Pipe Slider ~ Sasuke Ninja Warrior

The Pipe Slider (パイプスライダー) was the final obstacle of the Third Stage from SASUKE 2 (replacing the Hariyama) until SASUKE 17, where it was replaced in favor of the Final Ring after Nagano Makoto's kanzenseiha. The competitor must hang from a metal bar and slide it along a track. At the end of the track, the competitor must gain enough momentum to make the transfer from the pipe to a landing pad. There were three versions of this obstacle.

The obstacle became a staple of the course during its time and even well into its retirement, being used in many replicas including the SASUKE sections of Muscle Park Odaiba (closed in 2010) and Chitose as the final obstacle.

A modified version of this obstacle, the Bar Glider, was used as the final obstacle of the Third Stage for SASUKE 27. The Version 3 Pipe Slider was brought back in SASUKE 28 without the Devil Balanço leading into it.

Version 1 (SASUKE 2 - 3)

This version of the obstacle consisted of two tracks with a rest area between the two. Once competitors got to the end of the track, all they needed to do was step down to the landing mat; the mat itself was still placed away from the competitor (as proven by Miura Eiichi losing his balance on the mat in SASUKE 2). It proved to be very difficult, as it took out eight competitors in two tournaments, whereas no one failed any other obstacle in the Third Stage during this span.

The version 1 of the Pipe Slider, SASUKE 2

SASUKE Competitions

Stage: Third Stage

First SASUKE 2

Last: SASUKE 4

Total: 3 Competitions

First Attempt: SASUKE 2, Yamamoto Shingo

First Clear: SASUKE 2, Tanaka Hikaru

Version 2 (SASUKE 4 - 13)

This version shortened the second track, now requiring a jump to the finish mat. As competitions went on, the landing mat was placed slightly farther and farther away from the end of the track.

In order to clear the obstacle, competitors must completely hold their balance on the mat. Yamada Katsumi landed on the mat in SASUKE 6 but tipped off the mat to the side, causing him to fail. Cushions were added to the sides of the mat in the next tournament.

Yamada Katsumi swinging to the mat from the Pipe Slider (version 2), SASUKE 10

SASUKE Competitions

Stage: Third Stage

First: SASUKE 4

Last: SASUKE 13

Total: 10 Competitions

First Attempt: SASUKE 4, Asaoka Hiroyuki

First Clear: SASUKE 4, Akiyama Kazuhiko

Version 3 (SASUKE 14 - 17)

The third version of the Pipe Slider contained only one track, as the first track was eliminated in favor of the Jumping Bars and Climbing Bars. In order to reach the track, competitors had to swing from the Devil Balanço and grab the pipe. On two occasions (Kobayashi Shinji in SASUKE 14 and Nagano Makoto in SASUKE 16), the competitor knocked the pipe away while still on the Devil Balanço, causing the obstacle to be nearly impossible (both failed). In addition to these changes, both the track and the jump to the mat were lengthened.

Shiratori Bunpei grab the pipe in version 3 of the Pipe Slider, SASUKE 16

SASUKE Competitions

Stage: Third Stage

First: SASUKE 14

Last: SASUKE 17

Total: 4 Competitions

First Attempt: SASUKE 16, Yamada Koji

First Clear: SASUKE 17 , Nagasaki Shunsuke

Version 4 (SASUKE 28 @ SASUKE RISING)

The Pipe Slider was brought back for SASUKE 28. Here, it was similar to the Version 3 version with it having only one track. However, unlike the Version 3 version, there is no Devil Balanço preceding it.