2015 OCR World Championship OCRWC Obstacle Analysis & Failure Rate

With the 2016 OCR World Championships happening in two weeks, we figured it was a perfect time to dive into the results from last year's race, and take a look at what obstacles gave athletes the hardest time. For those interested, we did this same analysis for the 2014 race, which we will be referencing from time to time.

As a refresher – 2014 saw the Platinum Rig take the field by surprise, with a 44.5% failure rate. Only two other obstacles had a failure rate of over 20% – Ring My Bell at 28.97%, and Tip of the Spear at 26.35%. Going into the 2015 race, we found out that “The Destroyer” would be making an appearance, as well as some interesting obstacles from overseas like “The Dragon's Back” athletes from the US (who still make up the majority of the racers at this event), had not had the chance to see before.

Our team will be back out on-site for the 2016 OCRWC – You can find full coverage leading up to, and during the race, on this page

Post Summary 

• 2.4X attendance increase. 13% more international competitors than 2014.
• Overall 54% of athletes finished without penalty, up from 44% last year
• 10% increase for both male & female completion rate: Female completion rate (23.5%), Male Completion rate (67%)
• Skull Valley was the band destroyer this year, taking out ~40% of the field. This was the last obstacle, which likely had something to do with it being the most failed.
• Just as many people failed 5+ obstacles, as failed only 1 obstacle, across every category of racer – so Skull Valley isn't solely to blame
• 24 of the 99 people who failed only 1 obstacle did not fail Skull Valley.
• Next-most-deadly obstacles were Tip of the Spear (28.6%), Platinum Rig 1 (25.2%), Sternum Checker (22.7%), Platinum Rig 2 (19.2%), Rope Climb (18.2%), Tyrolean Traverse (16.4%), and Weaver (15.8%)
• People trained to beat the Platinum Rig. Last year had an overall failure rate of 44%, with 33% for men, and 74% for women. This year, the failure rate was only 24% overall, with 14% for men, and 48% of women!
• Sternum Checker 1 & 2 were most disproportionally failed by women vs men. Men had a 7% failure rate, while women failed 58% – more than the Platinum Rig! Last year the failure rate was less than 2% across ALL racers on these obstacles. The reason? Most likely due to it being wet by the time athletes arrived, and not being able to use the side-struts for followup attempts
• 11% increase in rope climb completion (last year called “Ring My Bell”). 71% to 82%. Fairly evenly distributed across men & women. This is with the rope climb being more difficult this year given it was over water.
• The Warped Wall was vastly more difficult for women vs men. 32.9% of the women failed it, while only 3.6% of the men did. Most likely attributed to this obstacle being much easier to complete for taller athletes.
• Want to see some other combination of stats we didn't include? Leave us a comment on the post or on FB, and we can make a follow-up with whatever additions.

This analysis wouldn't be possible without help from our friends at J-Chip and CHōSEN. Also, keep in mind that there is always the chance for slight inaccuracies – though we are confident in the current trends in the data. Also, this data is taken from finishers only. Any DNFs or DQs were removed from the data.

Table of Contents

Overview of Results & Times
Participation by Country
Overall Obstacle Completion Rate
Obstacle Failure Count by Obstacle
Number of Obstacle Failures Per Athlete
Skull Valley Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Tip of the Spear Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Platinum Rig 1 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Sternum Checker 1 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Platinum Rig 2 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Rope Climb Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Tyrolean Traverse Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Weaver Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Sternum Checker 2 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Warped Wall Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Combined Platinum Rig 1 & 2 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Combined Sternum Checker 1 & 2 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates
Random Facts
Conclusion

Overview of Results & Times

For those unfamiliar with the course, or who might need a refresher, we feel this map drawn by Morgan McKay is a perfect representation. Now, we know there might be a few of you who want to the “actual” course, you know, with a GPS or something….so don't worry, you can check that out here.

