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I'm guessing the course is about to undergo a major redesign.
After Makoto Nagano and Hitoshi Kanno made it to Stage 4 in Sasuke 23, I expected the course would be redesigned. It was. Unfortunately for the organizers, the new obstacles didn't seem to stop anybody. Seven people made it to Stage 3, and a ridiculous and unprecedented five people made it to Stage 4, with New Star Yuji Urushihara becoming only the third Grand Champion in 12 years. One of the things I love about this show is that I've watched scores of professional and Olympic athletes wipe out on the course, and the only three people to ever complete it were two commercial fishermen and a shoe salesman.
One side-effect of the new generation of stars making it so far along the course is that I haven't seen so many people wipe out on the Metal Spin since it was a new obstacle.
I felt so bad when Rie Komiya fell off the Log Grip. She did so well last time, making it as far as the Half-Pipe Attack. I'd love to see her finish Stage 1 someday. Only one woman ever has, and that was way back in Sasuke 2 when the course was much easier (a.k.a. before they had to worry about stopping Makoto Nagano from making it to Stage 4 every year).
I've never seen Tomohiro Kawaguchi before that I can remember, but he went through the course like he was spring-loaded. Unfortunately, he made a mental error on the Unstable Bridge and wiped out in Stage 2 (and how many times have you seen a potential champion watch a fellow competitor wipe out on an obstacle and respond by yelling, "I told him not to let go too soon!"--I love that the competitors are so supportive of each other).
Something must have been up with Shingo Yamamoto. He looked more tired than usual after the Half-Pipe Attack, and by the time he timed out on the very last obstacle of Stage 1 he looked utterly exhausted.
Toshihiro Takeda also ran out of gas. After making it to Stage 3 for a ridiculous 13th time, his arms gave out and he couldn't lift himself up onto the Spider Flip. Even with Nagano yelling at him, he eventually gave up and just dropped into the water. I felt so bad for him. With as many times as he's been to Stage 3, he's never beaten it. I'd love for him to make it to Stage 4 someday.
Makoto Nagano did one of those things that make me want to smack him in the head. He mis-timed his dismount on the Jumping Spider, landed too far back on the crash pad at the end, and fell back into the water. I can't even imagine what his competition record would look like if he didn't make a silly mental error every three tournaments or so and wipe out on an obstacle he can complete in his sleep. It just kills me to see him do it because he's nearing 40, so his competitions are numbered, but he still has it in him to win. I have my fingers crossed that he'll win one more time before he has to retire. He came so close last time.
After Makoto Nagano and Hitoshi Kanno made it to Stage 4 in Sasuke 23, I expected the course would be redesigned. It was. Unfortunately for the organizers, the new obstacles didn't seem to stop anybody. Seven people made it to Stage 3, and a ridiculous and unprecedented five people made it to Stage 4, with New Star Yuji Urushihara becoming only the third Grand Champion in 12 years. One of the things I love about this show is that I've watched scores of professional and Olympic athletes wipe out on the course, and the only three people to ever complete it were two commercial fishermen and a shoe salesman.
One side-effect of the new generation of stars making it so far along the course is that I haven't seen so many people wipe out on the Metal Spin since it was a new obstacle.
I felt so bad when Rie Komiya fell off the Log Grip. She did so well last time, making it as far as the Half-Pipe Attack. I'd love to see her finish Stage 1 someday. Only one woman ever has, and that was way back in Sasuke 2 when the course was much easier (a.k.a. before they had to worry about stopping Makoto Nagano from making it to Stage 4 every year).
I've never seen Tomohiro Kawaguchi before that I can remember, but he went through the course like he was spring-loaded. Unfortunately, he made a mental error on the Unstable Bridge and wiped out in Stage 2 (and how many times have you seen a potential champion watch a fellow competitor wipe out on an obstacle and respond by yelling, "I told him not to let go too soon!"--I love that the competitors are so supportive of each other).
Something must have been up with Shingo Yamamoto. He looked more tired than usual after the Half-Pipe Attack, and by the time he timed out on the very last obstacle of Stage 1 he looked utterly exhausted.
Toshihiro Takeda also ran out of gas. After making it to Stage 3 for a ridiculous 13th time, his arms gave out and he couldn't lift himself up onto the Spider Flip. Even with Nagano yelling at him, he eventually gave up and just dropped into the water. I felt so bad for him. With as many times as he's been to Stage 3, he's never beaten it. I'd love for him to make it to Stage 4 someday.
Makoto Nagano did one of those things that make me want to smack him in the head. He mis-timed his dismount on the Jumping Spider, landed too far back on the crash pad at the end, and fell back into the water. I can't even imagine what his competition record would look like if he didn't make a silly mental error every three tournaments or so and wipe out on an obstacle he can complete in his sleep. It just kills me to see him do it because he's nearing 40, so his competitions are numbered, but he still has it in him to win. I have my fingers crossed that he'll win one more time before he has to retire. He came so close last time.
