posted Jul 19th, 2023 - The NSL News reported on June 1st that a very strong U.S. delegation will travel to Voss in Norway next month, with a realistic chance to win all three horizontal Formation Skydiving events (4-way Open - 4-way Women - 8-way Open).

It is not only a very strong delegation. The NSL News story onJuly 4th followed up on the event, and the U.S. delegation included a total of nine teams at that point in time. Arizona Airspeed, XPG4 and XPGK8 are expected to compete for the three sets of FAI gold medals, and six other U.S. teams attend the event, as well, with chances for additional medals in 8-way Open.

One of the additional six teams is Bra Nok, competing in 8-way Open. Bra Nok have attended two 8-way meets so far, and they qualified for the outdoor world cup with the 4th place at the USPA Nationals 2022. XPGK8, Airspeed 8 and Prison 9 took the three sets of USPA medals, and the Qatar Falcons placed 2nd as a guest team.

XPGK8 travel to Norway for the first competition with the new lineup, and Prison 9 have a realistic chance to be in contention for a second set of FAI 8-way medals for the U.S. delegation. The XPGK8 members compete only in 8-way, with Jeana Billings as one exception. She will try to win two FAI gold medals in Norway, one with XPGK8, the other one XPG4 in 4-way Women. Almost all other U.S. 8-way competitors in Norway have double duties and compete with their 4-way teams, as well (SDC Rhythm XP, Skydive Midwest NEXT, Lightspeed XP).

USPA Nationals 2022			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		12,4,E		20,13,L		1,H,A,D		17,18,16		J,M,2,9		14,N,5		Q,C,3,7		22,19,15		O,K,G,21		F,10,11		Total	Avg
1	Paraclete XP8	US	24	-1	21		28		22		20		21		24		22		19	-1	21		222	22.2
G	Qatar Falcons	QA	21		13	-2	24		15	-1	13	-3	16		18		18		17	-1	17		172	17.2
2	Airspeed 8	US	17	-2	13	-4	19		15		15		16		18		18		17		15	-1	163	16.3
3	Prison 9	US	11	-2	13		17		12	-1	13		12		10	-3	12	-1	12		11	-1	123	12.3
4	Bra Nok XP	US	12	-1	11		12		12	-1	7	-4	11		9	-2	12		11		11		108	10.8
5	Disturbance 8	US	10	-1	7	-2	10		11		9	-1	6	-3	11		12		8	-1	9		93	9.3
6	Monster XP	US	7		5	-1	6	-2	8		2	-1	7		8		3	-3	6		7		59	5.9

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Bra Nok at the USPA Nationals 2022 - Video Footage Courtesy of USPA and InTime

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Bra Nok has the most colorful combination of 4-way and 8-way competitors in their lineup, which has changed regularly since the first appearance at the USPA Nationals 2022. The first lineup consisted of three Lightspeed XP members (Shannon Catalano, James Hall, Brandon Kashani), XPG4's Anna Brunner and Brenn Richards. Kim Hollander, Carl Kallgren and Chris Normandeau completed the lineup, with Joss Martin on camera.

XPG4 had the majority at the next meet, the U.S. indoor championship at Paraclete XP in February. Anna Brunner, Michelle Karamon, Brenn Richards and former XPG4 member Morgan Womble joined the two returning Lightspeed XP members James Hall and Brandon Kashani. Kim Hollander and Carl Kallgren were also back for more 8-way action at the indoor meet.

Bra Nok then made plans for the trip to Norway, and at least several members of the lineup for the outdoor world cup were in 8-way training at Skydive Paraclete XP when the Summer Classic 4-way competition took place last weekend. XPG4 had lost their majority in the Bra Nok lineup. In fact, none of the XPG4 members will be available for Bra Nok and the 8-way competition in Norway, where they will try to win the 4-way Women competition.

Paraclete XP Indoor 2023			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		F,16,9	L,18,J,17	11,D,H,19	O,C,2,N	14,4,8	G,15,A,B	P,7,1	M,K,E,5	3,Q,21	12,20,22	Total	Avg
1	XPGK	US	32	30	28	33	23	37	35	33	33	29	313	31.3
2	Qatar Falcons	QA	25	21	20	27	18	28	28	29	26	24	246	24.6
3	Prison 9	US	24	18	18	20	17	22	25	23	18	21	206	20.6
4	Veloce QRF	FR	22	21	18	17	17	22	20	21	22	21	201	20.1
5	Bra Nok XP	US	20	22	15	15	17	21	25	23	19	21	198	19.8
6	Hell's Angels	FR	21	20	15	17	14	18	18	16	12	12	163	16.3
7	Veloce QRF 5	FR	19	14	12	17	13	17	13	15	17	16	153	15.3
8	The Gr8 Rhevival	US	16	17	14	16	13	15	13	14	15	14	147	14.7
9	Veloce QRF 2	FR	18	16	13	16	13	15	16	13	14	12	146	14.6

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Bra Nok at the USPA Nationals 2022 - Video Footage Courtesy of Paraclete XP

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This time, it is even the complete Lightspeed XP lineup who will compete for Bra Nok in Norway (Shannon Catalano, James Hall, Matthew Hunt, Brandon Kashani) for a full 4-way/8-way double duty experience at an FAI/ISC event. Kim Hollander, Carl Kallgren and Chris Normandeau will be back for 8-way only, and Skydive Midwest NEXT member Katie Healy completes the Bra Nok lineup this time.

Katie Healy and her NEXT team mates Gorka Amian and Greg Oldendick will have the same double duties as Bra Nok's Lightspeed XP members. Only new NEXT member Brian Nasset rests when the 8-way teams are in action, together with SDC Rhythm XP's new member Steve Loufek.

The complete Bra Nok lineup for the outdoor world cup in Norway was not available for the training camp last weekend. Shannon Catalano and Katie Healy could not make it to Skydive Paraclete, and Bra Nok needed substitutes. GKXP8's Kirk Verner filled one of the slots as the player-coach for the weekend, and Louis French took the second one. There was no 8-way competition at this year's Summer Classic, and Kirk Verner and Jeana Billings both had enough time to take care of their 8-way coaching jobs.