In addition, it's worth noting the OCR World Championships are a “mandatory obstacle completion” event. This mean's athletes MUST complete every obstacle in order to successfully complete the course. There is no “do burpees on failure”. If an athlete fails an obstacle, they are welcome to try it as many times as they want. If they end up deciding they can't do it, they must turn in their band, which each athlete is given at the start of the race, and given a time penalty.

There were 1,359 finishers at the 2015 OCRWC. 395 females (29%) finished the race, and 964 males (71%) completed. Compared to last year, there were 573 competitors, with 154 (27%) females and 419 males (73%). This was a nearly 2.4X increase in attendance from year to year.

742 (54%) of the competitors finished without penalties, up from 44% last year. 94 of those were females, and 648 were male. Last year only 21 females, or 13.6%, completed penalty free, but this year's 94 females gave a completion rate of 23.6%, a nearly 2X increase over last year. The male completion rate this year was 47.5%, a slight increase over the 45.1% completion rate last year.

Participation by Country

While 2 years of data is not enough to indicate a solid trend, it does appear the event is becoming more international. Last year, over 80% of the competitors were from the United States, while this year only 67% of the competitors were. The United Kingdom had the second largest contingent at 9.7%, followed by the Canadians at 7.5%, The Netherlands with 4.3%, and Sweden with 4.1%. With the 2016 event moving to Canada, it will be interesting to see how that affects the makeup.

In 2014, there were competitors from 11 different countries, while 2015 had competitors from 22 countries.

* Note – This is the only section of data where any DQd competitors are included, thus, the total numbers are slightly higher than the rest of the data.

2015 OCRWC Overall Obstacle Completion Rate

As previously mentioned, the number of athletes finishing without penalty rose from previous years. 2015 saw 54.45% of the competitors finish penalty free (67% for the males, and 23.5% for the females). After the very low finish times in 2014, word spread among athletes of the type of training that would be required to successfully complete such a course, and the athletes responded in their training throughout the year.

Obstacle Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Obstacle Completion Rate by Age-Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

2015 OCRWC Obstacles – Obstacle Difficulty

Coming off of 2014, where the Platinum Rig tore the field apart, people were wondering if that would remain the most difficult obstacle, or if any new surprises would show up. This year, a new obstacle “Skull Valley”, in addition to “Tip of the Spear” (which appeared in 2014 as well), both ended up giving more athletes difficulty than Platinum Rig.

It's worth noting that numbers for Skull Valley & Tip of the Spear might both be slightly over-inflated due to their location on the course. They were at the very end of the course, which had already been very taxing on arm strength. Had they been earlier in the course, I believe they would have had (at least a slightly) lower failure rate.

Some of the new obstacles for 2015 that were unveiled from international race series, like “The Dragon's Back” and “The Destroyer” did not have quite the affect on the field as some suspected. While they definitely added to the fun & novelty of having new obstacles most of the athletes had never tried before, it didn't take too many bands. That said, it definitely impacted finish times, as The Dragon's Back in particular gave many athlete's pause before taking the leap.

The data also shows that some obstacles were again slightly more difficult for women vs men. While Skull Valley equally claimed victims from both the men & women, The Sternum Checker predominately gave females problems (58% failure of women, vs 6.5% for males).

Overall Failure by Obstacle

Top Failure by Obstacle for Women

Top Failure by Obstacle for Men

2015 OCRWC Number of Obstacle Failures Per Athlete

Much like 2014, with the Platinum Rig, it might be easy to say that Skull Valley disproportionately skewed the results. However, only 99 people failed just one obstacle, and of those 99, only 75 were skull valley. That means only 5.5% of the racers lost their band ONLY because of Skull Valley. In fact, the data shows, if you were going to fail an obstacle, you were likely to fail 5+ obstacles, and not just one.

Obstacle Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Number of Obstacle Failures Per Athlete, By Age Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

2015 OCRWC Skull Valley Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

Skull Valley was the most-failed obstacle, with 39.4% of the athletes having to take a penalty on it. As previously mentioned, it did not help that the obstacle was the last obstacle of 15K course, on a cold day, so athletes had already used almost all their arm-strength, and were needing blankets to keep from going hypothermic. Had the obstacle been the first one athletes came to, it would have had a much higher completion rate.

