posted Jul 7th, 2012 - The NSL News reported the Midway Battle 2012 with two stories. The first one was a preview that broke the news that Craig Girard would fill the Center Inside slot for Chris Farina. The second one came together with the scores from Skydive Chicago.

The 22.6 average was the highest outdoor result for Rhythm, and the new video shows all ten rounds. It offers the opportunity to watch Craig Girard once again in action, which is actually nothing so unusual for the NSL News audience.

The Arizona Airspeed 4way world champion of 2001 and 2008 is not competing for gold medals any longer after moving to Dubai, together with Eliana Rodriguez. However, he has still been filling open 4way slots for his Dubai Asaar teams whenever it became necessary. He was in action on NSL-TV not too long ago when he competed with Asaar Gold at the Paraclete XP Outdoor Championship 2012.

Craig Girard has always been in the Center Outside slot when he trained and competed for Arizona Airspeed in 4way. He also filled the Center Outside slot for Asaar Gold in DeLand in March.

His substitute position for SDC Rhythm XP was the Center Inside slot, and he had never been there before on a 22.6 performance level. It was a challenge, and he said that the whole team worked really hard to make the best out of the situation after Chris Farina had to sit out due to the knee injury on the first training day before the meet.

The Rhythm substitute for the Midway Battle helped the team to post the highest outdoor average in the records. Now he will go back to Dubai and prepare his two 4way lineups and the Asaar 8way team for the World Meet 2012 on home turf.

Midway Battle 2012

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

Total

Avg

Rank

AAA Class

E,8,3

L,13,18

1,C,H,7

5,J,K,22

20,G,17

B,6,11

O,F,A,4

15,19,D

21,P,12

Q,M,2,14

Total

Avg

1

SDC Rhythm XP (US)

21

19

25

22

20

24

33

21

19

22

226

22.6

Craig Girard was piece partner with Thiago Gomes at the Midway Battle. The Rhythm Tail had just worked out the details of the rear piece with Chris Farina this year after the new Center Inside had joined the Rhythm lineup at the end of the 2011 season. Craig Girard was the third piece partner for Thiago Gomes within the last eight months.

Another interesting aspect of the Rhythm lineup at the Midway Battle was Craig Girard's history in the front piece. He and Eliana Rodriguez were the front piece for Arizona Airspeed when they won the gold medals at the World Meet 2008 in Maubeuge, France. JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz are also together as a couple in the front piece.

The difference between those two pieces is the slot assignment. Craig Girard had the Center Outside position as his A-slot, while Eliana Rodriguez was the Point. The Rhythm lineup has it the other way around, with JaNette in the Center Outside position and Steve as the Point. Craig Girard probably had some good input and advice for the front piece, as well.