posted Jan 11th, 2007 - The NSL-TV coverage of the USPA Nationals 2006 is coming to an end. The available videos of Round 10 have been uploaded and include once again the jumps of the three winners in each USPA category (DeLand Groove - AAA/Open Class, Arizona Divewerkz - AAA/Advanced Class, Ranch Pulse - AA/Intermediate Class).

The NSL News story on December 31, 2006, came with the videos of Round 9 and evaluated the situation before the final round in Eloy. The fast sequence of Round 9 (J-L-Q-P-18) had also brought some motion onto the top of the AAA/Open Class leaderboard without impacting on the rankings yet.

The sequence of Round 10 was even faster (E-O-5-D). In fact, it turned out to be the fastest one of the whole competition. There was a good chance that the last scores of the meet would finally materialize in a new and different order of the top positions on the leaderboard.

Everything was possible. DeLand Groove and Team Fastrax were separated by only two points, and the results of the fast Round 9 had just demonstrated how easily two points could be won or lost. Black Cat was not eligible to win USPA medals, however, the Russian world record holder was tied with Fastrax and could easily make it to the very top of the AAA Class leaderboard with a similar performance as in Round 9.

There was also a new race for the USPA bronze medals. Airspeed Odyssey had reduced the distance to the Golden Knights from four points to one single point in Round 9. Odyssey was now in serious striking distance, and there was a lot of pressure on the Army team.

The DeLand Groove members knew that it would be very challenging to defend the 1st place successfully. The Russian team Black Cat is obviously very good with fast sequences. The same line-up had posted a new official world record with the 44-pointer at the Malevsky Cup 2006, which can still be viewed on NSL-TV, and the highscore of Round 9 provided even more evidence for the Russian team skills on the fast lane.

The two contenders right behind the DeLand team were also well trained, while the Groove line-up was thrown together a few weeks before the competition. Each Groove member was a current or former 4-way world champion, and Gary Smith, Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo were in synch with each other after two years of training and competition with DeLand Fire.

The question was whether Solly Williams in the Point position would also be in synch with the 3-some for the 35 seconds of the fastest sequence of the competition. All Groove members once again showed their incredible skills and nerves as 4-way competitors when it was time for the final showdown. The 33-pointer was the highscore of the round and secured the gold medals of the USPA Nationals 2006. The jump with the highest score of the whole competition can now be viewed on NSL-TV.

Team Fastrax had to accept the silver medals and was also passed by Black Cat right before the finish line. However, Fastrax was ten points ahead of Airspeed Odyssey, which was as much a surprise as the fact that the team had been in contention for the 1st place throughout the first nine rounds.

In fact, Team Fastrax had been very close to a 1-year shortcut during these nine rounds. The team goal is to win the USPA Nationals 2007 and compete for the USA at the World Meet 2008. The first place in Eloy was not expected and planned for and would have been a nice bonus at the end of a very successful 2006 season.

Airspeed Odyssey had to settle for bronze medals after seven disappointing rounds on the first day of the meet. Odyssey tied DeLand Groove's total number of points and outscored Fastrax by four points for the three rounds of the second day. However, Groove and Fastrax were already much too far away on Monday morning.

The Golden Knights, still in bronze medal position after nine rounds, felt the heat from behind that the Airspeed team had ignited after a low-energy performance on Sunday. The Army team had a complete meltdown in the last round, which included a deduction of four points. Odyssey won the round by 11 points over the Knights (31 - 20), finished 10 points ahead and stole the bronze medals at the last moment.

Perris Fury used the opportunity, as well, and completed the biggest surprise of the meet. Only one point short of a 20-point average, Fury finished in 5th place of the whole leaderboard and in 4th USPA position. Fury had given Airspeed Odyssey a great race throughout the first seven rounds and finished with a convincing 29-pointer in the last round.

Arizona Divewerkz completed the runaway victory in the AAA/Advanced Class with a 17-pointer and tied this highscore for Round 10 with Perris Voltage. Cross Keys Vision had to work very hard to defend the diminishing lead over the Perris team on the second day of the competition. The 16-pointer in Round 10 saved the silver medals by one single point.

Ranch Pulse had more work to do in the final round of the AA/Intermediate Class competition than it appeared to be necessary earlier in the meet. Air Force CAD had caught up in the faster rounds of the meet (7 and 9). The lead was down to two points, and the AA Class sequence for Round 10 was fast, as well.

However, the Ranch team managed the pressure well and performed on the safe side. The Air Force team gave it all and lost a few points in the judging room. Pulse won the USPA gold medals by four points with a 13.5 average.