posted Sep 13th, 2012 - The story of the Golden Knights' female 4way lineup began when Team Leader Brian "BK" Krause succeeded in adding the new category to the US Army's competition team project.

Recruiting of the lineup was completed at the end of the 2010 season. The 8way lineup had come back from Russia with silver medals, and the new and larger Golden Knights Formation Skydiving competition delegation launched the training program targeted at the gold medals in 2012. Two sets of gold medals that was: 8way and 4way Women. Sean Sweeney soon became the new 8way team captain, and Brian Krause could focus on guiding the whole delegation towards the big goals.

The female 4way lineup was in a good position. The 8way lineup also has a wealth of 4way knowledge and experiences. Coaching was freely and largely available at any time, but the new team needed competition experience with this lineup.

World Cup 2011		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	4way Women	C,22,19	E,M,1,2	12,9,16	O,8,10	Q,14,5	P,17,K,18	21,L,J,13	3,11,B	20,G,H,4	N,F,A,7	Total	Avg
1	Aerodyne DB Defenders	16	20	16	17	19	20	19	17	17 (-1)	28	189	18.9
2	Illusions	12 (-2)	21	17	14 (-3)	16 (-3)	16 (-3)	19	18	15 (-1)	19 (-7)	167	16.7
3	Polaris	13 (-2)	19	13 (-3)	15	15	17	17	13 (-2)	16	23 (-1)	161	16.1
4	Golden Knights	13 (-1)	16	14	15	14	14 (-1)	13 (-1)	15	15	24	153	15.3
5	Bodyflight Aerodyne	13 (-2)	18	12 (-1)	14	12 (-1)	16	12 (-1)	14	14	23 (-1)	148	14.8

The first serious test came at the World Cup 2011 in Germany where the Golden Knights were facing four other national teams and could outscore only one of them, the new UK team Aerodyne Bodyflight Langar. Polaris from Norway, Illusions from Russia and Aerodyne Deep Blue Defenders from France were far ahead.

Only three weeks later, the Golden Knights had indirectly caught up with Polaris when they posted a 16.3 average at the August meet of the Carolina Skydiving League 2011.

Finally, the US Army's female lineup got even more NSL News attention when the Golden Knights Black lineup had to accept their female 4way fellows' growing power at the USPA Nationals 2011. The ladies won by three points with a 17.4 average and answered NSL News questions in a live interview after the meet was completed.

Paraclete Outdoor 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	Q,8,H,22	16,19,13	10,14,2	E,C,20,K	5,M,9	A,6,F,17	D,21,N,B	P,O,G,J,1	18,4,7	12,15,3	Total	Avg
1	Aerodyne DB Defenders (FR)	19	16	15	23	27	23	24	24	16	14	201	20.1
2	Polaris (NO)	18	13	10	22	22	19	20	21	15	13	173	17.3
3	Golden Knights (US)	17	12	13	19	20	17	22	22	16	14	172	17.2
4	Crimson Fox (CA)	8	6	6	9	8	6	7	11	5	7	73	7.3

Then came the winter break, and the complete Golden Knights delegation came to Florida in March for the Paraclete XP Outdoor Championship 2012.

The 8way lineup won over Russia's Sky Panthers Barkli, and the female 4way lineup came back on the same scoring level where the team had finished in 2011.

The Aerodyne Deep Blue Defenders were still far ahead and far away in DeLand. Polaris had also increased the performance level over the winter and won the second matchup with the Golden Knights by one single point.

However, the US Army team had with no doubt moved a lot closer.

World Cup 2012		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	4way Women	1,19,2	14,18,15	N,16,20	E,6,J,A	C,K,9,13	F,8,11	Q,22,L,21	B,17,H,P	12,D,0,4	G,10,7	Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights (US)	17	15	18	28	23	19	18	27	17	19	201	20.1
2	Aerodyne DB Defenders (FR)	16	15	17	27	21	17	20	31	19	16	199	19.9
3	Polaris (NO)	15	13	14	25	20	17	17	22	17	16	176	17.6

Evidence of the progression came with the scores at the May meet of the Carolina Skydiving League 2012 where an 18.0 average was on the scoreboard after six rounds. The Golden Knights were on the way to a new performance level, which French opponent Amelie Tirman expected to see at the World Cup 2012.

France's gold medalist of 2010 in the Tail slot, Aerodyne Deep Blue Defenders' Amelie Tirman, and national coach Jeremie Rollett were correct. The table had completely turned from the Golden Knights perspective. Polaris was not even close any longer, and the Defenders could not fend off the Golden Knights challenge in Prostejov.

It was a good battle between France and USA in the female 4way category, even though both teams posted scores on different leaderboards. However, the pressure is now on the French team. There is a very good chance that the scoring progression of the Golden Knights will not stop where it is now. The previous numbers indicate what the team has in mind - the next scoring level above 21-average.

Brian "BK" Krause is proud of his new lineup and will probably see them live in action this weekend in Raeford at the last meet of the Carolina Skydiving League. He had to settle with on-line coverage from Prostejov. Then the complete Golden Knights delegation travels to Eloy and will try to impress once again Russia in 8way and France in 4way with new and even better numbers before the Mondial 2012 in Dubai follows in December, as the final 2012 destination this year.