posted Feb 20th, 2024 - The NSL News reported on February 14th that the Wind Games were scheduled for the same weekend that the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship, including the U.S. indoor nationals, has been using for many years. The 2024 event, after the 8-way Hell Week and the following indoor 8-way competition, takes place as usual on the coming weekend, and the 37 teams at Paraclete XP win the participation contest over the 27 teams in Spain. Additional eleven 8-way teams are registered for this year's event in Paraclete XP's 16-foot flying chamber.

Both events together combine for a total of 64 teams competing in 4-way on the coming weekend, and they will apply two different competition draws. Especially the world's top teams will not be able to compare their scores directly with each other on a combined NSL leaderboard. Registration for the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship is not closed yet, and more teams could be added to the U.S. leaderboard.

Paraclete XP Indoor 2024
Rank	4-way Open Power Rankings
1	Arizona Airspeed	US
2	SDC Rhythm XP	US
3	Golden Knights	US
3	XPG4	US
3	Netunos	BR
6	XPerimental	US
6	Chicken Bolts	US
8	AF Smoldering Ball of Fury	US

As it is in Spain, there is also arguably one team on the top of the U.S. leaderbaord that cannot be reached by any other opponents. The French national team in 4-way Open is expected to win at the Wind Games, while Arizona Airspeed is the top favorite at Paraclete XP. However, both events promise exciting competition behind the two respective top contenders, in Europe probably between Qatar Tigers and ISR FireFlash, while four teams could be expected to compete for the 2nd place in the United States.

The 4-way Open Class teams at both events have a scoring history, as they have naturally the most competitive background. Most of the other AAA Class teams on the U.S. Advanced Class leaderboard are just as competitive as the Open Class teams, which allows to generate power rankings for a preview.

Paraclete XP Indoor 2024
Rank	4-way Advanced Power Rankings
1	XBR-J	BR
2	Air Force Artemis	US
3	Air Force Tall Boys	US
4	Air Force 9-Ball	US
5	Rheckless	US
5	Rapid Fire	US
5	Air Raid XP	US
5	Air Force Gambit	US
5	Air Force Halo	US
5	Platinum XP	US
-	Shredded Lettuce	US
-	Salty Buzzards	US
-	Immutabili Impavidi	US
-	Elsinore Echo	US
-	Collision Course	US
-	Aeroworx	US

The competition for the 2nd place behind Arizona Airspeed at Paraclete XP has SDC Rhythm XP as the top contender, as the 4-way lineup of the Golden Knights has spent less time together. SDC Rhythm XP are going into their second year with new member Steve Loufek who attended his first meet with the current lineup at last year's indoor championship and finished with a 27.6 average.

The new Golden Knights 4-way team may have the advantage over XPG4 in the competition for the U.S. bronze medals. The U.S. 4-way Women team does not compete yet with new member Jennifer Davidson. Former XPG4 member Morgan Womble will be back just for the indoor championship. Both U.S. teams will be facing Brazil's national indoor and outdoor champions, the guest team Netunos. The second 4-way guest team from Brazil might take the top spot on the Advanced Class leaderboard.

Paraclete XP Indoor 2024
Rank	4-way Intermediate Power Rankings
1	CSC Constellation	US
1	Air Force Freak Show	US
1	4Action	US
1	XP Falcons	US
1	Racoon Sky Pirates	US
-	Rhitmo	US
-	Not On Level	US
-	3 Friends	US

XPerimental are the only team on the 4-way Open Class leaderboard without a scoring history. However, the lineup indicates that they could be able to offer Chicken Bolts serious opposition behind the well trained other teams. Morgan Womble will be facing 4-way double duties on the Open Class leaderboard, where she is also substituting for XPG4.

Ben Liston will surely have his Chicken Bolts ready for this duel, as his previous lineup posted a 19.9 average at the SkyVenture New Hampshire Tunnel Fest in January. Former SDMW NEXT member Greg Oldendick replaces Monique Lai at Paraclete XP, which will make the Chicken Bolts even stronger. The three other Chicken Bolts will enjoy switching from the 12-foot flying chamber at SkyVenture New Hampshire to the 16-foot chamber at Paraclete XP.

Six of the currently registered 16 Advanced Class teams have a scoring history in AAA Class competition, and the three Air Force teams seem to have a realistic chance to sweep the Advanced Class leaderboard, while guest team XPR-J might be out of reach. Ricardo Pereira, former member of Brazil's national 4-way lineups, guides three new and well trained competitors to the same level where the Netunos perform. The lineup includes Netunos' Alisson Paulo de Vargas' twin brother Anderson de Vargas.

Paraclete XP Indoor 2024
Rank	4-way Beginner Power Rankings
1	CT True Blue	US
-	Texas Tumbleweeds	US
-	Kantrud's Kannibals	US
-	Classless	US
-	Bootie Exposure	US

The strong Rapid Fire lineup could move the team into the group of contenders for the 5th place on the Advanced Class leaderboard, which includes two more Air Force teams. Gambit and Halo are moving up from AA/Intermediate to AAA/Advanced Class competition with the complete FAI/ISC dive pool and rules.

Air Raid XP make the same move after winning the AA/Intermediate Class gold medals at the USPA Nationals 2023 and now with player-coach Kirk Verner in the lineup. Platinum XP will have to work hard to keep up, once again without a player-coach this year and with two new team members. However, Scott Franklin and Bill Thomasson have been training and competing in 4-way for a very long time and are back for more indoor competition.

The four AA/Intermediate Class teams with a scoring history could create an exciting competition for the 1st place in this category. Racoon Sky Pirates from Texas will probably join this group. Kyle Hermberg has prepared his team mates well at his Indoor Cloud League events, where they have learned and practiced the AA Class dive pool.