posted Jul 31st, 2024 - The NSL News recently evaluated the situation of the A Class teams in the United States in their run-up to the USPA National Championship 2024, which is scheduled for the second week of September at Skydive Chicago this year.

The potential medal contenders in the AA/Intermediate Class are promising a similar competitive situation for this year's event. In fact, the Intermediate Class competition at the national championships has been the most competitive 4-way event many times in the past, and it seems to be the same again this year.

Some of the potential medal contenders have posted scores on different leaderboards in the last two months, which document the progress. However, even more importantly the teams are testing their performance status under pressure, which will be guaranteed during the ten rounds at the USPA Nationals. The three currently top-ranked AA Class teams, CSC Constellation, 4Action and XP Falcons, have met each other at the same event only once this year. They all competed at the national indoor championship at Paraclete XP in February. Soon they will probably compete for the top positions again, this time at the outdoor event.

Paraclete XP Indoor 2024		1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	AA/Intermediate Class	L,F,6		O,B,M,A		2,9		G,20,19		D,13,21		E,1,22		J,N,11		P,4,7		15,18		K,Q,C,14		Total	Avg
1	CSC Constellation	24		36	-2	19		14		16		15		17		13	-1	11		18	-1	183	18.3
2	XP Falcons	19		27	-1	16	-1	12	-2	13	-1	14		16	-1	18	-1	13		16	-2	164	16.4
3	3 Friends	18		31		15		15		13	-1	12	-1	15		15	-1	10	-1	18		162	16.2
4	4Action	19		29		14		11	-1	15		12		15		13		9		16		153	15.3
5	Air Force Freak Show	15	-2	25		14	-2	10	-2	11	-3	13		14	-1	14		9		14	-1	139	13.9
6	Not On Level	15		21		13		12		12		16		14		13		9	-1	13	-1	138	13.8
7	Rhitmo	15		21		14		10		13		12		12	-1	13		8		15		133	13.3
8	Racoon Sky Pirates	14	-1	26	-1	14		10	-1	12		8	-2	12		13		9		14		132	13.2
9	Guardian Against gRhavity	14	-1	17	-4	9	-1	9		10		9	-1	13		11	-1	6	-1	14		112	11.2
10	CitiZens	14		14	-3	12	-1	9		10		9		11		9	-1	8		12		108	10.8

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CSC Constellation XP - 4Action - XP Falcons at the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship 2024

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CSC Constellation XP and 4Action both competed in the AA/Intermediate Class of the USPA Nationals last year and finished outside of the medal positions. CSC Constellation XP missed bronze medals by only three points in the team's third year, while 4Action attended their first national championship in their first year.

XP Falcons placed 2nd in the A/Beginner Class at the same USPA Nationals last year, four points behind the CitiZens. Both teams have stepped up into the next category and also met each other again at the national indoor championship, this time on the same leaderboard with CSC Constellation XP and 4Action.

CSC Constellation XP, 4Action and XP Falcons have attended outdoor competitions since the indoor event in February, and they never ended up on the same leaderboards in June and July. The scores still indicate the progression, and they promise that the three teams may be once again in or near the medal positions after collecting additional meet experiences.

The recent NSL News update from Skydive City mentioned that the CitiZens are back in 4-way action, as well, after filling the open tail slot. This may bring all four teams back together on the same outdoor leaderboard in September.

AA/Intermediate Class	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
June 2024	11,2		K,13,D		B,4,E		G,20,Q		22,21		A,9,M		7,P,1		6,J,14		F,19,O		18,N,8		Total	Avg
CSC Constellation XP	9		12		11		6		8		14		10		-		-		-		70	10.0
July 2024	14,2		D,K,M,B		1,A,H		6,20		4,P,G		13,21		7,C,Q		11,19		E,22,J		N,8,O		Total	Avg
4Action	8		11	-4	12		6	-1	10		9		11		7		11		10		95	9.5
June 2024	J,H,2		19,M,13		O,K,4		14,1		22,7		21,G,P		9,A,D		N,F,6		L,18,Q		E,8,B		Total	Avg
XP Falcons	12	-1	9	-1	9	-1	8		8	-1	8	-2	11		11		6		8		90	9.0

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CSC Constellation XP - 4Action - XP Falcons at recent events

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Rank	AA Class U.S. Top 10	League	Average
1	CSC Constellation XP	MWSL	10.0
2	4Action	FSL	9.5
3	XP Falcons	US	9.0
4	Brain Locksmiths	FSL	8.8
5	AeroDynamics	GLSL	8.1
6	Just 4 Fun	TSL	7.8
6	Lattes & Cigars	TSL	7.8
8	Dank's Dingleberries	US	6.3
9	Five Finger Jeff Punch	SCSL	5.8
10	4 Beavers and 1 Otter	SCSL	5.4

CSC Constellation XP still have the position of the top contender with their new 2024 lineup. However, Florida team 4Action have slowly and consistently increased their performance and scoring level, and the recent 3-day training camp with Arizona Airspeed member Mikhail Markine, including the 10-round competition, has confirmed the progression. In fact, the five lost points due to "camera angle / grip visibility" in Round 2 (4) and Round 4 (1) would have lifted 4Action's scoring level to the 10.0 benchmark, the same number that CSC Constellation XP posted in June.

CSC Constellation XP and 4Action have been challenging each other indirectly with the monthly Indoor Cloud League sequences, as well, and they were close to each other at least with the AA/Intermediate Class sequences.

XP Falcons have shown an impressive transition from A/Beginner Class competition in 2023 to the AA/Intermediate Class this year. They posted scores not far below CSC Constellation XP and 4Action. Last year's USPA Beginner Class champions from Skydive City are back with three team members of 2023. They could probably reach the same level where the XP Falcons are by now if enough training with the new team member allows them to catch up quickly. More competitions are scheduled in the NSL 4-way Network before the USPA Nationals 2024, which offer more serious competition practice.