posted Nov 12th, 2009 - The friendly rivalry for the naming rights of the 8-way team between SDC Rhythm XP and Sebastian Tempest was covered by the NSL News on 23 October 2008, during the coverage of the USPA Nationals 2008 in Eloy:

"The NSL News commented the 4-way competition between Sebastian Tempest and CSC Rhythm XP across the two leaderboards of the Open and Advanced Class already earlier. The same article mentioned that the two teams from Florida and Illinois would join forces for the 8-way event. CSC Rhythm XP won the Advanced Class competition with a 16.9 average, and Sebastian Tempest posted the team's highest 10-round result with a 17.1 average. Both teams were happy with their 4-way achievements.

However, one team was happier, and it shows in the name of the 8-way team: PD Tempest 1X2. The NSL News asked the team this morning about the meaning of the team name and got the answer: PD, Tempest won by two."

A video clip with a short interview of Rhythm and Tempest members confirmed the 8-way team's message.

Both teams copied last year's 8-way fun project at the 2009 USPA National Skydiving Championships. The 8-way lineup was almost identical, but the name was different this year. SDC Rhythm XP had left Sebastian Tempest in the dust (18.1 - 16.6) after ten rounds in the 4-way Open Class competition. SDC Rhythm had the naming rights for the 8-way team.

PD Rhythmic Temptations was the name for the 8-way fun combination this year, which had three new members. Gilles Dutrisac (Tempest) and Rob Radez (Rhythm) had just joined the 4-way teams at the end of the 2008 season. Tempest videographer Patrick Walker happily accepted a slot in the 8-way action when Rhythm's Tail Laurent Beaudouin did not compete in 8-way.

Last year's 8-way lineup scored higher (9.4 - 8.1) than the 2009 lineup. However, the fun level was the same, and the 8-way jumps were surely the best ones that Patrick Walker had done so far.

The NSL News learned already on competition site from Rhythm founders JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz that three of the team members were ready to make the next step up in 2010. The article on 23 October 2009 broke the news and included a live interview with the married couple that laid out the basic idea of the Rhythm plans.

Rob Radez, JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz have followed up on their ideas and are already in the middle of the preparations for two tryout camps (November 20 and December 11 at Paraclete). There are at least three top candidates who are motivated to fill the open Tail slot and join the big plans.

Steve Lefkowitz recently updated the NSL News with team information, and it sounds very exciting as of the Rhythm future. He said that the team understands that it will take some time to get to the very top of the 4-way world. However, it is the goal to "become competitive with the top teams".

One great news bit seems to follow the other. The NSL News story on 10 November 2009 announced Perris Fury's plans for 2010 and explained how the pressure on Arizona Airspeed will probably raise the standards for both teams. SDC Rhythm XP's plans brings the next generation of top US 4-way teams into the picture and will help to add some additional pressure on all top teams, as well.

The Rhythm 3-way has already taken all the impressive action that it takes to get ready for this big move, as Steve Lefkowitz explained:

"JaNette and I quit our jobs, bought a house in Sebastian, and our plan is to skydive full time, by following Rook's planes - to Sebastian in the winter, then back to SDC in the summer. Rob is working out his details to join us. Our plan for this season is to do around 750 jumps, and 20-30 hours of tunnel training."

He said that Rhythm is very serious in looking for a new team member, actually for two, as this year's videographer Kevin Naftzger will also not be able to make this big step. He will continue to film at Rhythm's organized events, but he cannot continue as the team videographer.

He also said that Laurent Beaudouin has been "an awesome team mate". However, he cannot commit to the degree that the new Rhythm plans require. Steve Lefkowitz then provided details of the requirements for the new team member:

"The new team mate would have to be able to join us in Sebastian and Chicago for jumping, and in North Carolina for tunnel camps. While our schedule is not finalized, and of course would require the input of all team members, we were thinking about 12 training days per month, roughly ten week days and two weekend days - though the mix of week days and weekends would likely vary throughout the season as well."

The open slot is obviously the Tail position. Point Steve Lefkowitz said that it would be great if the new team member would fit into that slot. However, Rhythm is looking "more for the right person than the right position".

He finished the update with some thoughts of the long-term commitment: "Finally, while we believe team commitments are truly re-evaluated each year, our goal is to find team members who are thinking of being a part of the team beyond one year."

There is a downside of the Rhythm story though. It seems as if the team will not count as a weekend amateur lineup any longer. Mass Defiance's unofficial 19.3 amateur record may stand longer, as Rhythm will just have to skip the pursuit of this goal.