posted Oct 6th, 2024 - The 8-way competition at the 26th FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships could not promise a similar exciting situation as it has been the case in the two horizontal 4-way events. GKXP8 has been too far ahead of any potential opponent since the team began to train and compete with the current lineup.

The only pressure that GKXP8 has been facing were the scores and the performance level of other U.S. national teams, especially the Golden Knights. Nothing changed in the first part of the 8-way competition at Crystal Coast where the U.S. 8-way team has won each of the first three rounds by three points over the Qatar Falcons.

GKXP8 are still aiming at the historic 23.9 average that the Golden Knights posted at the FAI World Championship 2016 and the team's 33-pointer world record for a single round at the FAI World Air Games 2015.

GKXP8 members Matthew Davidson, Jeshua Stahler and Andrew Starr were in both lineups of 2015 and 2016 and still own both world records. At least one of the record numbers is once again in jeopardy, as Round 9 (3,M,N,4) at Crystal Coast offers the opportunity for a highscore with an 8-way Super Sequence. Several of the 8-way blocks are faster than random transitions, and Round 9 has two of them in the same sequence. The score for Round 9 could have the potential to help lifting the average to the desired record level, as well.

FAI Outdoor World Championship 2024			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		14,G,13		J,C,17,12		D,A,21,P		18,B,H,F		E,L,O,8		22,2,K		6,7,16		9,20,15		3,M,N,4		5,1,10		19,11,Q		Total	Avg
1	GKXP8	US	19	-1	21	-1	22		26		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		88	22.0
2	Qatar Falcons	QA	16		18		19		21		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		74	18.5
3	Operation Adler	DE	14		14		11	-2	13	-1	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		52	13.0
4	Ap8thy	UK	11		6	-1	8		11		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		36	9.0
5	Netunos	BR	10		8		9		8		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		35	8.8

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Golden Knights at the World Air Games 2015

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The situation for the Qatar Falcons is not much different compared to GKXP8. They created a 14-point lead over Germany's Operation Adler after three rounds, and there is no doubt that they will win the next set of FAI silver medals in North Carolina. Even the German 8-way team did not even have to worry about a 2-point deduction in Round 3, as the 11-pointer was still two points higher than the Netunos in 4th place. Operation Adler were still 12 points ahead in the bronze medal position.

The three 8-way teams in the top positions still have something in common. The Falcons are currently stronger than the Eagles, as the name of the German 8-way team name translates directly into "Operation Eagle". However, the strongest bird of prey is the American Eagle, and GKXP8 are not even challenged in any way at the moment.

Sunday afternoon was also the second part of the 4-way and 8-way double duties for Jeana Billings (XPG4 - GKXP8) and Linda Koeb (Meltemi - Operation Adler). Jeana Billings has a very good chance to win two gold medals, and Linda Koeb will bring home an 8-way bronze medal. The Brazilian delegation includes double duties, as well. The complete Netunos 4-way team is also in the 8-way lineup, where Pedro "San" Ushizima Junior replaces Alisson Paulo de Vargas. Only the Qatar Falcons and British Ap8thy compete exclusively in the 8-way event.

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NSL TV Unfiltered: 8-way on Sunday Afternoon

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