 3 points and at risk of not getting any points if you fail) you must notify one of us before the attempt.

Animal Challenge #4

Jaguar

Jaguar Information:

Jaguars kill their prey with one bite by piercing the skull or neck from behind, killing it instantly. They also don’t like to share their food. Jaguars will only eat their prey after dragging into the trees. Sometimes they will travel for miles in search of the perfect tree. They will climb the tree with their kill in mouth so that they can eat it before other carnivores come to steal it away.

3 Obstacles

Tree Hoist

Objective:

Is to pick up your “kill” (sandbag), carry it along a path to the first “tree branch” and hoist it up, and then yourself up and over. Never let go or drop your kill or another jaguar may try to steal it! The first “tree branch” is 4’ tall, the second 5’, and the final height is 6’ tall. You must return the sandbag back to the stash for your attempt to be complete!

Obstacles:

#1 Carry your sandbag along a trail and then hoist it and yourself up and over a 4′ tall log

#2 Hoist your sandbag and yourself up and over a 5′ tall log

#3 Hoist your sandbag and yourself up and over a 6′ tall log

Obstacle Specific Rules:

You must attempt alone.
When you pick up the 40lb (black) or 25lbs (white) sandbag, your attempt has begun.
40 lbs black bags for every male 12 years and older

25 lb tan bags for females and males younger than 12 years old

You must carry the bag in front of you, not on your shoulders. If you drop the bag to the ground, your attempt is over.
Jaguar is an endurance obstacle, as such, you only have 1 attempt total. Example: If you fail on easy, you cannot attempt medium or hard.
Do not touch or use any vertical poles.

No resting on top of the branch. You must go up and over. (you can set the bag down on top as you climb yourself)

As soon as you complete the 1st obstacle you must attempt the 2nd within 30 seconds. (only a 30 second break in between obstacles!!)
After the 1st log ascent, you can go straight into the 2nd and third logs. *No need more distance walking with the bag*

You may rest in between obstacle 1 and 2, and 2 and 3 for a max of 30 seconds, but the bag must not touch the ground.

You must return the bag without dropping it for it to count towards an obstacle completion.

You cannot show-off at Jaguar.

Animal Challenge #5

Orangutan

Orangutan Information:

The name orangutan means “person of the forest” in the Malay language. Orangutans live solitary existences in the lowland forests of Borneo
and Sumatra. At 7 times stronger than a human, orangutans are well adapted to spend 95% of their time in the trees. They do almost everything
in the air like eating, sleeping and traveling. Each night, an orangutan makes a new nest to sleep in and sometimes adds a roof in wet weather.

3 Obstacles

Person of the Forest

Objective:

Is to reach the wooden tower perch after each obstacle without touching the ground. Cross floating logs, various hand grips, and a steel tunnel.

Obstacles:

#1 Cross floating logs

#2 Cross hand holds and hanging logs

#3 Cross a steel tunnel

Obstacle Specific Rules:

You must attempt alone.
You may use anything except for the metal tunnels above for obstacles 1 and 2.

You can use hands and feet on any parts of the obstacles. (no feet on hanging log #2 on obstacle 2)

You may only use the metal tunnel above with hands only on obstacle 3.

No feet or legs on the steel tunnel.

As soon as you complete the 1st obstacle you must attempt the 2nd within 30 seconds. (only a 30 second break in between obstacles!!)
If you are going to show-off (attempt the hard obstacle only for 3 points and at risk of not getting any points if you fail) you must notify one of us before the attempt.

Do not cross the fence or attempt to touch the orangutans in the dome. Doing so will result in your removal from grounds without a refund.

Animal Challenge #6

Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard Information:

Snow Leopards live in high altitudes where there is a lot of snow, yet they prefer steep, jagged cliffs, small ledges, rocky
outcrops and ravines. Their incredible balance is attributed to their short stocky legs and tail that is as long as their own body.
A snow leopard which cannot roar like other big cats, and is more closely related to the tiger than a leopard, is a quick acrobat that
scales steep terrain and can leap up to 50’ feet in a single bound!

