posted Oct 15th, 2009 - The latest results of the NSL 8-way poll show the Golden Knights even far ahead of Arizona Airspeed.

The interview with the US Army team must have given the voters in the audience enough confidence to see the Golden Knights already as the stronger team after their 900 training jumps.

The 8-way competition has started, and the new Golden Knights lineup lived up to the high expectations. The first competition jump of the new US Army team was the highscore for the round. However, the Knights were not able to impress Arizona Airspeed too much.

Round 1 of this year's Airspeed reunion was this lineup's first jump. Round 10 of the USPA Nationals 2008 was the last time that seven of the members jumped together. John Hamilton replaces Brian Johnson, who competes for Paraclete XP, and Hammo is a new member in the Airspeed lineup of the last three years. Dennis Rook has made four skydives this year...

Paraclete XP had some last minute changes. Gary Beyer and Kirk Verner both cannot jump due to their problems with shoulder injuries. Gary Beyer barely made it through the 4-way competition. In fact, Brian Johnson already filled in for Gary Beyer in Round 10 of the 4-way competition. Team founder and sponsor Tim d'Annunzio did not feel ready to join the lineup.

After all, Paraclete was still short one person at registration time last evening. Brian Johnson was already committed to compete for Paraclete. Eventually, Shannon Pilcher became the first choice to fill in for Paraclete.

He was planning to compete with his best friend Ian Bobo and home mate Nick Grillet for a fun team combination of east and west coast competitors.

Spaceland BFE was fortunate to find a very adequate substitute, in fact, one of the most experienced 4-way and 8-way competitors in the world.

Eric Heinsheimer was actually not planning to compete in 8-way, but he could not resist to help out. Now he is competing against his former 4-way and 8-way team mates Matt Davidson and Brian "BK" Krause. Round 2 is in progress.