posted Feb 14th, 2011 - Arizona Airspeed's new lineup won the team's first outdoor competition, and they defeated the reigning 4-way world champions from France with ease. There are reasons for why it all happened as it did, and some of them have been discussed.

No matter why and how it happened, there is a very good reason to remember this leaderboard and take a good look at the videos. Airspeed did not post the highest outdoor meet average in history. This honor still belongs to the French lineup who had finished with a 27.7 average at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010.

However, the new Airspeed lineup opened up a new chapter in 4-way Formation Skydiving competition in a different and very special way. The Airspeed scores at the Valentine's Meet 2011 stand for the first time ever that a team posted scores of 21 points or higher in a 10-round meet.

Valentine's Meet 2011		Round1	Round2	Round3	Round4	Round5	Round6	Round7	Round8	Round9	Round10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA/Open Class	18,N,9	20,6,5	11,O,7	15,13,P	21,L,D,C	G,F,M,K,4	A,3,22	10,19,H	14,2,B	1,E,17	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	25	23	27	23	30	36	23	21	21	21	250	25.0
2	Aerodyne Maubeuge	26	19	26	21	27	35	24	19	18	19	234	23.4

The NSL News has covered this special feast several times in the past. Only four teams (DeLand Majik, Team Fastrax, Arizona Airspeed, Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge) have ever achieved to score only 20-pointers and higher in a 10-round competition.

Former French national coach Jerome David knew that his world champion lineup of 2010 was very close to get to the next level. The 20-pointer in Round 5 of the World Meet in Menzelinsk was the lowest score in this 10-round meet. He said in Russia jokingly that his team is aiming at skipping the 20-point level and go straight to the 21-pointer as the lowest score.

Jeremie Rollett, who won the 4-way gold medals for France in Menzelinsk, is now the national coach, and Emmanuel "Manu" Sarrazin has taken his slot. Jeremie Rollett did probably not expect his team to set the new mark at this point in time. It happened anyway, and it was just not his French team that set the new benchmark.

It was a very close game for Arizona Airspeed, as the videos of all ten rounds show. It did not seem to be too difficult for Airspeed to get to the 21 points in the sequences of Rounds 1 through 7. The 23-pointers in Rounds 2, 4 and 7 were the lowest scores. However, this was still amazing, as the first seven rounds even included a 3-block sequence (20-6-5) in Round 2.

The real challenge began in Round 8. The next three rounds then brought Airspeed much closer to the 21-point edge. In fact, the score was 21 points for each of the last three rounds, and some of the jumps were not only close to the timely edge. There were also some close judging calls.

It does not matter any longer, the scores are officially posted, and the new benchmark has been set. It would be no big surprise if the French team would join the new elite 4-way club very soon. It is also more than overdue that the Dubai Championship 2011 winner, NMP-PCH Hayabusa, earns this exclusive club membership...