posted Nov 14th, 2019 - The results of the USPA Nationals 2019 and then the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019 seem to have more impact on the U.S. Formation Skydiving delegation for the FAI World Meet 2020 than it may have looked like after both events were concluded.

The first complications were obvious when SDC Rhythm XP defeated Arizona Airspeed in 4-way Open and qualified as the national team for Tanay 2020. Two Rhythm members, Steve Lefkowitz and Andrew Happick, had also trained and competed with Paraclete XP8 and won their second gold medals in 8-way.

According to the results at the USPA Nationals, Steve Lefkowitz and Andrew Happick would compete in 4-way and 8-way next year in Russia. The impact of double duties at the major FAI events has been discussed comprehensively, and the difficulties are well known. SDC Rhythm XP still began to make their double-duty plans after the national championship.

The results of the FAI World Cup in Eloy did not make it much easier for the two U.S. teams. NMP PCH HayaBusa had shown in Raeford that the top spot in 4-way Open is very far away for any other teams, and even the 2nd place in the world does not seem to be easy to win. At least the Qatar Tigers are ready to make it a battle for any other medals behind the top spot.

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USPA Nationals 2019			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		13,16,20		C,B,M,D,1		N,Q,17,D		5,L,E,21		P,15,12		14,4,22		10,O,9		F,19,8		11,7,18		2,6,A		Total	Avg
1	Tanay 8	RU	20		23		23		19		26		21		17		16	-1	17	-1	19		201	20.1
2	XP8	US	19	-1	24		22		19		24		20		17		16	-1	17	-1	19		197	19.7
3	Golden Knights	US	18	-1	23		17	-5	18	-1	24		19	-1	16		17		18	-1	19		189	18.9
4	Arizona Airspeed	US	16	-2	21		21		17		18	-2	19	-1	16		15		15	-2	16		174	17.4
5	Amphibious Attack Tigers	US	9		13		12		12		13		9	-1	10		11		8	-2	10		107	10.7
6	SDC Rhythm 9 XP	US	12		10	-2	9	-3	10	-1	11		12		10		9		11		10		104	10.4
7	Monster Mix	US	7	-4	10		9		9		9	-1	10	-1	9		9		8		9		89	8.9
8	Perris Riot!	US	9		7	-2	8		8		8	-1	9		9		9		9		7	-1	83	8.3
9	Fusion XP	US	7		8	-1	8	-1	9	-1	9		10		6	-1	7		7	-2	9		80	8.0
10	Lite 8	US	7		4	-2	6		6		4	-1	6	-1	6		4		5		7		55	5.5

Tanay 8 and Paraclete XP8 at the USPA Nationals 2019 - Video Footage Courtesy of USPA/OmniSkore!HD

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The results of the FAI World Cup added to the complications for the U.S. teams, as the 8-way competition had its own dynamics, as well. Russia's Tanay 8-way team had defeated Paraclete XP8 and Golden Knights both at the USPA Nationals and defended the top spot successfully a few weeks later in Eloy.

In addition, the new French 8-way lineup showed up with an impressive performance and pushed XP8 into the bronze medal position. The French national teams will have double duties in 8-way and 4-way Open/4-way Women in Tanay, as well. However, national coach Mathieu Bernier is not planning to compete for gold medals in 4-way Open, and he hopes that the double duties for the 4-way Women team will still produce gold medals in this event.

Mathieu Bernier and his teams are planning to defend the top position in 8-way and turn the silver of Eloy into gold in Tanay.

Paraclete XP8 and SDC Rhythm XP discussed the whole situation after the world cup and eventually came to the conclusion that there need to be some adjustments. The new plan was publicized at the end of October and before the first 8-way training camp.

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FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		13,11,16		P,22,4		O,7,21		9,20,G		18,15,L		K,10,3		6,14,C		1,M,A,17		F,D,Q,8		2,5,E		Total	Avg
1	Tanay 8	RU	19		26		18		20		23		21	-1	20		24		20		16		207	20.7
2	France	FR	20		24		18		19	-1	21		22	-1	19		23		19		17		202	20.2
3	Paraclete XP8	US	21	-1	24	-1	16	-1	18		21		20	-2	19		22	-1	19		18		198	19.8
4	Arizona Airspeed	US	18		21		16		18		16	-3	21	-1	17		17	-1	16		14	-1	174	17.4
5	Qatar Falcons	QA	16	-1	20	-1	14	-1	13	-3	17	-1	12	-5	15		19		15		14		155	15.5
6	Airbus	DE	14	-1	15		12		15		15	-1	15		12	-1	15		14	-1	12		139	13.9
7	Monster	US	12		13	-1	10	-1	12		14		13		12		15		11	-1	10		122	12.2
8	Amphibious Attack Tigers	US	11		16		10		11		9	-3	13	-1	14		10	-1	13		11		118	11.8
9	Groomed	UK	7	-2	9		8	-1	9		10		7		8	-1	10		13		7		88	8.8

Tanay 8, France, Paraclete XP8 at the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019 - Video Footage Courtesy of USPA/OmniSkore!HD

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"The members of Paraclete XP8 would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank JaNette Lefkowitz, Steve Lefkowitz and Andrew Happick from SDC Rhythm XP for their support of the 2019 XP8 project. Without their support, we could not have achieved the goals that we outlined in the beginning of the indoor season. In order for the United States to field the very best teams in both categories both teams have agreed to focus on their specific event. With that being said, we would like to welcome Matt Davidson, Niklas Hemlin and Mikhail Markine from Arizona Airspeed to the USA 8 Way Team. Today marked the first day of 2019/2020 training that will take place with the full support of Skydive Arizona and Paraclete XP. Thank you soooo much Elliot Byrd for making the time to visit and VG today!"

Kirk Verner, John D'Annunzio, Brian Krause, Michelle Karamon and Jeana Billings continue with XP8, and the three Airspeed members of the 2019 lineup after Ari Perelman (Niklas Hemlin, Mikhail Markine, Matt Davidson) complete the 8-way lineup. Thiago Gomes had no plans to continue, neither in 4-way nor in 8-way.

Steve Lefkowitz and Andrew Happick will focus only on 4-way with SDC Rhythm XP, and there was no XP8 slot left any longer for Ranch 2nd Generation member Christopher Kuhlmann. He had joined the 8-way team after the FAI Indoor World Meet 2019 when JaNette Lefkowitz stepped back from 8-way training and competition.

There are no double duties any longer for the U.S. Formation Skydiving delegation, and the teams can now focus on their main events, which are challenging enough...