When the call comes, it could be at the very last minute.

According to Noah Kaufman, multiple time competitor for American Ninja Warrior, they can call as late as a week before. Here's what he had to say about the first time he was selected.

I went straight from the couch to the course.

Since I know the tryouts go through late May, that means I have to be ready at anytime. Hopefully, I am.

When I watch the regional competitions, I believe I am. They are quite different from the later stages in that they only have 2-3 things that require insane grip strength.

While I will approach every obstacle with the greatest of care, the ones I'm really worried about are the ones that require long and enduring grip strength. It's not something that can be built overnight, and long time climbers, like Noah Kaufmann, do very well because grip strength is a way of life for them.

I am exercising plenty, no doubt about that. What I'm exercising the most at this stage of the process is my belief muscle. I have definitely not made the first rounds at various locations, because they have already happened. There are qualifiers once per month through April, then there are two in May. I have to believe that they are still picking people to run the courses for the April and May dates.

VENICE:
3/13/15 Regional Qualifying
3/14/15 Regional Final
HOUSTON:
3/28/15 Regional Qualifying
3/29/15 Regional Final
KANSAS CITY, MO:
4/17/15 Regional Qualifying
4/18/15 Regional Final
ORLANDO:
5/10/15 Regional Qualifying
5/11/15 Regional Final
PITTSBURGH:
5/23/15 Regional Qualifying
5/24/15 Regional Final

If I don't hear from them for one of these dates, my focus will have to change to next year. But not yet. For now, every call that comes in could be the one I've been waiting to receive.

 

More From Retro 102.5