posted Oct 29th, 2016 - The USPA National Skydiving Championships of Formation Skydiving are not over when the traditional events are completed. 16-way and 10-way Speed competitions follow right after the 10-round meets in 4-way and 8-way.

The two top spots have been reserved for Arizona Airspeed and Golden Knights for many years. Both teams have to extend their lineups and invite other Formation Skydiving competitors to fill the open slots. Both events are still very competitive, and there is a serious medal count at the end of the Formation Skydiving championships.

Arizona Airspeed dominated the overall placing until 2010. This changed when the Golden Knights resumed their 8-way training and competition in 2009 and eventually won USPA gold in 8-way, 10-way and 16-way in 2011. The Golden Knights and their lineups have won all 8-way, 10-way and 16-way gold medals ever since, except in 16-way last year where they did not compete.

USPA Nationals 2016		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open	20,D,E,22	M,9,5	12,8,7	H,L,16,15	F,A,N,J,17	G,6,3	K,B,Q,P,C	18,10,11	13,21,4	14,1,19	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	22	37	21	24	39	21	47	16	18	20	265	26.5
2	SDC Rhythm XP	23	35	19	19	28	19	45	14	17	19	238	23.8
3	Golden Knights	20	24	18	24	33	19	38	14	15	18	223	22.3

USPA Nationals 2016		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open	D,21,C,22	2,4,A	16,5,E	F,7,M,13	11,P,18	3,1,L	H,Q,O,17	6,8,14	10,12,15	N,20,G,9	Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights	19	21	23	18	21	30	20	16	20	22	210	21.0
2	Arizona Airspeed	14	17	21	17	18	23	18	15	17	16	176	17.6
3	Amphibious Attack Tigers	10	11	12	14	11	14	11	12	13	14	122	12.2

Three Golden Knights members competed in all four events (4 - 8 - 10 - 16) and are the most successful Formation Skydiving competitors at the end of the USPA Nationasl 2016: Kurt Isenbarger, Matt Davidson and Sean Sweeney won a bronze medal in 4-way Open and three gold medals in the other three FS events.

Jennifer Davidson actually received exactly the same medals as her husband Matt. She competed in 4-way, 10-way and 16-way and was the official alternate for the 8-way team. Her 4-way Women lineup did not compete at the national championships, and she joined the pickup team in 4-way Open.

World champion videographer Scott Janise collected the same medals, as well. He was filming the 4-way Open Class team and was the alternate in 8-way. Then he performed in front of the camera in 10-way and 16-way and won two more gold medals in these events.

USPA Nationals 2016		1	2	3	4	5	6	Total	Avg
Rank	16-way Open	H,J,3	5,F	E,1	G,4	6,A	7,2	Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights	12	4	14	11	12	8	61	10.2
2	Arizona Airspeed	4	7	13	8	8	7	48	8.0
3	Deguello 17	8	5	14	6	5	6	44	7.3

USPA Nationals 2016		1	2	3	4	5	6	Total	Avg
Rank	10-way Speed	Roger Rabbit	Box Score	Raeford Dragon	Wedge	Hand Prop	Star	Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights	13.11	12.97	11.60	11.78	16.79	11.89	78.14	13.02
2	Arizona Airspeed	14.45	14.28	13.63	10.22	17.23	11.78	81.59	13.60
3	Butterfly Kisses and Dandelion	18.95	18.03	14.98	14.18	15.27	14.19	96.60	15.93

It was a very successful farewell event for Kurt Isenbarger, who announced earlier this year that he will retire from active training and competition at the end of the 2016 season.

He steps back after winning his third consecutive world championship title at the FAI Mondial 2016, where the Golden Knights finished with the highest meet average in the history of 8-way competition.

The three gold medals and the 3rd place in his secretly favorite event put some additional icing on his retirement cake. It is hard to imagine a Golden Knights lineup without Kurt Isenbarger, but it seems to become a reality now. His 4-way team mates Sean Sweeney and Matt Davidson will continue in 8-way, where David Flynn will replace Kurt Isenbarger. Jennifer Davidson's plans are unknown...