Two locals compete for charity on 'American Ninja Warrior'
<p>Steve Seiver balances on a crosswalk signal post while performing extreme calisthenics that he refers to a “street workout,” seen here in downtown Coeur d’Alene on March 27, 2015.</p>
<p>Chris Moore, of Coeur d'Alene, stands on the Oklahoma City "American Ninja Warrior" stage where he competed earlier this year. Moore is participating in the challenge to raise money for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. His air date is June 20 on NBC.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — Steve Seiver almost didn't make it in time to check in as a competitor for the eighth season of "American Ninja Warrior."
He was in L.A., fighting his way through traffic, and running very late.
"I was freaking out," he said Tuesday. "It was crazy. I made it there literally as they were starting."
The Coeur d'Alene personal trainer, Idaho Fence fabricator and yogi became used to life in the fast lane as a part of his training for "American Ninja Warrior," an obstacle course challenge show where competitors test their strength and endurance to win $1 million.
Seiver competed at the regional competition in L.A. in April. He will appear on the season eight premiere on NBC tonight at 8. A viewing party will be held at Crickets Restaurant and Oyster Bar, where Seiver will be giving out samples from Patriot Supplements and sharing his big night with anyone who wants to attend.
"It was phenomenal from start to finish," he said. "It's going to be fun for everyone to watch. I put on a decent show, at least."
Seiver's "American Ninja Warrior" colleague, Coeur d'Alene prosthetist and orthotist Chris Moore, will also be at the viewing party. Moore competed last year and his 2016 attempt at glory, set in Oklahoma City, is expected to air at 8 p.m. June 20. He said he loves reliving the moments with his friends and family in the comfort of his favorite pizza shop, Nate's New York Pizza in Post Falls, where his viewing party will be held.
These guys might have big goals and big muscles, but their hearts are bigger. They are both competing to donate their winnings to children's charities — Seiver to the Wishing Star Foundation, an Idaho and Washington nonprofit that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses, and Moore to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a North American hospital network that helps kids even if their families don't have the ability to pay.
"Shriners is the last multi-hospital organization in this country that will see kids whether they can pay for it or not," Moore said. "There's no other hospital organization like this."
Seiver said he has kids himself and can't imagine what parents of chronically ill kids go through.
"I've come to a really altruistic point in my life where I want to give back," he said. "It's a pretty big honor to be able to do this for them."
Moore and Seiver are two of three competitors from the Inland Northwest and two of five from Idaho.
"It's a lot when you think about U.S. population and that five are from Idaho," Moore said. "And we don't even have any ninja gyms here."
The athletes can't comment on whether they will be advancing to finals in Las Vegas, but they both shared that competing Warriors were supportive and everyone cheered for each other.
"One of the coolest things about this has been the people I've met along the way," Seiver said. "The community is so rad. You're competing against people but everyone's trying to help out."
"It's the only time where someone will tell you what you need to do to beat them," Moore said.
Crickets is located at 424 E. Sherman Ave. in Coeur d'Alene.
Info: www.facebook.com/Wishing-Star-Foundation-93403536432 and AmericanNinja4kids.com