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Did You Know...

... that Arizona Airspeed is still undefeated at the Shamrock Showdown?

Arizona Airspeed at the Shamrock Showdown 2008
posted Feb 25th, 2016 - The duel between Arizona Airspeed and NMP PCH Hayabusa for the world's top spot in 4-way competition has a long history, and it has taken place at locations all over the planet.

The Belgian team came from far behind when Airspeed's earlier lineups had established the dynasty's top position many years ago.

Hayabusa has eventually taken away all titles that Airspeed used to own.

It began with the Belgian domination at indoor events and was completed when Hayabusa won the gold medals at the FAI World Championship of Formation Skydiving in Prostejov 2014.

However, there is still one major event that Arizona Airspeed has dominated since 2007. Airspeed has never been defeated yet at the Shamrock Showdown in DeLand, and the U.S. national team has no intention to let any team take away the last of the top achievements.

Shamrock Showdown 2008
12345678910TotalAvg
RankAAA Class18,7,159,10,144,F,M,AL,H,E,63,P,5G,C,J,D,B12,13,Q1,16,2021,N,O,219,11,22TotalAvg
1Airspeed OdysseyUS212232302542221722 1925225.2
2MaubeugeFR2118302824452119221924724.7
3EvolutionCA1819272720361917201722022.0
Arizona Airspeed at the Shamrock Showdown 2012
Arizona Airspeed has made the spring trip to DeLand eight times since 2007 and will be back at this year's competition. Airspeed is not at all undefeated in DeLand due to lack of strong competition.

There has not been a competition yet where either the international top challengers or national medal contenders tried to win in DeLand when Airspeed was there.

Eliana Rodriguez, Craig Girard, Mark Kirkby and Andy Delk (Steve Nowak on camera) fought off the French national team of 2008,who would end up one single point behind Airspeed at the FAI World Meet in Maubeuge later the same year and then win the gold medals in 2010.

Thomas Hughes, Mark Kirkby, Niklas Hemlin and Josh Hall (Bill Schmitz on camera) won over Hayabusa and France in March 2012 before the three teams finished in exactly the same order at the FAI Mondial Dubai 2012.

Paraclete XP Outdoor 2012
12345678910TotalAvg
RankAAA ClassQ,8,H,2216,19,1310,14,2E,C,20,K5,M,9A,6,F,17D,21,N,BP,O,G,J,118,4,712,15,3TotalAvg
1Arizona AirspeedUS2520183536253331232026626.6
2NMP-PCH HayabusaBE2321203334293030202126126.1
3Aerodyne AerokartFR2321193329282829232125425.4
Arizona Airspeed at the Shamrock Showdown 2014
Arizona Airspeed's 2008 lineup missed only the Shamrock Showdown 2010, where the French team took the 1st place (over Hayabusa and Perris Fury) and then won the FAI gold medals in Menzelinsk 2010.

In 2014, Hayabusa was ready to do what the other gold medal winners had done in world meet years: win in DeLand in March and then in Prostejov.

The other three medal contenders (Airspeed - Evolution - France) were in DeLand, as well, ready for the serious outdoor test at the beginning of the competition season.

Hayabusa was still training on Friday, even though Roy Janssen was sick.

It got worse, and Hayabusa had to withdraw. The three top teams in DeLand then finished once again in exactly the same order in Prostejov - only behind the gold medal winner from Belgium with a healthy Roy Janssen.

Paraclete XP Outdoor 2014
12345678910TotalAvg
RankAAA Class18,2,OD,19,22G,C,P,109,A,L,HK,16,B,Q7,4,2111,15,FM,3,E,86,1,1720,12,JTotalAvg
1Arizona AirspeedUS2020284633242320192125425.4
2EvolutionCA2122254030212323201924424.4
3VoltRFR2019243629212022201622722.7
Challenger: SDC Rhythm XP 2016 lineup
NMP PCH Hayabusa did not come back to DeLand last year and is missing this year's Shamrock Showdown, as well.

However, Black Cat, Russia's 4-way medal contender, will challenge Arizona Airspeed, and the Qatar Tigers have become a dangerous underdog.

The Shamrock Showdown 2016 will also feature the first confrontation between the new lineups of Arizona Airspeed and SDC Rhythm XP.

The Sun Path Products NSL News has covered the personnel changes in both teams with several articles, and the DeLand event will define the starting point in the race for the top spot in the U.S.A.

This starting point is a very important mark, as Airspeed will be facing another change in the lineup after the USPA Nationals 2016 when Thomas Hughes steps back. SDC Rhythm XP will have completed a year of training and competition with the new lineup by then and might be very close to the new Airspeed 2017 lineup. How close...?

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