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The rollercoaster event for the youngest top team provided an experience that could be very helpful when Rhythm will eventually compete for the top spot of the USPA leaderboard one day. This will happen with a different lineup though. Center Inside Rob Radez announced that he will take a break, and Rhythm is recruiting a new team member. The NSL Talk reveals more of the details.
The USPA Nationals 2011 was still not the last competition for Rhythm with Rob Radez. As planned, the team will compete at the Dubai Championship and has a rematch opportunity with one of the teams that took away the USPA medals from Rhythm at the last second, Perris Fury. However, Rhythm's recruiting process has begun.
USPA Nationals 2011 | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 | Rd. 3 | Rd. 4 | Rd. 5 | Rd. 6 | Rd. 7 | Rd. 8 | Rd. 9 | Rd. 10 | Total | Avg | |
Rank | AAA Class | M,5,13 | 21,14,22 | 12,20,D | 11,Q,16 | O,C,10,K | P,L,19,8 | 18,6,2 | 15,9,G | 7,F,17 | A,B,N,J,3 | Total | Avg |
1 | Arizona Airspeed | 25 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 26 | 31 | 30 | 243 | 24.3 |
2 | Golden Knights Gold | 18 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 29 | 28 | 218 | 21.8 |
3 | Perris Fury | 20 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 26 | 22 | 15 | 21 | 29 | 29 | 216 | 21.6 |
4 | SDC Rhythm XP | 22 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 215 | 21.5 |
5 | Paraclete XP4 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 22 | 26 | 28 | 208 | 20.8 |
At least in Round 9 Rhythm still did not look "young and nervous". It was actually bad luck that caused a 3-point loss to Knights and Fury in Round 9. Two of the three judges did not see a perfectly executed exit and subterminal procedure for Block 7 (Side Buddies - Side Buddies). Only former world champion Eric Heinsheimer approved how Rhythm presented the two pieces accurately separated from each other in perfect synch. It wasn't enough, as the other two judges overruled the former Golden Knight.
One additional point would have been enough for Rhythm to force a jumpoff round with Perris Fury, and another questionable point was lost in the judging room in Round 10. It was a similar situation, as Eric Heinsheimer once again approved a correct transition from the Unipod exit to a good looking Stairstep Diamond that was busted by the two other judges. Two more penalties followed later in the jump, and Rhythm eventually collected more penalties in the last two rounds than in all previous eight rounds. Golden Knights and Fury came from behind and stole the open medal positions at the very end.
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JaNette Lefkowitz pointed out during the NSL Talk how impressive the career of Rhythm's Center Inside has been. Three years ago, Rob Radez had posted a 13.1 average with R4 to win the Intermediate Class competition of the USPA Nationals 2008 in Eloy when Rhythm won the Advanced Class competition at the same event with a 16.9 average. By the way: Rhythm videographer Jason Imamura was also filming R4 in 2008.
Rob Radez then took the Center Inside slot for Rhythm in 2009 and moved up to an 18.1 average in the Open Class a year later. Thiago Gomes joined the team as the Tail in 2010, and Rhythm posted a 20.5 average at the USPA Nationals. Rob Radez has now fueled the Rhythm engine to a 21.5 average, which might not even be the peak yet. The Dubai Championship 2011 could be the real peak for his 4way career, at least for now...