Cowboy Ninja rides into town

While Lance Pekus is proud to be an American Ninja Warrior, he’s even more proud of the slice of America he calls home.

“People from Idaho are tough,” he told The Press on Thursday. “We work hard, we get out there, and we get the job done, and it shows. Most of the people I’m competing with come from the city. Most of them train in gyms with these specific obstacle courses built in. Me, I just work with what I’ve got.”

The 34-year-old and nine-time competitor on American Ninja Warrior is coming to Hayden tonight for a free meet-and-greet at Triple Play on U.S. 95.

The rancher from Salmon became a national sensation back in 2012 after his performance on American Ninja Warrior. Since then, Pekus has returned year after year to the hit NBC show, where — after he would routinely run elaborate obstacle courses donning his Jaxonbilt hat — he earned his now-famous monicker: Cowboy Ninja. He said he tries not to let the exposure and recognition go to his head.

“It was hard at first, coming from a small town,” Pekus said. “You’re not used to it. I was just doing this for the fun of it, then coming into the spotlight all of the sudden … It’s definitely been tough adjusting to that.”

But Pekus said he has someone to balance him out and keep him in check. He said his wife, Heather, keeps him focused on the task at hand and the obstacle in front of him: an obstacle that is seldom easy to overcome.

“Every year, it seems like the courses get harder and harder. You train for what you saw the previous year, and they change it up on you … But that’s the great thing about the show: It’s always changing.”

Pekus makes his ninth season debut when he appears Monday on American Ninja Warrior, but tonight’s appearance at Triple Play will be his first. He said he's excited to bring his family to the popular North Idaho attraction, and his attention was piqued when he heard about one particular attraction at the family fun park: the ropes course.

“I might have to give that a try,” he said.

The free meet-and-greet is part of Pekus’s campaign to raise awareness for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Heather is one of more than 2.3 million people living with the disease, a matter they tried to keep private until she showed up to support her husband on national television from her wheelchair.

“It’s kind of hard living your life on national TV sometimes,” he said. “Finally, people started finding out about her diagnosis. It got to the point where we couldn’t really hide it. We were relieved when we put it out there, though, because the amount of people that have reached out to us to show us their support has been incredible. What she does on a daily basis and what she can influence is really amazing.”

Jennifer Ross, marketing and sales director for Triple Play, said the park was more than happy to have the Idaho star come to North Idaho.

“We are so excited to have Lance and his family at our park, and to be able to raise not only awareness but also funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society,” she said.

The meet-and-greet, which runs from 6 to 7:30 tonight at Triple Play, is free to the public. Triple Play is donating $10 of each evening pass sold to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Pekus will appear Monday night at 8 p.m. on KHQ, the local NBC affiliate.