The votes are in. We have a 2021 Obstacle Design Challenge winner. Drum roll please.
Counterweight, designed by Ross Munro from the UK.
You may even recognise the winners name. That’s because Ross was one half of the winning team from five years ago that brought you Kong Infinity. Clearly, there are lots of interesting obstacle-related things flying around in Ross’ mind.
Counterweight is a team-based, drawbridge-type obstacle that requires Mudders to pull on a rope to raise the central portion of the bridge out of the water. Once raised the Mudder ahead of them can cross to the other side. Let is slip and the Mudder on the bridge is in for a swim.
The design scored highly on its originality with one judge observing: “Super creative, mechanical and teamwork-based. This incorporates a lot of aspects that aren’t as represented in our current obstacle menu.”
The judges also liked how the obstacle incorporates the key Tough Mudder obstacle criteria with an emphasis on strength and teamwork.
“I really like the teamwork nature that this obstacle requires,” said another judge referring to the unique teamwork element required to conquer Counterweight.
It is rare to have a challenge where Mudders both on and off the obstacle need to interact and work together to complete it.
Next up on the Obstacle Innovation journey is for our mad scientists to get this obstacle tested at our Central Florida event in December. How will it go? Well, one judge told us that “This will take real design work to get this to function and possibly some thought on the mechanism to control the bridge. A lot to chew on this one but worth the effort.” We would quite agree.
Stay tuned for more Obstale Innovation updates as we get closer to testing at the end of the year.
Congrats again to Ross, truly an obstacle design maestro.
Why not try out this obstacle for yourself when it makes its debut on a Tough Mudder course? Book your place at an event.
