posted Jun 17th, 2009 - The upcoming meet weekend is another very busy one and will probably even challenge the new record numbers of the May 23 weekend, always depending on the weather, of course. One of the nine scheduled meets is the season opener of the Midwest Skydiving League. MWSL Director Alan Butt is guiding teams and competitors into its 11th year without interruption in the NSL Network. As in the past years, he introduces the MWSL teams that he already knows of.

On the very top of 4-way competition in the Midwest region is SDC Rhythm XP, USPA's AAA/Advanced Class winner of 2008. The Rhythm 2009 lineup, with new Center Inside Rob Radez, plus Laurent Beaudouin (Tail), Janette Lefkowitz (Center Outside), Steve Lefkowitz (Point) and Kevin Naftzger on camera, just attended the Paraclete XP Indoor Skydiving Championship 2009 and finished with a most impressive 23.1 average. The NSL News had introduced the new Rhythm lineup already with the story on 30 January 2009.

The performance in Raeford last weekend almost guarantees that SDC Rhythm XP will be the top contender for the unofficial amateur championship of this year's AAA/Open Class competition at the USPA Nationals. Arizona Divewerkz was the best AAA/Open Class amateur team in 2008 after winning the AAA/Advanced Class championship in 2006 and then moving up into the AAA/Open Class. USPA's rules do not allow the Advanced Class champion to defend the title.

Mass Defiance still owns the highest meet average of an amateur team with the 19.3 average in the AAA/Open Class at the USPA Nationals 2007. AZDW came very close with a 19.0 average last year. SDC Rhythm XP seems to be able to challenge this record average for a weekend team. The meet on home turf this upcoming weekend will be the first opportunity for the new lineup to post new outdoor scores. MD's 19.3 average may already be in jeopardy after the first 2009 Rhythm scores.

SDC Rhythm XP 2009

The SDC Rhythm XP members provided some commentary for the NSL News earlier this year, which was a preview of the 2009 season from the team's perspective:

"We're looking forward to an exciting season in 2009, which really started in January with tunnel trips to Paraclete and jumping at Skydive Sebastian. We have a new inside center, Rob Radez, who won nationals in the intermediate class last year. Rob will travel from San Francisco to join us for training at Skydive Chicago, Sebastian and the Paraclete wind tunnel.

World Champion and all-around great guy Kirk Verner will continue to coach us. Besides the MWSL meets and Nationals, we're planning to compete at the Indoor Skydiving Championships at Paraclete June 12-15.

We're very excited about a packed schedule of jumping and tunnel, and no less excited about all the great organized events we have going on at SDC and Paraclete.

We've already had two great Team for a Day events, and we have three more planned. During these events, skydivers join us for a day of 4-way jumping just like being on a team but without the commitment. These events are open to jumpers at any experience level, from beginner to advanced.

Plus we've had two tunnel skills camps for RW coaching at Paraclete, and we have one more on May 30,31. Here's a link to the video from our last one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seuNsk2KwAs. People with zero jumps to thousands of jumps have joined us for a great time and lots of learning covering solo belly skills, relative work skills, and specific four-way technique. Finally, we'll be organizing at SDC's Summerfest this year July 25 - August 2, and no doubt that's going to be huge!

2009 is going to be a very fun and rewarding year, and we're looking forward to pushing ourselves, doing our best to help build the skills of others, and generally having a great time."

SDC Furies XP 2009

The 2009 season will also bring the SDC Furies XP into the team's 7th season. The Furies will be moving forward with returning members Karyn Rees (Point), Shannon Sweet (Tail) and videographer Charles Lane.

Joining the Furies for the 2009 season are Rhonda Wilcox (Center Inside) and Anabel Durham (Center Outside). The new lineup met for the first time face to face on April 18th at the Paraclete XP wind tunnel in North Carolina and enjoyed a well awaited weekend of productive training. The Furies are already planning their future Paraclete tunnel camps. The team also anticipates quite a few 3-day camps at their home DZ, Skydive Chicago.

New members Rhonda Wilcox and Anabel Durham were quite taken back with just how supportive everyone has been at Skydive Chicago. The new lineup is excited about training side by side with SDC Rhythm XP and Rookie Class team Flying Fish, plus VRW team SDC Standard.

New Fury member Anabel Durham stated that "...Skydive Chicago has truly raised the bar for its ability to combine facilities that are 2nd to none, while the staff is committed to both a team training environment, as well as the fun jumper and student side. A combination not easily made".

The Furies are excited to see what the new lineup can do in 2009. Airspeed alumnus Brian Johnson will be coaching the Furies this year. He was competing with Satori at the World Challenge 2009, filling the slot for John McIver. He had competed with XL in 2007 and 2008 at the indoor meets at Bodyflight Bedford.

The NSL News will follow up with more information of the MWSL 2009 teams.