posted Apr 22nd, 2015 - The Sun Path Products NSL News reported on 11 March 2015 that the reigning 8-way world champions of 2012 and 2014, the Golden Knights, were facing a new and very challenging situation. Personnel changes of the US Army team and a new French 8-way lineup for 2016 both happened surprisingly and "turned the tables" almost over-night.

Six weeks later, the Golden Knights are back in 8-way training, and things have changed for the better on the US side. Larry Miller, 8-way world champion of 2012 and 2014, was granted permission to come back from the Demonstration Team, which is a very important change for the Golden Knights.

The world champion lineup of 2014 is now back together with seven members (Sean Sweeney, Justin Blewitt, Josh Coleman, Matt Davidson, Kurt Isenbarger, Jessie Stahler, Larry Miller). Former alternate Andrew Starr is still recovering from his back injury and will be back in action in June.

New alternate David Flynn is currently training in Andrew Starr's slot with the Golden Knights 8-way team, and Sherri Jo Gallagher is on camera. David Flynn will step back as soon as Andrew Starr is ready to resume with 8-way training.

Team member Kurt Isenbarger said that his team is very happy to have Larry Miller back in the US Army Competition Team. It would have been extremely difficult for the Golden Knights to defend the 8-way Excalibur sword and gold medals successfully in 2016 with two new members.

Larry Miller brings with him a wealth of 8-way experience after winning his two gold medals in 2012 and 2014. The Golden Knights will need a very strong lineup to keep up with the French 8-way team and to have a realistic chance of winning the gold medals for the third consecutive time next year.

World Challenge 2015			Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA/Open Class		15,K,E,F	11,22,A	16,H,M,19	3,10,D	17,18,P	4,12,O	5,N,L,G	14,B,C,20	2,1,21	J,Q,6,13	Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	40	24	32	25	29	26	38	30	24	33	301	30.1
2	SDC Rhythm XP	US	36	24	28	22	28	23	34	26	23	29	273	27.3
3	Weembi Lille	FR	36	20	31	25	23	23	31	29	21	29	268	26.8
4	Gavroche	FR	34	23	30	23	25	23	32	27	22	24	263	26.3
5	Thunder ISR	BE	35	21	29	23	27	21	28	24	22	27	257	25.7
6	SportLoto	RU	36	23	30	21	24	21	32	22	23	22	254	25.4
7	Artemis Saumur RealFly	FR	33	21	28	22	23	21	29	27	19	27	250	25.0

The French 8-way team is not planning to train very much. However, the French 8-way world champions of 2006, 2008, 2010 and the complete 2012 lineup have accumulated approx. 3,000 jumps over the years together. They will not need a lot of training to get back to the 8-way gold medal level of the past years.

The French team members also keep in shape in different ways in the meantime. Almost the complete lineup (Emmanuel Sarrazin, Clement Martin St. Leon, Mathieu Bernier, Guillaume Bernier, Julien Degen, Julien Olek, Bruno Perin, Thomas Perrin Gachadoat) trains and competes in 4-way, as well, as the leaderboard of the World Challenge 2015 is showing.

Emmanuel Sarrazin, Clement Martin St. Leon, Bruno Perin and Julien Olek finished 4th with a 26.3 average. Their 8-way team mates Thomas Perrin Gachadoat and Julien Degen placed right ahead of them with a 26.8 average for Weembi Lille. Mathieu Bernier guided the French B-Team Artemis Saumur Flyzone to the 7th place with a 25.0 average. Only his brother Guillaume Bernier missed the French 4-way party in Bedford...