American Ninja Warrior 5, Here I Come!

Hallelujah! Just got my call from casting that I officially have an invite to compete in American Ninja Warrior 5! It goes down in 10 days in Baltimore, one of the four cities hosting the regional action this season. Already have my plane ticket, and will be flying in next Thursday for the competition Friday night at Rash Field in Baltimore right next to the Inner Harbor. Looking forward to seeing my fellow ninjas there, and am deeply honored and excited to have a chance to step to the line once again! I never take that opportunity for granted. Thank you to everybody for your support and friendship.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 9th, 2013 at 5:25 pm and is filed under American Ninja Warrior 5, Getting In, Northeast Region, The Dream. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • Rob Logan

    Woo Hoo, congrats Matt! I’m hoping (and praying) that I will see you there…

  • http://www.facebook.com/adam.reck.37 Adam Reck

    So matt, i got an email back from casting and they said i will be competing in Denver May 19th and 20th. (If i get picked that is). Still waiting day by day hoping my video was what they were looking for. You had stated above that some of the midwest might be held in Baltimore this year? and its in a few weeks? Thats not much time. And how exactly do they do the walk-ons? first come, first serve? or do they just pick certain people out of the line? And how many people do they normally pick? also i believe last year they said you showed up about 4:00 am. thay doesnt seem early enough,,, is it? thanks for your help matt, hope to meet you soon, adam

  • Anonymous

    Hey Adam. Some of the Midwest (Eastern Time Zone I am guessing) is being sent to Baltimore. Rest to Denver. That’s my best guess. Baltimore competition is in 10 days. The walkon situation this year is much more competitive, they took 20-25 walkons in Venice and it was first-come first-serve, although they reserve the right to not do it that way. If you are going to walk on, I’d plan on getting in line over a day in advance, so by like noon of the day before.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Rob! Fingers crossed for you!

  • http://www.facebook.com/adam.reck.37 Adam Reck

    thanks matt for your advice. Didnt think there would be that many people in the midwest seems like theres way more on both the East and West coast. I think if you can drive accross country for 3 days in a van with 3 kids, i think 1 day of waiting in line is no big deal. Good work on this website by the way. thanks for your help.

  • Tin-Man

    Matt, Great Job! Very exciting just hearing you made the cut. I know you’ll represent us ‘Esquires’ as the muti-faceted modern men that we are! Knock-Em Dead!!!

  • Tin-Man

    p.s. We’re Born. We Ninja. We Die.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks, I’ll try my best! I appreciate the support from a fellow middle-aged modern man 😉

  • http://www.facebook.com/matthew.puntin.7 Matthew Puntin

    Congrats. All the hard work paid off. I hope to see you there. Did they call or email you? I’m waiting in anticipation.

  • http://www.facebook.com/kerry.collins.180 Kerry Collins

    Great job my friend! You deserve this and I am very happy for you. Now go kick some @ss and I truly hope to join you in Vegas!

  • http://www.facebook.com/brandonwillis00 Brandon Willis

    I’ll see you there!

  • Anonymous

    Most definitely, looking forward to meeting in person!

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Kerry. Hope to see you there!

  • matt casto

    Do u know what time the baltimire tryout will start?? Wanna get in line early enough

  • Anonymous

    Guessing like 9 pm on Friday. I’d plan on lining up by Thursday afternoon if you want to guarantee a spot.

  • Anonymous

    Guessing like 9 pm on Friday. I’d plan on lining up by Thursday afternoon if you want to guarantee a spot.

  • matt casto

    Wow!! Oka thank u. I appreciate it and see u there

  • Rob Logan

    Got the call last night! So psyched! Looking forward to meeting you there Matt.
    Are you still in WI? Would love to meet up for a conversation.

  • Anonymous

    That’s awesome Rob! I’ll be getting there Thursday late afternoon and will be going to the course to hang out for a bit. Please come up and introduce yourself when you see me.

  • Anonymous

    Might seem extreme, but they are taking only maybe 20 walkons or so, and people who got to Venice later than early evening the night before didn’t get to run. With word spreading of this, it is only going to get more competitive with each city. Err on the side of getting there a few hours earlier if you are serious about getting to run!

  • matt casto

    Yeah hopefully i get my chance. Coming from south bend, indiana so will try to get there thursday after lunch. Should be a good time. We shall see though.

  • Velocinaut

    Where do you have to show up for walk-ons?

  • Rob Logan

    Thanks Matt, I sure will.
    Will we get to see the obstacles Thursday night? Any suggestions on what to bring? I’m guessing you learned a few important things from your first time.

  • matt casto

    Where do the walkons stand?? Is there a obvious line or something? Appreciate your help!

  • Anonymous

    I don’t know the setup at Rash Field, but ask production or somebody official when you get there. I doubt you’ll be the first person, so look for the line of folks with tents!

