posted May 30th, 2022 - The NSL News coverage of the XP8 training at Skydive Paraclete XP was not complete after the first update from Raeford on May 26th. A visit at the dropzone at the time of an XP8 training camp is always an opportunity for NSL Live Talk with world champions who like to share their knowledge and experiences with the skydiving community.

The previous update covered mostly the recent history of Paraclete's 8-way team and the lineups since XP8 took over the 8-way top spot, first in the United States by defeating the Golden Knights at the USPA Nationals 2019, followed by winning the FAI gold medals at the world meet in Tanay last year.

The footage of the first update was recorded on May 25th and posted a day later. The same XP8 training day also included new NSL Live Talk, as the three new team members (Andrew Happick, Matt Davidson, Craig Girard) took the extra time after the training for a lively conversation.

Andrew Happick and Matt Davidson are actually not new team members. Both have have trained and competed with XP8 in the past. In fact, Andrew Happick was the official alternate for XP8 at the world meet last year and has his own FAI gold medal in his collection. He was also in the lineup that won the qualification at the national championships of 2019.

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NSL-TV Unfiltered: XP8 Jump Preparation - NSL Live Talk with Andrew Happick, Matt Davidson, Craig Girard

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Matt Davidson had joined XP8 shortly after he left the Golden Knights and only missed consistent training and competition with his new team due to the hip surgery and its implications. The only difference for Andrew Happick and Matt Davidson is the fact that both have committed to full slots for the 2022 season.

It will be the first full year of training and competition for Matt Davidson after his time with the Golden Knights. The hip surgery and the recovery from it took much more time than he had expected and planned for. He had some valuable information to share for athletes who are going through similar situations after injuries.

In hindsight, he knows that he was too eager to give his body enough time for sufficient recovery. He had committed to XP8 training and competition and wanted to live up to his own and the XP8 planning. Fortunately, XP8 were not short of alternates and substitutes, and all team goals were still achieved. This year, Matt Davidson is fully recovered and ready to win his own next 8-way gold medals.

Craig Girard is the only new team member without any XP8 history. In fact, he was competing in opposing Airspeed 8-way teams twice at the USPA Nationals in 2019 and 2021, and also at the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019.

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NSL-TV Unfiltered: XP8 Indoor Training

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Craig Girard was not only offering 8-way competition to XP8 as a member of the annual Airspeed reunion 8-way lineups. He was also coaching the Russian FAI gold medal contenders from Tanay, who had outscored all 8-way teams at the USPA Nationals 2019 and at the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019.

Airspeed XP8 eventually won the FAI gold medals last year by one point over France, and Tanay 8 ended up in 3rd place. Craig Girard's coaching job with the Russian team was over after the world meet and before the current Ukraine crisis began. He was ready to put back on his own jumpsuit, this time for XP8.

The new NSL Live Talk with Andrew Happick, Matt Davidson and Craig Girard was not the end of the NSL News coverage, as the May training camp was still in the early stages. A few days later, the North Carolina weather did not cooperate, and the NSL News experienced the easy adjustment to such a situation and the quick transition of the 8-way training to Paraclete XP SkyVenture and the 16-foot flying chamber.

The combination of outdoor and indoor facilities accommodate the home team in a way that is unique in the world. Only Dubai features a similar combination with a dropzone and a 16-foot flying chamber for 8-way training. However, Dubai does not host an 8-way team any longer and cannot take advantage of the facilities. XP8 can...

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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
4	Arizona Airspeed	US	18		21		16		18		16	-3	21	-1	17		17	-1	16		14	-1	174	17.4
5	Qatar Falcons	QA	16	-1	20	-1	14	-1	13	-3	17	-1	12	-5	15		19		15		14		155	15.5
6	Airbus	DE	14	-1	15		12		15		15	-1	15		12	-1	15		14	-1	12		139	13.9
7	Monster	US	12		13	-1	10	-1	12		14		13		12		15		11	-1	10		122	12.2
8	Amphibious Attack Tigers	US	11		16		10		11		9	-3	13	-1	14		10	-1	13		11		118	11.8
9	Groomed	UK	7	-2	9		8	-1	9		10		7		8	-1	10		13		7		88	8.8

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XP8 and Arizona Airspeed at the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019

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