3 Obstacles

Leopard Logs

Objective:

Balance your away across large, skinny, and wobbly logs.

Obstacles:

#1 Cross the 32′ long 7″ wide logs

#2 Cross 16′ long 3″ wide wobbly logs

#3 Cross a series of 5 3″ wide wobbly logs

Obstacle Specific Rules:

You must attempt alone.
Obstacle 1: You may only use your feet to cross.
Obstacle 2: You may only touch the blue log, and no yellow.

Obstacle completion is by getting over the last yellow pad.

Land in any way past that pad.

Obstacle 3: You can only touch the red logs, and no yellow.

Obstacle completion is by landing past the flags after the last log.

You can land in any way past the flags

As soon as you complete the 1st obstacle you must attempt the 2nd within 30 seconds. (only a 30 second break in between obstacles!!)

If you are going to show-off (attempt the hard obstacle only for 3 points and at risk of not getting any points if you fail) you must notify one of us before the attempt.

Animal Challenge #7

Siamang

Siamang Information:

Siamang, a very acrobatic primate, is the darkest, largest, and noisiest of the gibbons. They have unusually large hands with arms that are longer than their legs: this shape facilitates quick brachiation through trees.

Brachiation, in animal behaviour, specialized form of arboreal locomotion in which movement is accomplished by swinging from one hold to another by the arms.

3 Obstacles

Brachiation

Objective:

Is to reach the wooden perch after each obstacle without touching the ground. Brachiate across hanging rings 12′, 24′ and 90′ long.

Obstacles:

#1 Brachiate across the 12′ long crossing

#2 Brachiate across the 24′ long crossing

#3 Brachiate across the 90′ long crossing

Obstacle Specific Rules:

You must attempt alone.
Easy: You can only touch the blue rings. Do not touch any wood, or black ropes.
Medium: You must Brachiate via hanging grips without touching the wood. You must only use 1 hand at a time on the red rings. (blue wheel and pipe can have 2 hands)
Hard: You can only use two hands on the first black ring. Afterwards, you must Brachiate via the black rings. (1 hand on a ring at a time) Be sure to bend your legs a lot, so they don’t touch the ground
Keep your feet up!

Incidental touches of the ground are okay.
Intentional uses of the ground results in a failed attempt of the obstacle.

As soon as you complete the 1st obstacle you must attempt the 2nd within 30 seconds. (only a 30 second break in between obstacles!!)
You do not have to use every ring to complete these obstacles.

If you are going to show-off (attempt the hard obstacle only for 3 points and at risk of not getting any points if you fail) you must notify one of us before the attempt.

Animal Challenge #8

Spider Monkey

Spider Monkey Information:

Spider monkeys are so called due to their constant use of their prehensile tail ‘fifth limb’, making them look like big spiders. Because of their tree-dwelling lifestyle, spider monkeys lack a thumb, having 4 curved fingers on each hand, resembling a hook.

6 Obstacles

Bosu Balls, jungle swing, big spinning wheels, rock hopper, fly wheels, and spin cycle.

Objective:

Is to cross each obstacle without touching the ground or floor pads and land successfully onto each hay bail. (must show control when landing on the bail)

Obstacles:

#1 Bosu Balls Easy

#2 Jungle swing Medium

#3 Big Spinning Wheels Medium

#4 Rock Hopper Easy

#5 Fly Wheels Hard

#6 Spin cycle Hard

Obstacle Specific Rules:

You must attempt alone.
Obstacle 1: Start from the start box and cross the bosu balls using only your feet.
Obstacle 2: Cross jungle swings by only touching the red bars with hands only. (Link Point available here)
Obstacle 3: You do not need to use the black ring at the start. Hands only. No feet. Must use all 3 wheels.
Obstacle 4: Hop to each rock until you reach the 4th rock using only your feet.
Obstacle 5: Start obstacle by leaping from rock hopper, catching the rope, and swing up to the first fly wheel. You must use all 3 flywheels. You must lache to each wheel (release both hands before catching the next wheel). Use the hanging grips to swing up to the first flywheel (Link Point available here)
Obstacle 6: Cross spin cycle only touching the wheels. (do not touch or use the vertical poles at all)
Do not use any truss, or pole pads.
Your dismounts to all landing platforms must not touch any of the blue padding. You may not use the side truss to balance or support your landing.
No show-off permitted

Animal Challenge #9

Black Mamba

Black Mamba Information:

The black mamba is both arboreal and terrestrial and is the second longest venomous snake second only to the king cobra. Black mambas are extremely dangerous because they can travel up to 10.5 mph and only a few drops of its venom are required to kill an adult human. When being confronted by humans or wild animals, the black mamba typically opens its black mouth, expands its thin neck-flap, and hisses.

