posted Aug 23rd, 2017 - The NSL News reported on 14 August 2017 that four nations each had placed two teams in the Top 10 on 4-way Open Class leaderboard of the FAI World Cup 2017, Belgium, with winner NMP PCH HayaBusa (1) and ISR FireFlash (8), France with RealFly-Sion (2) and Espoir Saumur Weembi (7), USA with SDC Rhythm XP (3) and bUSA Defiance (5) and Russia with Black Cat (4) and Barguzin (8).

The US combination with SDC Rhythm XP (3) and bUSA Defiance (5) would be the winner of rankings by national delegations in the 4-way Open category.

It was the first FAI outdoor competition for both teams, and it turned out to be very successful. SDC Rhythm XP left with FAI bronze medals in the bags on the return flight, and with additional high-profile meet experiences before the showdown with Arizona Airspeed at the USPA Nationals 2017.

Defiance finished in the top spot of the unofficial amateur rankings and finally beat the 20-average benchmark that the US team has been targeting since the outdoor reunion at the USPA Nationals 2016. The meet averages after Round 4 or 5 seem to be representative of a complete 10-round competition.

FAI World Cup 2017			1	2	3	4	(5)	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open - Top 10		L,O,F,K,11	C,3,7	13,2,G	1,17,20	(5,E,21)	Total	Avg
1	NMP PCH HayaBusa	BE	35	26	21	20	(28)	102	25.5
2	RealFly-Sion	FR	35	26	20	20	(23)	101	25.3
3	SDC Rhythm XP	US	33	24	20	16	(-)	93	23.3
4	Black Cat	RU	26	24	17	18	(24)	85	21.3
5	bUSA Defiance	US	26	22	16	17	(19)	81	20.3
6	Airbus	DE	27	21	17	15	(19)	80	20.0
7	Espoir Saumur Weembi	FR	25	19	16	18	(16)	78	19.5
8	Papea Masculino	ES	26	19	12	14	(18)	71	17.8
8	ISR FireFlash	BE	24	18	14	15	(19)	71	17.8
8	Barguzin	RU	24	15	17	15	(19)	71	17.8

It was still not the complete original Mass Defiance lineup that posted the 20.3 average in Saarlouis. It was in fact the second time that two original members beat the 20-average with different lineups.

Ben Liston and Brian Stephens had Steve Johnson and James "Bu" Klinge in their DNR lineup and finished with a 20.7 average at the USPA Nationals 2012, with Pat Walker on camera. The same DNR lineup also posted a 19.6 average two years later at the national championships, this time with Charles Lane on camera.

The complete original Mass Defiance lineup, only without videographer Steve "Scuba" Feldman, had a reunion at the USPA Nationals 2016 and missed the 20+ benchmark with a 19.2 average. However, it was the beginning of plans to compete at the FAI World Cup 2017.

It was still a different lineup that eventually competed in Germany and extended the status of the best amateur team from the USA to the worldwide 4-way competition community. This time, Mass Defiance had three original members (Ben Liston, Brian Stephenes, Jim Rees) in the lineup, and DNR 2012 team mate James Klinge re-joined together with Pat Walker on camera.

FAI World Cup 2017			1	2	3	4	(5)	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way AAA Class		L,O,F,K,11	C,3,7	13,2,G	1,17,20	(5,E,21)	Total	Avg
1	NMP PCH HayaBusa	BE	35	26	21	20	(28)	102	25.5
2	RealFly-Sion	FR	35	26	20	20	(23)	101	25.3
3	SDC Rhythm XP	US	33	24	20	16	(-)	93	23.3
4	Black Cat	RU	26	24	17	18	(24)	85	21.3
5	French Weembi Girls	FR	29	17	19	16	(23)	81	20.3
5	bUSA Defiance	US	26	22	16	17	(19)	81	20.3
7	Airbus	DE	27	21	17	15	(19)	80	20.0
8	Espoir Saumur Weembi	FR	25	19	16	18	(16)	78	19.5
9	Parachute Montreal Fuzion	CA	24	20	16	15	(16)	75	18.8
9	Bubble Trouble	RU	23	20	16	14	(18)	75	18.8

The 20.3 average is the team's new outdoor record, and it was also the first 20+ average for original Mass Defiance member Jim Rees. Only John Silva does not have a 20+ average in the records yet, even though the original lineup was so close at the USPA Nationals 2016 with a 19.2 average.

The USPA Nationals 2017 might be the next opportunity for the original lineup to follow up on the bUSA Defiance accomplishment in Saarlouis.

The combined leaderboard of 4-way Open and 4-way Women at the world cup is changing the rankings of the nations. French Weembi Girls, Bubble Trouble and Parachute Montreal Fuzion are pushing Papea Masculino from Spain, ISR FireFlash and Barguzin out of the Top 10. France has now three teams in the rankings, while Bubble Trouble only replaces another Russian team.

bUSA Defiance managed to keep up with the French Weembi Girls and to finish tied in 5th place on the combined leaderboard. However, the French combination (2nd - 5th) would still be a little bit ahead of the US combination (3rd - 5th)...