posted Jan 9th, 2016 - The recent updates after the two events in Dubai, Clash of Champions 2015 and World Air Games 2015, mentioned that the ongoing battle between NMP PCH Hayabusa and Arizona Airspeed would soon continue at the upcoming Wind Games in Empuriabrava, Spain.

The Wind Games 2015 were in fact the first event where both teams competed directly against each other with their new lineups. NMP PCH Hayabusa had replaced Roy Janssen with Jeroen "Bob" Nollet after winning the gold medals at the FAI World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2014. Mark Kirkby left Airspeed after the same event, and Thiago Gomes moved from point to tail. Niklas Hemlin came back from the 2012 lineup and took the point slot.

The Wind Games 2015 were the first bigger event last year, and both teams had their first serious test. Hayabusa won the first confrontation by five points and has not lost a meet ever since.

Wind Games 2015		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open	C,17,6	3,4,M	F,11,15	D,2,5	J,13,N,K	Q,1,O,P	19,22,B	10,7,9	14,G,H,16	L,E,8,12	Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa (BE)	33(-1)	28	31	32	32	36(-1)	28	29	29	26(-1)	304(-3)	30.4
2	Arizona Airspeed (US)	32(-1)	30	30	29	34	32(-5)	24(-3)	30	29	24(-3)	294(-12)	29.4

NMP PCH Hayabusa and Arizona Airspeed were facing each other only two more times last year, at the very end of the competition season in Dubai. The Wind Games were supposed to open the 2016 race for the 4-way gold medals at the Mondial in September this year, which is not going to happen after Airspeed canceled the trip to Spain.

There is a very serious reason behind the cancelation: Airspeed has to deal with a personnel change. Inside center Chris Farina is not with Airspeed any longer, and the U.S. national team is in the process of configuring a new lineup.

Thomas Hughes, Niklas Hemlin and Thiago Gomes continue with videographer Justin Price, and they have contacted Airspeed's 2012 world champion Josh Hall to check his availability.

It is also possible that Mikhail Markine, who will replace Thomas Hughes at the end of the 2016 season, might get his slot much earlier than he expected it. He has no team commitments for the 2016 season and would be available to fill an open slot.

Chris Farina leaves open the inside center position though, which can be filled by Niklas Hemlin, who won his Airspeed 2012 gold medal in the same slot. Current tail Thiago Gomes was Airspeed's point in 2013 and 2014 before moving back to his former tail slot when Mark Kirkby retired. Mikhail Markine was the tail for SDC Rhythm XP. Airspeed will now also have to make the slot adjustments much earlier than expected, just for a different reason.

The new situation takes away some of the excitement for the Wind Games, as each new Airspeed-Hayabusa duel is always a special feature.

It may also release some pressure on Hayabusa, which will not be appreciated in Belgium. Airspeed now has roughly seven months left to bring any new lineup to Hayabusa speed...