They cheered loud and they cheered long - and they cheered for every single competitor that stepped up to tackle the course as the 2024 Canadian Ninja Championships came to Sudbury (to Garson Arena, more specifically) a few weeks back.

That element of support from friends and coaches, from fellow competitors and fans of the sport is just part of the attraction for 13 year-old Dax Musovic, a young man who came to the sport some three years ago with a background in soccer and football in hand - a background that proved helpful.

"The hand-eye coordination and agility really helps a lot, but also the endurance aspect," said Musovic, a native of Waterdown (ON) who trains and competes with Aspire Climbing in Milton.

"You can get pretty tired playing football; same thing with Ninja," added Musovic.

About a year in to his workouts at his home venue, the eldest of two children in the family captured top spot at an in-house competition, spurring his need to master more and more of the sport that taps into so many different core athletic skills for young and old alike.

"I definitely like the super technical stuff, the stuff that involves a lot of precision," said Musovic. "I am pretty confident with my grip strength - I can hang for a while - and I have pretty good pull power.

In fact, it is the mental part of the challenge that has created some of the proudest moments for this youngster who would be following up his appearance in Sudbury with another crack at the World Championships in North Carolina.

"What's really cool sometimes is that in mid-air, I might have to re-adjust my hand and stuff, just think about where I am going to put it in a super tiny slot or something," said Musovic. "It's definitely tough."

While all of those who made their way to Sudbury did so by virtue of qualifying through earlier regional events, there is something to the stage of a coast-to-coast competition that can unsettle even the most experienced of Ninja athletes.

It's one area where Musovic is quite pleased with his progress.

"I have learned to better control my nerves, for sure," he said. "I was so scared the first time I went to do a World's course that I tried to talk myself out of it. The next year, it went significantly better for me."

"I took more deep breaths and kind of accepted that I was going to be nervous - but that nothing in my life was going to really change based on if it went well or if it went awful."

Just eight years of age, Calgary native Riley Banadyga (Fitset Ninja) has already made great strides in this area, able to go with the flow in understanding that above all else, sport in so many ways provides the chance to compete against one-self.

"I got last place on this course, but I was really happy with my run," said Banadyga, just a couple of years into her Ninja journey. "I started with just a Ninja class then moved into a camp and then I got into the competitions."

"I like the strength obstacles," she added. "I built up my strength with gymnastics and still do both basically the same amount."

That said, her heart lies more with her Ninja pursuits - partially because of the challenge.

"I love how Ninja courses have a whole bunch of different things," noted Banadyga. At the 2024 nationals, the "doors" would throw her for a bit of a twist. "I looked at the doors and when I looked at it, I thought I would probably have to hook those in," she said.

"I only have three tries and I got it on my third try."

"It's not like it's the exact same course at different competitions."

The support, from one and all, however, most definitely remains the same.

Following are a list of results as provided by event organizer Patrick Drolet (Nickel City Ninjas):

6-8 Girls - Division
1st - Justin Simard, MST Fitness, St-Hyacinthe QC
2nd - Noelle Gerrity, Wojo Ninja Warrior, East Aurora NY
3rd - Sadie Vanherk, Aspire Climbing Milton, ON
4th - Riley Banadyga, Fitset Ninja, Calgary AB

6-8 Boys - Division
1st - Luka Montpellier, Nickel City Ninjas, Sudbury ON
2nd - Ezekiel Smith, Kardia Ninjas, Brantford ON
3rd - Zack Morelli, Zacada Ninja Warrior, Stoney Creek ON

9-10 Girls - Division
1st - Oaklyn Rudkowsky, Fitset Ninja, Edmonton AB
2nd - Kylie Cutler, Sarnia Super Ninja OCR, Sarnia ON
3rd - Emma Capozzi, 716 Ninja, East Aurora NY
4th - Jana Smith, Kardia Ninjas, Brantford ON

9-10 Boys - Division
1st - Salem Steele, Zacada Ninja Warrior, Stoney Creek ON
2nd - Lincoln Chan, Aspire Climbing Milton, Milton ON
3rd - Thomas Pridham, Zacada Ninja Warrior, Stoney Creek ON
4th - Tyler Bowers, Skyhook Fitness, Tigard OR

11-12 Girls - Division
1st - Aleya Perron, Fitset Ninja, Edmonton AB
2nd - Paisley Rudkowsky, Fitset Ninja, Edmonton, AB
3rd - Aria Capozzi, 716 Ninja, East Aurora NY
4th - Gabriella Gamble, 716 Ninja, East Aurora NY
5th - Sarah Dupuis, MST, St-Hyacinthe QC

11-12 Boys - Division
1st - Hunter Buesink, The Warrior Factory, Hamilton ON
2nd - Frederick Rollin, Voltizone, Mascouche QC
3rd - Ashton Glavin, CTC Obstacles, London ON

13-14 Girls - Division
1st - Mackenzie McCandless, Aspire Climbing, Milton ON
2nd - Braylynn Mandich-Sinasac, CTC Obstacles, London ON
3rd - Lily Brown-John, Momentum Movement Academy, Port Coquitlam BC

13-14 Boys - Division
1st - William Foo, Momentum Movement Academy, Port Coquitlam BC
2nd - Tanner Eidt, Aspire Climbing, Milton ON
3rd - Dax Musovic, Aspire Climbing, Milton ON

15-17 Girls - Division
1st - Nora Brown-John, Momentum Movement Academy, Port Coquitlam BC
2nd - Lilia Pelletier, MST, St-Hyacinthe QC
3rd - Talya Francis, Momentum Movement Academy, Port Coquitlam BC

15-17 Boys - Division
1st - Rory Jago, Momentum Movement Academy, Port Coquitlam BC
2nd - Owen Mitchelson, Momentum Movement Academy, Port Coquitlam BC
3rd - Makaio Stammer, Momentum Movement Academy, Port Coquitlam BC

Amateur Women - Division
1st - Melissa Lipio, Momentum Movement Academy, Port Coquitlam BC
2nd - Alison Ropp, The Warrior Factory, Hamilton ON
3rd - Megan Miller, The Warrior Factory, Hamilton ON

Amateur Men - Division
1st - Lucas Artinian, Fitset Ninja, Calgary AB
2nd - Nicholas Watson, Aspire Climbing, Milton ON
3rd - Jaymar Marayag, Steel Peak, Vaughan ON

Masters Women - Division
1st - Sharon Brown-John, Momentum Movement Academy, Port Coquitlam BC
2nd - Tammie Randall, Sarnia Super Ninja OCR, Sarnia ON
3rd - Kristin Ator, Fitset Calgary / Cor.fit, Calgary AB

Masters Men - Division
1st - Dennis Magtoto, Momentum Movement Academy, Port Coquitlam BC
2nd - Marcelo Granados, The Warrior Factory, Hamilton ON
3rd - Chris Chan, Aspire Climbing, Milton ON

Pro Women - Division
1st - Brynn Friesen, Elemental Ninja, Edmonton AB

Pro Men - Division
1st - Jessy Bélanger, Motion, Granby QC
2nd - Thomas Bernard, MST, St-Hyacinthe QC
3rd - Michael Chow, Momentum Movement Academy, Port Coquitlam BC