posted Dec 18th, 2008 - The NSL News reported on 5 November 2008 that CSC Rhythm XP, USPA's Advanced Class champion of 2008, is looking for a new Center Inside. Brian Ball, who had joined the Midwest team for the 2008 season, was not be able to commit to the 2009 schedule.

Once again, it did not take very long until the open slot was filled. Rhythm's remaining 3-way (JaNette Lefkowitz, Steve Lefkowitz and Laurent Beaudouin) announed this week that the lineup is complete for the upcoming season. Rob Radez is the new Center Inside, while Kevin Naftzger will still be on camera for the new lineup.

The new Rhythm member is a current USPA champion, as well. He won the Intermediate Class competition in Eloy with his R4 lineup from Northern California. He is obviously new to the AAA Class dive pool that is waiting for him next year in Rhythm's driver's seat. Center Outside JaNette Lefkowitz explained to the NSL News why her team still decided to move on with Rob Radez in this important slot:

"Steve, myself and Rob have a lot in common. We are all crazy about 4-way competition and willing to commit everything besides our jobs to the team project. That counts for Laurent, as well. But in addition, the three of us studied at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and also connect in different ways. We have already been in touch for a while due to the similar interests and education and remembered each other when we needed a new team member."

24-year old Rob Radez graduated from MIT after JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz had already left the university and started later than JaNette Lefkowitz with his skydiving career, as well. He made his first AFF jump in 2004. Point Steve Lefkowitz started skydiving in 2005 and still has the youngest career.

Rob Radez has a total of approx. 900 jumps and 30 hours of tunnel time by now. He lives and works in California where he also found his first two 4-way teams. He flew the Center Inside slot already for Chakra in 2007 and finished tied in 20th place at the USPA Nationals 2007 in the AA/Intermediate Class.

One year later, he had already moved up to the very top in the same category. His team R4, also from Northern California, won the gold medals in the AA/Intermediate Class of the USPA Nationals 2008 with a 13.1 average, as the NSL News reported on 31 October 2008.

CSC Rhythm XP won the team's own set of USPA gold medals same day, just in the next class up, the AAA/Advanced Class, and with a 16.9 average.

It will obviously be a challenging year for Rhythm's new Center Inside. The new blocks and the significantly higher pace will require extra work for Rob Radez. He is ready for the challenge and plans to commute back and forth between San Francisco, Chicago and North Carolina. Rhythm has made Skydive Chicago its new home for the 2009 season and will spend a lot of tunnel time at Paraclete XP in North Carolina.

The three original Rhythm members have no doubt that Rob Radez will catch up quickly, as JaNette Lefkowitz explained:

"He has already increased his own pace and engagement in 4-way competition significantly in the last two years, and he really impressed us when we were flying with him in the tunnel. His awareness and communication were amazing, everything that a great center inside needs."

The intense training plan for 2009 will most likely bring SDC Rhythm XP to the same performance and scoring level as in 2008 very quickly. The new lineup plans to make over 500 training and competition jumps and wants to add 30 to 40 hours of wind tunnel time. It was obviously important for Rhythm to find somebody who is passionate enough to commit to such a plan.

The SDC Rhythm XP selection camp happened to be at the same time at Paraclete XP when Fastrax Blue had the team's tryouts. It was a coincidence, and Rhythm had four candidates for the Center Inside slot showing up in Raeford. The original 3-way spent 30 minutes of flying time with each candidate.

The new linup will now set up the home base at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, while Rob Radez' former team R4 has to look for a new team member.

Rob Radez said that R4 did not have plans for the 2009 season yet. SDC Rhythm XP thinks that Skydive Chicago's cooperation with Skydive Sebastian in Florida will help the team's challenging training and competition schedule. 63 days on 23 weekends between skydiving and tunneling require a very efficient operation for the team. The NSL News will follow up soon on Rhythm's progression.