  • Anonymous

    I don’t know the setup at Rash Field, so ask production or somebody official when you get there. I doubt you’ll be the first person, so look for the line of folks with tents!

  • Billy Delaney

    Thanks for all the info, Your run last year was very inspiring! Good luck this year.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks! Just praying to get to the Warped Wall again this year so I can get another crack at it 😉

  • Anonymous

    My pleasure. Thanks for the support!

  • Rob Logan

    Hey Matt,

    I wanted to through it out there for any accepted NE region Ninjas. I’ll be doing some training at my house in Ayer MA. tomorrow and others are welcome. I have a Double Salmon Ladder, Unstable Bridge, Quad steps, Jumping Bars and a Jump Hang (with mini tramp to a bar – not a cargo net).
    Could you possible start a new thread with this info and my email address?
    Of course you are welcome as well, but I’m guessing you are not that close to me.

    Thanks!
    Rob

  • matt casto

    Another question my family had for me but i couldnt answer. Where did u sleep and eat when u were a walk on?? How does that work

  • Anonymous

    Yeah, the obstacles will definitely be built by Thursday night. Starting to build them already. I’d bring plenty of grub, some music, rain gear, water, dry clothes, etc.

  • Anonymous

    You sleep in line and eat in line! Bring food and a sleeping bag. A couple of people in Venice came and established their place in line, and then went and slept elsewhere, but I think there was some grumbling from other walkons about that. Saying “I’m here!” and then going to a hotel, and thinking your spot is good when you return the next morning with lots of people lining up behind you feels bogus to me. I wouldn’t recommend trying it. Plan on camping and eating in line, although once you’ve established your place your neighbors will hold your spot for you to go to the restroom, maybe grab some quick grub, etc. As long as you hold their spots when they do the same 😉

  • Lee Gifford

    Congrats Matt!….so they have not contacted competitors for.Miami or Denver yet?

  • Anonymous

    They’ll start contacting Miami after Baltimore is done, and then Denver after Miami is done.

  • Rob Logan

    Thanks!
    That’s an interesting thought, what do they do if it rains?

  • matt casto

    I really appreciate your advice and help brotha. Have a safe trip! Good luck on the course! Thank u again

  • Anonymous

    My pleasure, happy to help. Are you going to try and walkon in Baltimore then?

  • Lee Gifford

    Well congratulations again, this blog has been my only contact with anyone in the Ninja Warrior community and it has helped alot to ease the tension of not knowing anything about the process and informative in that manner and motivational in regards to your persistence and success. I guess I’m gonna cool my heels and wait on either Denver or Miami as I am in Memphis, TN and I could be considered Mid-South or South East(I’m guessing), anyways-keep your fingers crossed for me and best of luck in Baltimore! ‘May the Force be with you’

  • matt casto

    Oh yeah!! Should get there late wednesday night. Super excited and im ready for it. :)

  • Anonymous

    Nice. I’ll be showing up late afternoon on Thursday and will be coming by the walkon line, I know a few folks that will be there. Please say ‘hi’ when you see me!

  • Anonymous

    Thanks, I think I’ll need a fair bit of the Force this weekend! Please send some my way on Friday night! Happy to I’ve been able to help you in your own process competing (Memphis would definitely be part of the Miami territory). Best of luck to you too!

  • Adam

    Now the question is, have they not called me because they’re sending me to Denver and haven’t made those calls yet, or have they not called me because they aren’t interested in seeing me compete again? I live in NYC but I’m from Cleveland OH, and asked to be considered for the Mid West region because that’s where I competed last year. So not sure if I should show up as a walk on for Baltimore since It’s only 3 hours away, or should I assume I’ll be receiving a call for Denver?

  • Anonymous

    I’d email them and ask, they’ve been pretty responsive to people’s inquiries along these lines.

  • Billy Delaney

    How were the walk on lines in Baltimore? Were they camping out even earlier than Venice Beach? I plan to try and walk on in Denver and I just want to make sure I arrive early enough to get a crack at the course.

  • Anonymous

    Baltimore was an incredibly competitive walkon situation. I would expect that you would have to be in line by Wed morning to get in the top 20 spots that have a realistic chance of running. Maybe even by Tuesday afternoon since it is the last city and everybody who missed out earlier will be trying. If I were really committed to running, I would get there by Tuesday afternoon. Crazy!

  • Adam

    It all comes down to cardio. By itself the warped wall isn’t too difficult, but after doing the whole course first, it’s hard to tap into that explosive energy you need to get over the wall if you’re tired and out of breath.

  • http://www.facebook.com/adam.reck.37 Adam Reck

    by tuesady for Denver? Thats like 5 days ahead of time. or are you you talking about dener? or another city?

  • http://www.facebook.com/adam.reck.37 Adam Reck

    What was it like running at night. And why are they running all trials at night and not during the day?