6 Obstacles

Floating bridge, rope climb, slide rail, bar hopper, ninja beater, and salmon ladder.

Objective:

Is to cross each obstacle without touching the ground or floor pads and land successfully onto each hay bail. (must show control when landing on the bail)

Obstacles:

#1 Floating Bridge Easy

#2 Rope Climb Easy

#3 Slide Rail Medium

#4 Bar Hopper Hard

#5 Ninja Beater Medium

#6 Salmon Ladder Hard

Obstacle Specific Rules:

You must attempt alone.
Obstacle 1: Cross the 3 floating bridges without touching and using the black suspension ropes.
- Must be on your feet. Not on your hands and knees.
- Incidental touches of the rope are okay.
Obstacle 2: Climb the 10′ rope and tap the cow bell. You may use feet to climb, but hands to tap the bell.
Obstacle 3: Transfer from the rope to slide rail. You must use only hands. You do not need to use all of the trapeze bars before dismount.

When on the slide rail, either let go before it reaches the end or hold on tight during the ricochet, so that you don’t get flipped backwards.
Chaperones may spot competitors on this obstacle

Obstacle 4: Use the mini tramp to reach the fly bar. You can attempt multiple times or get help to reach the bar. You do not need to use all 5 bar hop stations before dismount. Hands only.
Obstacle 5: You may only use hands. Must dismount over salmon ladder rung to the pad.
Obstacle 6: Start the salmon ladder bar on the marked rung. Hop the bar up to the marked final rung. You may not use your feet to rest anywhere on the side truss.
Your dismounts to all landing platforms must not touch any of the blue padding. You may not use the side truss to balance or support your landing.
Do not use any truss, or pole pads.
No show-off permitted

Animal Challenge #10

Komodo Dragon

Komodo Dragon Information:

Komodo Dragons can grow up to 10’ long, weigh 150 lbs., run 12 mph, and swim between the 5 islands that they reside on!
These giant lizards are ruthless carnivores! Being such aggressive meat-eaters; they will eat any meat, from large deer to even
humans and water buffalo. They certainly have the strength and venom to do so.

9 Obstacles

Trapeze bars, Camelback, spinning wheels, tilting frame, wing nuts, devil rungs and warped walls: 10′, 12′ and 14.5′.

Objective:

Is to cross each obstacle without touching the ground or floor pads and land successfully onto each hay bail. (must show control when landing on the bail)

Obstacles:

#1 Trapeze bars Easy

#2 Camelback Easy

#3 Spinning Wheels Medium

#4 Tilting Frame Medium

#5 Wing Nuts Hard

#6 Devil Rungs Hard

#7 10′ warped wall Easy

#8 12′ warped wall Medium

#9 14.5′ warped wall Hard

Obstacle Specific Rules:

You must attempt alone.
Obstacle 1: Cross trapeze bars using only your hands, touching only red bars.
Obstacle 2: Cross camelback using only your hands, touching only red bars.

You may cross in any fashion. Using both sides of the rail or only one.

Obstacle 3: Use the springboard to reach the wheel. You can only use the red wheels and the black rings.
Obstacle 4: You do not need to use the blue ring at the start. Hands only. No feet
Obstacle 5: You must use all 3 wing nuts. You must lache to each wing nut (release both hands before catching the wing nut).
Obstacle 6: You must start with your feet on the grass and ascend the red devil rungs using only your hands on the underside of the rungs over the padding. (no legs!)

(new for this year: Only need to go 1 time, up, across, and down.)
Obstacle completion is by landing securely past the pad onto the grass.

