posted Sep 14th, 2013 - There is no question who will win the AAA/Open Class gold medals at the USPA Nationals 2013, and SDC Rhythm XP will most likely take the 2nd place on the leaderboard. However, the fact that Rhythm is not eligible for USPA medals creates a more interesting battle for the other two top USPA spots.

Paraclete XP4 is probably the safest bet for the 3rd place on the leaderboard and silver medals without any major troubles. It becomes really interesting when it comes to the bronze medals. Carolina Turbo XP's turn into a professional skydiving work and team environment is showing results.

The bronze medals are more than in reach. Turbo has caught up with the Golden Knights who won the 2012 bronze medals and are still holding off last year's challenger DNR, at least for the moment.

Carolina Turbo XP Rd. 3	Carolina Turbo XP Rd. 4

USPA Nationals 2012		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA/Open Class	3,B,K,H	F,7,22	O,4,D,13	A,M,11,8	N,P,G,19	L,20,1	5,16,J	6,21,12	18,17,10	E,C,Q,15	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed (US)	30	28	24	23	34	22	28	19	20	37	265	26.5
2	SDC Rhythm XP (US)	30	24	23	24	25	21	25	17	19	30	238	23.8
3	Evolution (CA)	24	20	22	21	22	19	26	16	18	33	221	22.1
4	Golden Knights (US)	23	22	20	22	24	17	21	16	17	26	208	20.8
5	DNR (US)	26	22	19	22	22	17	23	15	17	24	207	20.7
6	Paraclete XP4 (US)	22	19	17	20	23	17	19	15	15	23	190	19.0
7	Carolina Turbo XP (US)	22	18	16	19	21	15	20	15	14	19	179	17.9
7	AZ Plosion (US)	21	17	17	19	21	17	17	15	13	22	179	17.9

Turbo is even within striking distance of Paraclete XP4 who are much stronger than last year. It was a slower start for the young team in Ottawa, however, the pace and quality in Round 3 and Round 4 was on medal level, as the videos are showing.

There is a new contender for the bronze medals. Last year's AZplosion members Ari Perelman and Nick Grillet have joined forces with Don Burnette and hired Shannon Pilcher as a player coach. DNR, with original Mass Defiance member John Silva replacing Steve Johnston, have their hands full to keep up and close.

Carolina Turbo XP is gaining momentum and confidence and makes little mistakes causing hardly any point deductions. It could become the first time for Turbo to win USPA medals in USPA's Open Class...