Suspended Beam

Device dimensions 250x130x251 cm

Safety zone dimensions 676x556 cm

Safety zone area 33,5 m2

Maximum user's weight 120 kg

Users group Users over 140 cm tall can exercise on the devices.

Free fall height 0,41 m

Norm PN-EN 16630:2015-07

 

 

Suspended Beam – Modular Rope-Suspended Balance Obstacle for Outdoor Ninja Courses

 

Suspended Beam is a suspended balance obstacle for ninja courses: a narrow, non-slip beam hung on crossed ropes between two support beams, which athletes cross while keeping their balance. The beam sways, so unlike a rigid bench every step demands feel, calm and control of the whole body. Everyone understands the task at first glance, but crossing it well takes experience.

 

What is the Suspended Beam obstacle?

 

The module consists of a beam with a textured, non-slip surface, hung on ropes arranged in a cross pattern and fixed to two steel support beams on four tall posts. The challenge is to cross the beam from one end to the other without stepping off onto the ground. The beam reacts to every movement of the user, so the feet, ankles, legs and core work throughout, and success depends on balance and a smooth rhythm of steps.

 

Benefits for users

 

• Suitable for different levels. Beginners cross slowly and carefully; advanced athletes move smoothly, race against the clock or use a dynamic entry.
• A natural, intuitive movement. Walking along a beam is familiar from childhood, so the obstacle invites even people who have never done ninja training to have a go.
• Changing difficulty. The suspended beam reacts to the user’s movement, so every crossing feels a little different.
• A rest for the arms. The obstacle loads mainly the legs and balance, so it complements hanging and strength obstacles well.
• Great for competition. Suspended Beam works well in timed runs, challenges and events.
• Built for outdoor use. The steel construction is designed for intensive use outdoors. Hot-dip galvanised bars are a proven protection against corrosion, and the absence of paint eliminates the problem of flaking paint on frequently used elements.

 

Training benefits

 

Suspended Beam develops the skills that make moving through a ninja course smooth:

• Balance and proprioception – a sense of where the body is on an unstable surface.
• Stability of the feet and ankles – they work at every step.
• Leg and hip muscles – they control the movement of the beam and hold the position.
• Core and back muscles – they keep the body in line.
• Coordination and concentration – every step has to be placed deliberately.
• Calm and control of pace – skills that matter on other balance obstacles too.

It is a good balance exercise before more demanding obstacles and a warm-up for the stabilising muscles of the legs.

 

Difficulty level

 

Medium to high, with a wide range of progression. Crossing a beam is easy to understand, but because it hangs on ropes it wobbles. Difficulty increases with the length of the beam, its height above the ground, speed, time limits and the manner of crossing (for example without stopping, or with a dynamic entry). Beginners start with a slow crossing, while advanced athletes race against the clock.

 

How to complete Suspended Beam – step by step

 

1. Step on with confidence. Place the first foot in the middle of the beam and only then transfer your weight onto it. The middle of the beam is the most stable.
2. Lower your centre of gravity. Bend the knees slightly and keep the body tight but not rigid.
3. Look ahead. Keep your eyes on the end of the beam, not on your feet.
4. Take short, secure steps. Place one foot in front of the other or side-step, whichever gives better stability. Land on the whole foot or the front of the foot, not on the heel alone.
5. Use your arms for balance. Spread them slightly to the sides and move them calmly.
6. Work with the movement of the beam. Do not fight the sway. Use your hips and knees to correct your position and avoid sudden movements.
7. Advanced athletes can speed up. They cross without stopping, with a dynamic entry or at a run. Finish with a controlled drop above the safety area.

Before use, check that the beam is dry and clean and that the ropes, chains and fixings are in good condition.

 

 

Certification and user age

 

The equipment is certified to EN 16630, which assumes that users are teenagers and adults aged 14 and over, or people taller than 1,400 mm. If required, we can prepare a version for younger users compliant with EN 1176.

 

Modular Ninja Course Design: Flexible Layouts for Architects and Designers

 

Suspended Beam is part of a modular system that makes it easier to design a ninja course tailored to a specific site. Instead of a rigid, ready-made set, you work with modules from which you can design a linear layout, a loop or a zone with several routes. You can adapt the layout to the shape of the plot, existing trees, changes in level, pedestrian routes, utilities and safety zones. The suspended beam gives an impression of a light structure and works as a balance obstacle between strength modules, as a link between sections of the route, or as a stand-alone zone for balance training.

 

What modularity means for an architect:

 

• Designing for a specific space. The number and order of modules follow the site layout, not a fixed set size.
• Phased delivery. The course can be planned in stages to match the client’s budget and extended later without redesigning the whole.
• Different age groups in one space. Modules with different levels of difficulty allow separate routes for younger users and for advanced athletes.
• Consistency with the surroundings. Repeating elements make it easier to keep a unified design language across the landscape scheme.
• Flexibility for the future. The layout can be modified as users’ needs change, without replacing the whole installation.
• Simpler documentation. Repeatable modules with clearly specified parameters simplify drawings, schedules and tender specifications.

 

Suspended crossings in ninja TV shows

 

Suspended walkways that wobble underfoot are a classic of ninja courses. In American Ninja Warrior, the Unstable Bridge was a second-stage obstacle of the national finals until season 7, and season 7 also brought the Floating Tiles in Kansas City, tiles hung on cables that athletes crossed without touching the cables. The Floating Tiles also appeared in Ninja Warrior UK (including series 2, 3 and 6). In seasons 8–14, the Broken Bridge used suspended triangular elements. Our module is inspired by this classic idea of a suspended obstacle.

 

Frequently asked questions

 

Who is the Suspended Beam module for? The equipment is certified to EN 16630, which assumes that users are teenagers and adults aged 14 and over, or people taller than 1,400 mm. If required, we can prepare a version for younger users compliant with EN 1176. 

Can the module be combined with other obstacles? Yes. It is a module of a modular system, so it can be freely combined into ninja course configurations.

Is it suitable for outdoor use? Yes. It is a steel structure designed for outdoor use. Hot-dip galvanised bars are a proven protection against corrosion, and the absence of paint eliminates the problem of flaking paint on frequently used elements.

What kind of training does Suspended Beam provide? It develops balance, stability of the feet and ankles, leg and core strength, as well as coordination and concentration.