posted Oct 1st, 2009 - The Open Class competition at the USPA Nationals 2009 would not bring any surprises if the votes on the NSL Polls were correct. Arizona Airspeed would win the 4-way and the 8-way competition. Perris Fury and Spaceland Force XP would be in a tight race for the silver medals.

The situation is very different in the poll that is actually posted on the event page for the Advanced Class competition. The question there has been who will break Mass Defiance's 19.3 record average for the "amateur teams" in the championship. These teams, which apply the IPC/AAA/Open Class dive pool, can be found in the Open and in the Advanced Class competition at USPA Nationals.

One of the choices was "Others" for a while. However, this option was changed into "Nobody" after a reader commented that "No one will break it this year". The question of the poll really indicates that there is not even a questionmark whether any of the mentioned teams will score higher than 19.3 average or not. The progression of SDC Rhythm XP and Sebastian Tempest this year made it look like it would only be a matter of time when the record would fall.

There is obviously a very realistic chance that the 19.3 average will still stand after this year's championship. Neither Rhythm nor Tempest or any other team has shown a higher meet average at a 10-round meet yet. The Tempest 2008 lineup and Rhythm in September this year posted 19.7 averages after 6-round meets with very fast sequences. Mass Defiance scored the 19.3 average after ten rounds at the USPA Nationals 2007.

Much will depend on the competition draw at this year's event. Mass Defiance did not have super fast sequences in 2007. The highest score was a 25-pointer in Round 5, which can now be viewed on NSL-TV. The 2007 draw was still on the faster side, with 15 random formations and 19 blocks. The three missing blocks (1, 10, 14) were not fast ones and helped to get to a higher average score.

The new option of no team scoring higher than Mass Defiance in 2007 gained votes as soon as it became available. Rhythm is still expected by a majority to score a new record average. However, everything seems to be possible in this unofficial race for the amateur record.

2009 USPA National Skydiving Championships - Advanced Class
Who will break the Mass Defiance "amateur record" of 19.3 average?	SDC Rhythm XP Sebastian Tempest Spaceland Blue Amphibious Attack Tigers Nobody
	Current Results

None of these teams will actually compete in USPA's Advanced Class, as all previous winners are not eligible to defend their titles with the same lineup. They have to step up into the Open Class competition. New Advanced Class teams don't have the opportunity to challenge the defending champions, as it is normal in other sports and in the Open Class. Only Sebastian Tempest would theoretically be eligible for USPA's Advanced Class medals.

The poll is still open, and comments can be added there, as well.