posted May 4th, 2013 - "Near the end of 2008, SFC Brian Krause set out to rebuild the Golden Knights 8way Formation Skydiving Team. With three seasoned competitors and five new teammates, GK8 embarked on a four year project with one ultimate goal: Win the 2012 World Parachuting Championships."

"While not impossible, the task at hand would surely be difficult as 1997 was the last year that a Golden Knights 8way team won the World Championships."

Those are the opening words of a new movie that Golden Knights members Jesse Stahler and Mike LaRoche recently put together in memory of the remarkable five years of the lineup that won the gold medals and 8way Excalibur for the USA at the Mondial Dubai 2012.

Golden Knights Movie	Mondial Dubai 2012

Mike LaRoche is one of the youngest members and has his own amazing story of those five years. He was selected for the new 8way lineup and began training and competing with the team in 2009. He had to step back when he and his wife had a baby girl, Grace LaRoche, who was born prematurely with a weight of 2 lbs and 2 oz. Mike LaRoche decided to spend the time with his family, and Kurt Isenbarger filled the open slot.

Mike LaRoche ended up as the Golden Knights alternate at the World Meet 2010 in Menzelinsk where his team won the silver medals. Then he came back as an active member in 2011 and eventually won the gold medals in Dubai 2012.

Jess Stahler was the alternate last year and the next in line to fill an open slot for the 8way team. His time has come now after Brian Krause has left the team. The 26-year old Jesse Stahler is well trained and knows that he has to fit into big shoes. His movie partner Mike La Roche is now an experienced 8way competitor and world champion and will be able to give him good advice.