posted Feb 7th, 2018 - Niklas Hemlin, Arizona Airspeed's outside center and team captain since the completion of the USPA Nationals 2016, traveled straight back to the United States after the Wind Games 2018 and spent a few days in New York to visit Michelle Karamon, Ranch 2nd Generation's inside center.

He has been coaching the USPA Advanced Class champion of 2017 and continues to work with the team this year. Niklas Hemlin and Michelle Karamon both took some extra time to discuss the recent Airspeed performance in Spain, R2G plans for the 2018 season and several other topics live with the NSL News on Tuesday.

Michelle Karamon said that her team's coach had a great meet in Spain, and Niklas Hemlin confirmed that Airspeed accomplished the goals. The U.S. national team moved closer to the 4-way indoor and outdoor world champions from Belgium, won a round for the first time with the new lineup and tied a few other ones.

The 31.6 average is also the highest Airspeed result in a regular 10-round meet.

Wind Games 2018			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		K,5,4	12,8,M	19,2,17	P,C,F,16	D,B,9,N	22,21,13	3,14,11	G,L,E,Q,10	6,20,H	A,O,18,1	Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	31(-2)	26	27	46(-1)	54(-2)	23	24(-1)	38	31	32(-1)	332	33.2
2	Arizona Airspeed	US	29(-1)	26	27	41	51(-2)	24	24	35	31	28(-1)	316	31.6

Niklas Hemlin said that the 2012 lineup had actually posted a 33.0 average at an 11-round indoor meet in Singapore, right after winning the FAI gold medals at the FAI Mondial 2012 in Dubai.

However, it was a different competition format in Singapore, and the draw included the repetition of several random formations and blocks in the last three rounds.

He also pointed out that the results at the Wind Games 2018 were even more meaningful due to the more challenging competition draw compared to the FAI Indoor World Meet 2017 in Montreal. The FAI/IPC dive pool excludes two of the slower blocks (1 and 13), while the Wind Games have no limitations.

In fact, both blocks were drawn in Round 6 and Round 10 at the indoor meet in Empuriabrava. Airspeed had finished with a 30.2 average for the easier draw in October last year and lifted the scoring level to 31.6 last weekend.

Niklas Hemlin still sees the main Belgian advantage whenever it comes to the faster sequences with more random formations and transitions. He said that his own team is strong with the technical execution of the blocks.

Singapore December 2012			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		10,5,O	12,D,L,22	21,A,M,14	17,3,7	K,16,18	2,Q,N,F	C,P,B,G,15	E,1,11	C,F,P,6	L,10,E,19	9,1,13	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	US	30	29	32	30	27	41	39	28	44	30	29	330	33.0
2	SDC Rhythm XP	US	26	25	28	27	24	38	38	26	44	28	25	304	30.4
3	Evolution	CA	27	24	29	27	24	35	36	26	42	29	26	299	29.9
4	Rotor Out	AU	16	22	24	23	19	27	29	19	32	23	21	234	23.4
5	Maubeuge NPC B1	FR	22	18	24	21	19	28	27	20	31	21	21	231	23.1
6	HiFlyerz	SG	19	17	20	19	17	29	24	16	-	-	-	161	20.1
7	Vmax	SG	19	15	22	18	17	26	21	19	-	-	-	157	19.6
8	Savolo	ZA	15	16	20	19	13	24	24	15	-	-	-	146	18.3

A closer look at the Wind Games leaderboard confirms Niklas Hemlin's evaluation. The competition draw in Spain included three rounds with three blocks in each sequence. Round 6 (22,21,13) was the first time that Airspeed's new lineup outscored NMP PCH HayaBusa, and the U.S. team tied the Belgians in the other two rounds with 3-block sequences (Round 3, Round 7).

HayaBusa won the four faster rounds (4, 5, 8, 10) by a total of 15 points, which is almost identical with the 16-point difference at the end of the meet.

Niklas Hemlin and his team mates know that they have to work on the speed in faster rounds to get closer to the world champions. HayaBusa has a big advantage with the natural strength when it comes to faster rounds, as this is the area in 4-way competition where the main gains and losses take place.

There was a good example at the Wind Games for what happens often and easily when teams try to pick up the pace. Niklas Hemlin said that Airspeed tried to do this in Round 10 and did not get very far with it. HayaBusa won the round by four points. He was not too concerned though, as there is enough time to work on this specific team skills area before the year's most important showdown at the FAI World Meet 2018 in Australia...