posted Jun 14th, 2017 - SDC Rhythm XP's meet videos of the Paraclete XP Summer Classic 2017 are next, and they feature Arizona Airspeed's top challenger posting the highest 10-round average in team history.

Rhythm had finished three times with 23.8 averages in 10-round meets before last weekend. The first time was at the USPA Nationals 2012 where JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz had Chris Farina and Thiago Gomes in their lineup.

The next 23.8 average followed at the 5th Dubai International Parachuting Championship 2014 with a new lineup. Christy Frikken and Mikhail Markine were in the rear piece, while JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz were still connected with each other in the front piece.

The most recent 23.8 average was posted by the current lineup at the USPA Nationals 2016. It was the first Rhythm year for Andrew Happick and Doug Barron that came to an end in Eloy, and it was also the first 23.8 average with the new slots for JaNette (Inside Center) and Steve Lefkowitz (Outside Center).

Paraclete XP Summer Classic 2017		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	K,20,17	8,7,11	P,G,14,N	H,C,9,15	J,F,3,5	Q,E,M,13	2,21,L	6,12,B	22,O,10	A,1,19	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	24	21	27	33	33	33	21	23	19	24	258	25.8
2	SDC Rhythm XP	23	20	28	30	31	31	21	22	20	24	250	25.0
3	R2G	16	14	19	20	20	20	14	14	14	14	165	16.5
4	Phoenix XP	14	15	17	17	14	18	14	13	13	14	149	14.9

The 23.8 averages are history now, and last weekend's 25.0 is the new team record number. The chart of the scoring history between Arizona Airspeed and SDC Rhythm XP since 2007 in yesterday's Sun Path Products NSL News update was showing how dangerously close the challenger has moved into contention for the US top 4-way spot.

It is not only the closest proximity between the two teams that forces Airspeed onto the highest alert level. The progression of SDC Rhythm XP's meet averages alone confirms that Airspeed will be more challenged than ever since the Rhythm team project was launched in 2007.

It is naturally much easier to increase the meet averages coming from a lower scoring level. However, SDC Rhythm XP has occupied the US spot right behind Arizona Airspeed for several years by now, despite the regularly changing lineups. It is becoming increasingly more challenging for Rhythm to score higher, as well.

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
4	AARsPeed	19	28	17	13	28	17	33	15	15	17	202	20.2
5	Mass Defiance	17	23	17	16	28	17	33	12	14	15	192	19.2
6	Arizona Alpha	18	27	15	19	26	16	29	12	14	14	190	19.0
7	Perris Kiss	15	19	13	15	22	15	30	11	13	13	166	16.6
8	Alliance	14	21	13	11	21	15	25	12	12	13	157	15.7
9	Spaceland Lite	13	19	10	11	22	14	28	11	10	12	150	15.0
10	Dallas 350	14	20	13	17	19	8	26	9	11	11	148	14.8
11	Arizona ZULU	11	18	11	10	18	11	26	8	11	11	135	13.5
12	Bravo Zulu	13	15	9	9	16	12	18	5	7	8	112	11.2

The current Rhythm lineup is already scoring higher in its second year than the longest lasting lineup (JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz, Christy Frikken, Mikhail Markine, 2013 - 2015) did in its third year. In the meantime, Arizona Airspeed is trying to get back to last year's scoring level with their own new lineup.

It seems like views from all angles present the same picture. The 4-way audience can expect an exciting top competition for the USPA gold medals and the trip to Australia 2018 in September.

SDC Rhythm XP has another serious test on the meet agenda before the most important competition of the year in Perris. Rhythm will compete at the FAI World Cup 2017 in Saarlouis, Germany, as the Sun Path Products NSL News reported on 9 June 2017.

The best European teams, including NMP PCH HayaBusa and RealFly-Sion, will guarantee the desired strong opposition for this last test before the next showdown with Airspeed.