Skull Valley Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Skull Valley Completion Rate by Age-Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

Skull Valley Completion Rate by Country

This table looks at the success rate on Skull Valley in 2015, broken down by country

2015 OCRWC Tip of the Spear Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

Much like Skull Valley, this obstacle had more failures due to being at the end of the course. The design was slightly changed from the previous year, in that the metal chain was replaced by a rope. However, the number of athletes who could not complete the obstacle rose in 2015. In 2014, only 26.3% of athletes could not complete Tip of the Spear, compared to 28.1% in 205.

Tip of the Spear Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Tip of the Spear Completion Rate by Age-Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

Tip of the Spear Completion Rate by Country

This table looks at the success rate on Tip of the Spear in 2015, broken down by country

2015 OCRWC Platinum Rig 1 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

Overall, Platinum Rig failures went down about 20% – from 44% to 24.21%. With BattleFrog having a rig at every race across the USA last year, you might think it was just USA athletes that brought the average up. However, the completion rate of non-US vs US was about the same. In 2014, the failure rate for nonUSA finishers was 44%. In 2015 – 23%. So, basically the same as the overall trends. It would appear that word got out about the Platinum Rig from the athletes who competed in 2014, so athletes were prepared this year – even with there being 2 rigs.

Platinum Rig 1 Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Platinum Rig 1 Completion Rate by Age-Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

Platinum Rig 1 Completion Rate by Country

This table looks at the success rate on Platinum Rig 1 in 2015, broken down by country

2015 OCRWC Sternum Checker 1 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

Sternum Checker 1 & 2 are interesting. In 2014, only 15 athletes (not %, total athletes) had a failure on either Sternum Checker. In 2015, 469 athletes took failures. This obstacle however dispraportionately affected women. Only 6.5% of men could not complete the 1st Sternum Checker, vs 60.0% of the women.

There are 2 possible reasons for the wildly varied failure rates between 2014 and 2015. One is that in 2015, by the time athletes reached the Sternum Checker the obstacle was a bit wet. In addition in 2014, if you failed the obstacle your first attempt, you could use the side trusses to get over. In 2015, no such leniency was given.

Sternum Checker 1 Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Sternum Checker 1 Completion Rate by Age-Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

Sternum Checker 1 Completion Rate by Country

This table looks at the success rate on Sternum Checker 1 in 2015, broken down by country

2015 OCRWC Platinum Rig 2 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

The second Platinum Rig was at the top of the ridge, in the lodging area. Even though it was later in the course, it had a lower failure rate – then again, it was configured differently than the 1st Platinum Rig. Again, I believe this year athletes knew the Platinum Rigs were coming and trained accordingly, resulting in lower failure rates on the Platinum Rig than the year before. Platinum Rig 2 had a 6% lower failure rate than Platinum Rig 1 did.

Platinum Rig 2 Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Platinum Rig 2 Completion Rate by Age-Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

Platinum Rig 2 Completion Rate by Country

This table looks at the success rate on the Platinum Rig 2 in 2015, broken down by country

2015 OCRWC Rope Climb Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

In 2014, the rope climb was the 2nd most failed obstacle. In 2015, the failure rate dropped 11%, from 29% to 18%. In theory, the rope climb appeared to be harder in 2015 as well – while 2014 was a basic rope climb, the 2015 version was set up over some water, presumably making the rope more slick and harder to grip. The athletes responded though, with a higher percentage successfully getting up the rope than in the previous year.

In addition, it appears that on average, compared to the difficulty of other obstacles, women had less problem with the rope climb than men did. For women, the rope climb was the 7th most difficult obstacle, vs the 4th most difficult for the men.

Rope Climb Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Rope Climb Completion Rate by Age-Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

Rope Climb Completion Rate by Country

This table looks at the success rate on the Rope Climb in 2015, broken down by country

2015 OCRWC Tyrolean Traverse Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

The Tyrolean Traverse provided slightly more difficult to athletes in 2015, than it was in 2014, with the failure rate rising from 12.7% to 16.0%.