Your dismounts to all landing platforms must not touch any of the blue padding. You may not use the side truss to balance or support your landing.
Do not use any truss, or pole pads.
No show-off permitted

Obstacles 7,8, and 9 (Warped Wall)

There are 3 total attempts allowed between easy medium and hard: 10’ 12’ and 14.5’ tall, warped walls.
Walls can be attempted in any order.
- Example 1: Two attempts can be used on the 10’ wall which leaves only 1 left for 12’ wall or the 14.5’ wall.
Points are awarded for lesser height walls if a larger wall is cleared.
- Example 2: If the 12’ wall is attempted and cleared first, then the competitor is awarded points for easy and medium and has 2 remaining attempts on hard. (This is unique to the warped wall only)
- You are never locked into a certain wall height.

Bonus Challenge

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle Information:

Bald Eagles weighing in at 10-14 lbs. (males are 25% lighter) and a wingspan of 6.5’ to 7’ can fly up to 30 mph and dive up to 100 mph! They learn to fly at a young age of 3 months old, live up to 30 years old in the wild and mate for life. Bald Eagles build large stick nests, called eyries, in tall trees or on cliffs. They build the nest yearly until it reaches up to 9 feet in diameter and weighs up to 2,000 pounds! During the 1970s, bald eagles were seriously endangered. Thanks to the Eagle Act they have since made a remarkable comeback
and in 2007, were removed from the Federal Endangered Species list.

Obstacles

Speed Challenge

Objective:

Climb and fly over the mountain (of mulch) as quickly as possible!

Obstacle:

#1 Climb the rope 25′

#2 Fly (zipline) 80′

#3 Descend a rope 25′

Obstacle Specific Rules:

You must attempt alone.
Time starts as soon as your feet leave the ground.
Time stops as soon as the cow bell is rung at the bottom of challenge. Must ring bell with hand. No feet.
Cannot dismount the rope on the decent until passing the mark on rope first.
This Bonus Challenge is required and free to those competitors that rank into “Near Threatened” or the “Least Concern” red list status by scoring at least 31 points.

This extra obstacle can be purchased for $10. If you beat the Zoo Ninja’s 1st attempt of 22.22 seconds we will give you your money back.

Scoring

Scoring and Results

1 point for completion of the easy tier (1st obstacle)
1 point for completion of the medium tier (2nd obstacle)
1 point for completion of the hard tier (3rd obstacle)

Total possible points for any animal challenge: 3 points

Every participant’s points earned from each challenge and obstacle will be totaled for their final score. According to the amount of points received, participants will be categorized into one of the 7 Red list categories shown in the chart on the left. The total possible points for this competition is 42 points. The red list category for earning 37-42 points is LC – Least Concern. The goal is to become least concern status, and earn the title “unlikely to become extinct in the near future”!

Link Points (New for Spring 2024)

Bonus Points worth 1/4 of a normal point for linking two obstacles together without touching the ground or hanging ladder.

- There are 4 link points available and they are only found on Animal Challenges 8,9, and 10.
- They are easy to spot because there is always a hanging ladder in between the two linkable obstacles above the dismount hay bales.(when linking, competitors skip the hay bales and the hanging ladder)
  - A successful link attempt = dismounting from 1st obstacle and catching and holding onto the second obstacle.
    - If a competitor fails the second obstacle after a successful link, they receive the link point, the 1st obstacle point, but not the second obstacle point.
    - They also forfeit further attempts at the second obstacle.
  - A failed link attempt = unable to reach or catch the next obstacle.
    - Does not disqualify you from attempting that obstacle. Will need to climb hanging ladder and attempt from there.
    - Must land at least past the hay bales for the failed attempt to qualify for the 1st obstacle point.

Least Concern Champion

To any competitor who clears the entire course, they will receive the title, “Least Concern Champion,” and earn a ticket into their next race for free!

Link points are not necessary to achieve this.
Link points are bonus points and do not contribute towards this award of clearing all obstacles.

View Race Results

Race results will be posted to our website after the completion of the competition.

Ninja Results