posted Dec 3rd, 2019 - Niklas Hemlin and Mikhail Markine provided insights of the new Arizona Airspeed lineup in the latest NSL Live Talk conversation on November 27th. The selection of the new team members (Joey Marshall, Christopher Kuhlmann) and the Airspeed plans for the 2020 season related directly to the U.S. national 8-way team, Airspeed XP8.

The new Airspeed XP8 lineup was officially announced on October 29th, and the NSL News caught up with the breaking news on November 14th.

The later Airspeed 4-way update also included a brief overview of the new 8-way lineup: "Airspeed XP8 have highly experienced 8-way competitors and 8-way world champions in the lineup with Kirk Verner, Matt Davidson and Brian Krause. However, the majority in the lineup have not competed for FAI 8-way medals in their Formation Skydiving competition career (Michelle Karamon, Jeana Billings, John D'Annunzio, Niklas Hemlin, Mikhail Markine). Russia's and Qatar's 8-way teams, who won silver and bronze in Australia 2018, both have more world meet experiences."

The Airspeed XP8 lineup after the latest personnel changes deserves a closer look, even though the names of the team members are well known for the NSL News audience in the Formation Skydiving competition world.

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USPA Nationals 2019			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		13,16,20		C,B,M,D,1		N,Q,17,D		5,L,E,21		P,15,12		14,4,22		10,O,9		F,19,8		11,7,18		2,6,A		Total	Avg
1	Tanay 8	RU	20		23		23		19		26		21		17		16	-1	17	-1	19		201	20.1
2	XP8	US	19	-1	24		22		19		24		20		17		16	-1	17	-1	19		197	19.7
3	Golden Knights	US	18	-1	23		17	-5	18	-1	24		19	-1	16		17		18	-1	19		189	18.9

Paraclete XP8 - Tanay 8 - Golden Knights at the USPA Nationals 2019 - Video Footage Courtesy of USPA/OmniSkore!HD

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The latest personnel changes came after the FAI Outdoor World Cup where the previous XP8 lineup finished in 3rd place behind Russia and France. XP8, Arizona Airspeed and SDC Rhythm XP evaluated the situation after the competition, and the result was explained in the official statement: "In order for the United States to field the very best teams in both categories both teams have agreed to focus on their specific event. With that being said, we would like to welcome Matt Davidson, Niklas Hemlin and Mikhail Markine from Arizona Airspeed to the USA 8 Way Team."

The previous XP8 lineup was already a very strong lineup and produced impressive results within a short time period. The first 2019 lineup (Jeana Billings, Michelle Karamon, JaNette Lefkowitz, John D'Annunzio, Kirk Verner, Brian Krause, Andrew Happick, Steve Lefkowitz) impressed with a 29.6 average at the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship and followed up with the gold medals at the FAI Indoor World Meet. It was more than only a promising start.

The second 2019 lineup, with Chris Kuhlmann replacing JaNette Lefkowitz, won the U.S. qualification for the FAI World Meet 2020 by eight points over the Golden Knights, while they were watching the Russian Tanay 8-way team win the competition on the Paraclete XP home turf in Raeford by four points (201 - 197).

The final 8-way results at the end of the world cup complicated the XP8 situation, as Tanay 8 had increased the winning margin, and France placed ahead of the U.S. team, as well. The results in Eloy and the following evaluation then caused the changes in the 8-way lineup.

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FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		13,11,16		P,22,4		O,7,21		9,20,G		18,15,L		K,10,3		6,14,C		1,M,A,17		F,D,Q,8		2,5,E		Total	Avg
1	Tanay 8	RU	19		26		18		20		23		21	-1	20		24		20		16		207	20.7
2	France	FR	20		24		18		19	-1	21		22	-1	19		23		19		17		202	20.2
3	Paraclete XP8	US	21	-1	24	-1	16	-1	18		21		20	-2	19		22	-1	19		18		198	19.8

Tanay 8 - France - Paraclete XP8 at the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019 - Video Footage Courtesy of FAI/OmniSkore!HD

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The two previous 2019 lineups, with a promising combination of 8-way experience and talent, were changed into a logistically more efficient team situation for the U.S. delegation. Another highly experienced 8-way world champion, Matt Davidson, joined Kirk Verner and Brian Krause and added to the wealth of 8-way knowledge in the new lineup.

Matt Davidson was in the Golden Knights 8-way lineup of 1997, and he is still reigning 8-way world champion after winning the FAI title four consecutive times with the Golden Knights. Kirk Verner won 8-way gold in 1999 and 2004, after two 4-way gold medals in 1995 and 1997. Brian Krause brings in his 8-way experiences as the Golden Knights team captain of the lineup that won the FAI gold medals in Dubai 2012.

There are still five Airspeed XP8 members with much less 8-way experience and no world meet competition in the records so far (Michelle Karamon, Jeana Billings, John D'Annunzio, Niklas Hemlin, Mikhail Markine), even though Niklas Hemlin is one of the most experienced 4-way competitors in the history of the sport.

Matt Davidson, Kirk Verner and Brian Krause have to transfer their knowledge and experiences as quickly and efficiently as possible to the Airspeed XP8 lineup, and there is no doubt that their vast coaching experiences will be helpful. On top of that, Matt Davidson has an unexpected opportunity to defend his 8-way world championship title and complete his own Decade of Excellence with the 5th consecutive FAI 8-way gold medal...