Wasilla man soars to new heights on American Ninja Warrior

Eleven years ago, a young man from Wasilla watched on national television as friend and fellow Alaskan Nick Hanson-the Eskimo Ninja- first competed on American Ninja Warrior, the high-octane obstacle course competition.

That left an indelible mark on Forest Strick, and though he may not have known it then, his friendship with Hanson, that started through the Native Games, would set him on his own path to compete on American Ninja Warrior (ANW) himself, inspiring kids throughout Alaska to overcome obstacles.

Strick, a graduate from Wasilla High School, competed in the Native Youth Olympics, representing the school in 2014, earning first-place finishes during the games in the toe kick, seal hop and Indian stick pull.

After high school, Strick joined the Air Force, serving for five years. He says that when his time was up and he returned home, he worked and continued to hit the gym when Hanson, a veteran of ANW who began competing on Season 7, making a name for himself as the first Inuit to compete on the show, roped him into ANW.

“He thought I’d be really good at this, and was excited to get someone else from Alaska on the show,” Strick recalls.

“I think it’s an incredible sport. There’s just so many good things that happen from it, and the next thing you know, I was competing on the show’s Season 15.”

Strick first competed in ANW during Season 15 in 2023, appearing in the sixth qualifier episode. “It was just a great crossover from Native Olympics,” he says of that first run on the show, where he tangled with the Kite Surfer, his performance earned him 11th place in the standings and advance to the semifinals.

He wasn’t selected for the next season, but undaunted, he applied for Season 17, where he competed alongside Hanson. “It was so cool, because 11 years ago, during his first season, I was actually there with him,” Strick said, recalling that he went down to Las Vegas to watch the show, and was able to test the court to make sure everything is set and the obstacles are good to go for the actual competitors.

“Nick being the friend he is threw my name in the bucket and next thing you know, I’m competing on Stage 1of Mount Midori as the fresh 18-year-old kid.”

Strick returned for his second season on ANW 17, competing in the second qualifying episode, and advancing to the semifinals, placing 20th overall. He would go on to compete in the second semifinals but unfortunately his run ended in the semifinals.

Stick says he isn’t disappointed because he completed many other adventures this year, one being that he recently got married. “I was just so blessed that I’ve been able to look back at this beautiful girl that was on TV during my semifinals and qualifiers back when we were filming…and we got married this year.”

Strick and his wife are also preparing for another adventure as they are starting a family. “We’re gonna have a baby girl coming into the world in January, so we’re both so excited, so blessed.”

Another new adventure for Strick is working with Hanson to get youth involved in Ninja Warrior training here in the Mat-Su Borough. Strick says when he was 18 and testing the course, it was considered a young age for qualifying at the national level. “Nowadays, that’s nothing. You see these 14- and 15-year-olds just tearing up the course, but back then it was a big deal.” So building on Hanson’s dream to get youth involved in the sport, they have been working with Denali Fitness to create the first Ninja Program in Alaska.

“We have Ninja Beginner Classes for the youth, intermediate, and the first team competitive (program). We were able to partner up with those guys and it’s just been so amazing.” He says that the atmosphere that Denali Fitness has created has embraced the idea he and Hanson had, allowing Strick to coach the competitive team alongside friend Rudy Queen. “We’re now about three months into our competitive team and our dream is to actually take the kids to a tournament. It’s just been so cool to share the sport.”

As to whether or not he plans to return for another season of ANW, Strick says that while he is completely fulfilled with coaching and working with kids, his wife hasn’t seen him compete live and has been encouraging me to run one more year.

“The family will be there to see everything go down, and I think that’ll be a really cool opportunity to bring that together.”

For more information about the Ninja Course at Denali Gymnastics and Fitness, please visit www.denaligymnastics.com/recreational/