posted Oct 23rd, 2008 - Arizona Airspeed is the old and new USPA 8-way champion, and the five Airspeed Odyssey members (Eliana Rodriguez, Craig Girard, Mark Kirkby, Andy Delk, Steve Nowak) repeated last year's double gold feature. Airspeed's 18.3 average was more than enough to leave USA 8 far behind. The two recent personnel changes hurt the US national team of 2008 and at the World Meet 2008 more than expected and caused the team's average of 20.0 in August to drop by more than three points. It will be interesting to see what Arizona Airspeed will decide to do with the 8-way title this year.

The French 8-way team is the best 8-way team that Omniskore's Tim Wagner has ever seen. This means a lot since he is a Golden Knights fan and has seen a lot of 8-way teams over the years. The NSL News can only agree with this statement and congratulate the team for a stellar performance.

However, the 222 points after ten rounds are still two single point shy of tying the record average that the Golden Knights posted in 1997. The 30-pointer in Round 8 is also one single point shy of the standing and official world record for a single round.

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The French 8-way team can still be proud of the performance at the USPA Nationals 2008. The 8-way dive pool in 1997 was significantly faster compared to the current one, and it is still quite impressive that the French 8-way world champions came as close as they did to break both records.

The good news is the fact that this result in Eloy still leaves an open account for the French team.

National coach Jerome David may have an additional point to make when he will try to convince his four remaining 8-way veterans to continue. They can take the responsibility to guide the new young French 8-way lineup to the same performance level and challenge the still standing Golden Knights records once again. We will hear from France as soon as the decision has been made.

Congratulations to the new US 8-way champions of Arizona Airspeed and to the French 8-way team for making the trip to Arizona and adding the extra spice to the 4-way and 8-way competition. The USPA Nationals 2008 continues with more Formation Skydiving competition in 10-way and 16-way.

Foundation for record average is laid

The 26-pointer by France in Round 7 makes the pursuit of the 22.4 record average in 8-way even more exciting. The first two rounds on Thursday would show whether France will be able to catch up to the record level or higher and then maintain it throughout the last two rounds. The first step of the first step was successful, the 26-pointer laid the foundation and needs to be followed up by an even higher score in Round 8.

The sequence of Round 8 is probably the fastest one of the competition, as Airspeed's 8-way veteran and multiple world champion Craig Girard explained to the NSL News: "Sequences with only random formations are not very fast due to the necessary communication. However, a fast block in a sequence with three random formations is a great opportunity."

Block 1 (Donut Flake - Donut Flake) is one of the fastest sequences in the 8-way dive pool, and it comes along with three random formations in Round 8. There is probably even a chance that the French 8-way team could challenge the world record for a single round. The Golden Knights posted the 31-pointer at the World Meet 1997 in Turkey. The teams are getting ready for Round 8.

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"PD, Tempest won by two..."

The NSL News commented the 4-way competition between Sebastian Tempest and CSC Rhythm XP across the two leaderboards of the Open and Advanced Class already earlier. The same article mentioned that the two teams from Florida and Illinois would join forces for the 8-way event.

CSC Rhythm XP won the Advanced Class competition with a 16.9 average, and Sebastian Tempest posted the team's highest 10-round result with a 17.1 average. Both teams were happy with their 4-way achievements.

However, one team was happier, and it shows in the name of the 8-way team: PD Tempest 1X2. The NSL News asked the team this morning about the meaning of the team name and got the answer: "PD, Tempest won by two". Sounds like hidden message to somebody... The link to the video clip can be found at the bottom of this page.

NSL News counts 18 Airspeed members

Arizona Airspeed members are all over the 8-way competition, as well. Craig Girard told the NSL News that there are 20 current and former Airspeed members on the competition site at the moment. Nine of them are obviously competing in the lineup that is currently in second place behind France and in first place ahead of USA 8. John Hamilton is the alternate for this lineup.

Thomas Hughes competes with the Golden Knights. Kirk Verner, Andy Honigbaum, Gary Beyer and John Eagle are Paraclete Directe XP members in 8-way. Todd Hawkins is player coach for Blind Squirrels. Christopher Irwin helps Josh Hall and Perris Alpha. Chad Smith competed with Arizona Divewerkz in 4-way. The NSL News is counting 18 current and former Airspeed members at the moment. The audience is welcome to help out with the missing names.

Perris Fury 8-way project manage 35 % of the field

The 8-way competition seems to be mostly an affair of Perris Fury and Arizona Airspeed. Christy Frikken told the NSL News this morning that her team's 8-way project has six teams competing in Eloy this week. The four Fury members are player coaches for four teams (Perris Alpha with Josh Hall, Perris Moxie with Christy Frikken, Perris Pulse 8 with Chris Farina, Perris Rockin Ochoderos with Uli Stuewe).

Two more Fury 8-way project teams are managed by player coaches Scott Latinis (Perris OGR) and Fastrax Blue member Brianne Thompson (Perris Legitim8). That makes it six out of a total of 21 teams, 35% of all 8-way teams in Eloy are part of the Perris Fury project. The link to the short interview with Christy Frikken can be found at the bottom of this page.

By the way: the silver medal in the 4-way Open Class was the first medal ever at USPA Nationals for Skydiving Magazine's 2007 Skydiver of the Year. Congratulations.

Sean Sweeney controls basketball court

Thursday morning at the USPA Nationals 2008 began with chilly temperatures, and the teams really had to warm up this time. NSL-TV had captured members of the French 8-way team a few days ago on the basketball court. This morning, US players took over and showed the French players how to play basketball.

Golden Knights member Sean Sweeney was the hero on the basketball court when he slam dunked the ball after the NSL News and other players convinced him to show off for the camera. He sunk a little 10-footer before and followed up on the slam dunk with a 3-pointer. Seems like he may have another career opportunity if skydiving competition doesn't work out. His 8-way team is far behind Airspeed at the moment... The link to the video is already set at the bottom of this Thursday page.

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NSL-TV Video Clips:

Sean Sweeney's slam dunk: click here

Christy Frikken on Perris Fury's 8-way teams: click here

Tempest won by two: click here

FOX News and the US 8-way team: click here