Tyrolean Traverse Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Tyrolean Traverse Completion Rate by Age-Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

Tyrolean Traverse Completion Rate by Country

This table looks at the success rate on the Tyrolean Traverse in 2015, broken down by country

2015 OCRWC Weaver Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

The Weaver is another obstacle that had athletes have better luck with this year. Only 15.1% of the athletes failed the obstacle in 2014, compared to 19.6% in 2014. The Weaver was a permanent obstacle courtesy of the Mud, Guts, and Glory course, so athletes had a pretty good idea of what to expect from that obstacle.

Weaver Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Weaver Completion Rate by Age-Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

Weaver Completion Rate by Country

This table looks at the success rate on the Weaver in 2015, broken down by country

2015 OCRWC Sternum Checker 2 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

The second sternum checker had a slightly lower failure rate than Sternum Checker 1 (13.0% vs 21.5%), but still impacted 38% of the women. The same factors that played into why the 1st sternum checker was so devastating (wet, and no use of the side struts on 2nd attempt) would have affected these numbers.

Sternum Checker 2 Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Sternum Checker 2 Completion Rate by Age-Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

Sternum Checker 2 Completion Rate by Country

This table looks at the success rate on the Sternum Checker 2 in 2015, broken down by country

2015 OCRWC Warped Wall Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

Everyone wants to be an American Ninja Warrior, right? This is another obstacle that had vastly different failure rates for men vs women. Only 3.6% of the men failed this obstacle, while 32.9% of the women failed. Besides the walls, no other obstacle is impacted by height – thus most likely causing this imbalance, given the (generally speaking) shorter height of the female competitors.

Warped Wall Completion Rate by Division

This table dives into more and more granularity. It starts with overall stats, then male vs. female, and then elite v age group vs. journeyman, and then breaking those down by gender

Warped Wall Completion Rate by Age-Group Category

This dives into each age group category, after the overview from above.

Warped Wall Completion Rate by Country

This table looks at the success rate on the Warped Wall in 2015, broken down by country

Combined Platinum Rig 1 & 2 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

Across almost every category, if you failed one of the Platinum Rigs, you failed the second: More than 50% of the athletes who had a failure at one of the Platinum Rigs failed both of them. Although they are configured differently, they have the same general concept and work (generally) the same muscle groups – so this is mostly expected. As covered in a section above, Platinum Rig 1 was failed more than Platinum Rig 2.

Combined Sternum Checker 1 & 2 Obstacle Analysis & Completion Rates

As previously covered, females were much more likely to fail Sternum Checker than men. For the males, you were most likely to fail sternum checker 1 only. Most females who failed failed both of the checkers, followed closely by just the first sternum checker.

2015 OCRWC Interesting Fun Facts

• 24 of the 99 people who failed only 1 obstacle did not fail Skull Valley. It was a mix of Platinum Rig 1 (6), Hoist (5), Tip of the Spear (3), Sternum Checker (3), Sternum Checker 2 (2), Balance Beam (2), Weaver (1), Tyrloean Traverse (1), and Rope Climb (1) that took their bands.

2015 OCRWC Obstacle Analysis Conclusion

After 2014, with an overall failure rate of 56.2%, with the women in particular with a failure rate of 87%, there was a debate about how tough a championship course should be. This year, the failure rate dropped to 45.6% overall, with the women’s failure rate dropping to 76.5%. Is only 23.5% of the female competitors being able to complete the course the right number? That’s not for us to decide.

The 2015 race brought some new obstacles from overseas, tweaked & enhanced some of the 2014 obstacles, and continued to test the training of their athletes. Since the event was new in 2014, athletes weren’t sure what to expect, but they had a year to train, and that showed in the completion rate increasing on some of the most difficult obstacles that carried over from 2014, such as the Platinum Rig and the Rope Climb.

What will 2016 bring? How successful with the athletes be? We’ll find out in less than two weeks.

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