Alexandria’s Ninja Warrior – The Zebra

 

ALEXANDRIA, VA–The favored NBC tv present, American Ninja Warrior (ANW), was cancelled final yr, as had been virtually all different competitors reveals and sporting occasions. Now, over one yr later, American Ninja Warrior has been authorised for its 2021 season, and an Alexandria resident is to attempt the course.

Will Wong, Alexandria resident, auditioned for the 2020 season of ANW, which was to be held on the D.C. Armory. A gifted observe bike owner and former semi-competitive rock climber, Will was urged by family and friends to use. Will likes to problem himself, so he mentioned, “I wished to pursue one thing that was fully completely different from what I’m used to doing.”

Will utilized for ANW on the finish of January 2020, the appliance being incomplete and seven weeks overdue. Nonetheless, inside 4 hours of his submission, Will obtained a telephone name: he was accepted! His pals had lauded him, “They don’t simply name anybody.” So, at 49 years outdated, Will was to be one of many oldest contestants, and one of the vital thrilling to look at.

When he began his coaching at NOVA Ninja in Sterling, VA, Will was off to a promising begin, “I had much more potential than I believed I did.” However alas, the Coronavirus unfold rapidly, and Will selected to not return to NOVA Ninja, because the pandemic shut down your complete ANW audition course of and eradicated any hope for filming the competitors in 2020.

Then Will heard ANW received the go-ahead for the 2021 season, so he needed to get inventive along with his coaching. “As summer season crept by, I saved coaching and constructed a yard health club.” Remodeled out of his son’s yard playset (Will’s son, Nate, is now 17), Will’s private ninja health club is supplied with horizontal bars, a salmon ladder, and the notorious satan stairs.

March 8, 2020, was Will’s final day at NOVA Ninja earlier than the pandemic. Then, February 1, 2021, he returned as if he had by no means left. “I picked up the place I used to be, however stronger,” says Will. “I’ve extra grip energy and I’ve solely gotten higher since quarantine.”

Now at 50 years outdated, Will has been accepted for the second time to compete on ANW for the first time.

“I’m simply wanting ahead to absorbing the expertise coming in as a rookie,” explains Will. “It is a group of legit athletes, so, to be put on this choose group, is so cool. It’s validation and affirmation of the laborious work I’ve put in.”

The Metropolis Qualifier will happen in Tacoma, Washington, on March 26-April 2. If Will completes the course, or makes it far sufficient quick sufficient in comparison with the opposite rivals, he’ll journey to Los Angeles two weeks later for the regional competitors. Then, two weeks after that, finals might be held in Las Vegas.

Of the five hundred chosen rivals, solely 100 will really seem on tv. Screened by NBC, the air date of the 2021 season of American Ninja Warrior is but to be launched. There might be no reside viewers, however Will’s spouse, Betsy, son, Nate, and family and friends close to and much have supported him by this two-year course of that’s lastly coming to fruition.

Since starting his coaching in early 2020, Will has solely fallen extra in love with the ninja life. “After I went into the ninja health club for the primary time final yr, and fell off the primary impediment, I believed, ‘Wow! I really feel like a child once more.’ I hadn’t felt that good doing one thing like that in a long time.

“Once you’re within the stream and simply flying by the air, that feeling of weightlessness is simply one of the best feeling on the planet.” Whether or not 15 or 50, ninja or not, I believe all of us need to agree.

For extra info on American Ninja Warrior 2021, go to https://www.nbc.com/american-ninja-warrior.