posted Mar 21st, 2016 - The aftermath of the Shamrock Showdown 2016 begins with the best of the best in DeLand, the videos of Arizona Airspeed's ten meet rounds.

It was the first competition for the new lineup, featuring new member Mikhail Markine in the Point slot. Niklas Hemlin is back in the driver's seat (Inside Center) after a year in the front piece with Outside Center Thomas Hughes. Thiago Gomes is also back in his 2015 slot, the Tail position.

There is no doubt that NMP PCH Hayabusa and coach Gary Smith will go to work and study the Airspeed videos very carefully, as soon as they are available for reviews. The results of the Belgian evaluation will definitely include the fact that Airspeed's performance was almost perfectly acceptable by the three judges in DeLand. Jim Rees, Dirk Venter and Chris Talbert found only one penalty situation in Round 4 and approved everything else. Airspeed is in synch with the new lineup.

Shamrock Showdown 2016			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		3,13,9	G,6,21	10,20,11	18,4,B	F,1,14	19,5,7	P,Q,16,A	C,15,M,12	J,L,K,2	E,O,22,17	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	US	23	24	19	22	24	24(-1)	29	25	29	24	243	24.3
2	Aerodyne French Girls	FR	21	22	17	21	23	20	27	21	27	22	221	22.1
3	Qatar Tigers	QA	19	22	16	21	19	19	29	20	28	22	215	21.5
4	SDC Rhythm XP	US	19	19	15	19	21	20	26	19	25	21	204	20.4
5	Satori XL	UK	19	18	16	20	19	20	26	18	24	22	202	20.2
6	TurBu 2.0	US	15	19	15	15	19	20	24	15	21	20	183	18.3
7	Teiwaz	US	11	13	12	13	12	13	16	11	17	12	130	13.0

It was not a surprise at all that Airspeed would win in DeLand and remain undefeated at the Shamrock Showdown. This achievement was rewarded with $500 cash this year, sponsored by Skydive DeLand.

However, the Shamrock Showdown also includes the Skins Game, where cash is on stake round by round for all teams, after applying a sophisticated handicap system. The team on the top of the leaderboard sets the pace without a handicap and has to outscore all other teams clearly to win additional prize money.

Skydive DeLand owner Bob Hallet added a total of $1,500 to the jackpot for the last three rounds, and Airspeed used the first opportunity with the 25-pointer in Round 8. The 4-point distance to the team in 2nd place for a round with a slow sequence added $500 cash to the Airspeed account.

The Qatar Tigers had shown in Round 7 what they are capable of by tying Airspeed's 29-pointer before handicap. Round 7 had no cash prize for the Shamrock Skins Game, which started in Round 8. However, the Tigers almost tied Airspeed's score again in Round 9 and claimed the next $500 for the 28-pointer, and with a clear win after handicap.

The $500 skin for Round 10 was the most contested one. Satori XL ended up one tenth of a point (26.72 - 26.62) ahead of TurBu 2.0 and won the remaining $500. Several other teams were within striking distance after handicap, as well.

Arizona Airspeed's starting point of the 2016 world meet season has been defined, and the discussion and speculation of the new situation can begin...