posted Feb 12th, 2016 - It is usually the beginning of a new year and a new competition season that creates that funny feeling in the stomach: that combination of anticipation and excitement of unknown things to come. It was the end of the year this time that was possibly even more exciting than new beginnings. The Dubai double header, Clash of Champions and World Air Games, threw NMP PCH Hayabusa and Arizona Airspeed - and their new lineups - at each other two times in two weeks, including the first outdoor battle over 10 rounds.

The results did not really change anything in the bigger picture. Yes, Hayabusa remains undefeated indoor and outdoor, and Airspeed keeps trying to win back the top position in the world. However, the two best 4-way teams are still as close to each other as before, and a prediction of the outcome at the Mondial 2016 is still impossible.

There was a different Airspeed-related topic that stirred up the 4-way world quite a bit in Dubai; Thomas Hughes announced during a live broadcast that the 2016 season will be his last one in the active Airspeed lineup. That was BIG news and surprising.

TURNING POINTS: Rhythm XP - Airspeed's Farm Team?

It is unusual that Airspeed announces a personnel change so early. In the past, this happened at the end of a competition season for the following year. Yes, confidential conversations, negotiations and recruiting took place before decisions were announced; an entire year in advance is different...

It was even more surprising that the name of the new Airspeed member was released almost at the same time. It is another SDC Rhythm XP member who moves from the East to the West Coast: Mikhail Markine. This makes three former Rhythm members (Thiago Gomes, Chris Farina and Mikhail) who will compete for Arizona Airspeed in 2017, together with Niklas Hemlin.

Quite a few have begun to call SDC Rhythm XP Airspeed's "farm team." I am sure JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz hate to hear that, even though they can be proud they have helped to bring future Airspeed members to the top level, where they become attractive enough for the legendary franchise.

There are other voices who blame Airspeed for trying to tear apart the Rhythm lineups and weaken the direct competition. I don't buy into this conspiracy theory. I think it is a very practical way to find the best new team members - in all sports: Negotiate with the next best in the rankings if you are on top. It weakens the direct competition at the same time, no doubt, but that's a side effect.

The early announcement created a very interesting and new situation that I have not seen in the last 30 years: Mikhail Markine knows he has his Airspeed slot after the Mondial 2016 and the USPA Nationals, while he does not have a team this year.

The "farm team" reacted quickly after learning the new situation and "fired" their tail of 2013 - 2015. It would be wasted time to train and compete with Mikhail Markine throughout the 2016 season; in fact, this would mean JaNette and Steve would help keep the future Airspeed member in good shape until his new team would start training with him.

The Rhythm founders had a better idea.

JaNette and Steve did not hesitate a day and began recruiting their own new lineup instantly. They needed two new members, as Christy Frikken also stepped back after the USPA Nationals 2015. They found their new members quickly by copying what Airspeed has done in the past: Ask the next-best team in line, Carolina Turbo XP. The complete Turbo front piece, Andrew Happick and Doug Barron, agreed to join Rhythm.

It's not only the breaking news and fast recruiting moves on the ground at the end of the year that make it so exciting to think about the coming competition season. The talent and potential of the new Rhythm lineup promises a new Airspeed chase without much interruption. And there is even more to it. Much more...

It is not the same situation as in past years, where Rhythm starts the pursuit from quite far behind. Yes, Airspeed will once again be far ahead of Rhythm at the 2016 meets. But then things will change at the end of the 2016 season.

That will be when Rhythm has completed a whole training and competition season with the new lineup and the set slots, while Airspeed has a fresh beginning when Thomas Hughes steps back. Airspeed will also have a slot scramble, as Mikhail Markine and Thiago Gomes have both been in the tail slot lately.

There is a good chance Airspeed and Rhythm will be very close to each other at the beginning of the 2017 season - closer than ever before in the race for the top spot at USPA Nationals 2017. The Shamrock Showdown 2017 will probably be the first time when the new truth will be told...