Ep 9. Venice Beach Finals (1)

The show American Ninja Warrior season 5 episode 9 titled "Venice Beach Finals (1)" features the top competitors of the season as they tackle the challenging obstacle course at Venice Beach. This episode marks the beginning of the finals, with the top 30 competitors from the regional competitions competing against each other for a chance to advance to the national finals in Las Vegas.

The competition starts off with the qualifying round, where the ninjas must complete the first six obstacles without falling or touching the ground. These obstacles include the Quintuple steps, Rolling Log, Jumping Spider, Warped Wall, Cliffhanger, and Spider Climb. The obstacles progressively get more difficult, with the Cliffhanger and Spider Climb proving to be particularly challenging for the competitors.

After the qualifying round, the top 15 competitors move on to the finals. The finals course is even more difficult, with seven obstacles that must be completed in succession. These obstacles include the Salmon Ladder, Cliffhanger, Hang Climb, Rope Descent, Jumping Bars, Warped Wall, and Spider Climb. Each of these obstacles requires a combination of speed, strength, and agility in order to complete them successfully.

One of the highlights of this episode is the performance of veteran ninja Brent Steffensen. Steffensen has competed in every season of American Ninja Warrior and is considered one of the top contenders. He manages to make it through the qualifying round with ease, but struggles on the first obstacle of the finals course - the Salmon Ladder. Despite falling early on, Steffensen manages to catch the attention of the audience with his incredible athleticism and never-give-up attitude as he attempts to make it through the rest of the course.

Another standout performance comes from top female competitor Kacy Catanzaro. Catanzaro had made waves earlier in the season when she became the first woman to complete the grueling obstacle course. In the Venice Beach finals, she manages to make it through the qualifying round and onto the finals course. Despite facing several difficult obstacles, including the Warped Wall and the Jumping Bars, Catanzaro manages to make it all the way to the final obstacle - the Spider Climb. She puts in a valiant effort but ultimately falls just short of completing the course - making it further than any other female competitor in the competition.

Overall, this episode is packed with thrilling moments, heart-pumping competition, and impressive performances. It showcases the incredible athleticism and determination of the competitors and leaves viewers on the edge of their seats as they watch these ninjas push themselves to their limits.