posted Nov 22nd, 2019 - The recent changes in the U.S. Formation Skydiving delegation for the FAI World Meet 2020, Airspeed XP8 in 8-way and SDC Rhythm XP in 4-way, have an impact on the other medal contenders in the same categories, as well.

The main purpose of the lineup changes in 8-way was to make the U.S. delegation stronger, as Airspeed XP8 explained in their statement: "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."

Rhythm members Steve Lefkowitz and Andrew Happick gave up their Paraclete 8-way slots, and they were replaced by Niklas Hemlin and Mikhail Markine. This change eliminated the double duties that Steve Lefkowitz and Andrew Happick would have awaited in Tanay 2020.

The NSL News had reported on November 13th that the situation before the recent changes in the U.S. delegation could have made the Qatar Tigers a serious contender for more than only their first FAI bronze medals next year. Even the 2nd place in Tanay would most likely be in reach, as well.

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World Challenge 2019			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class - Top 10		P,H,Q,5	19,16,E	L,3,2	B,A,22,D	J,14,8	11,M,G,1	15,21,18	7,O,4	C,N,K,13	20,6,F	Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	52	32	28	39	29	32	28	34	42	31	347	34.7
2	Arizona Airspeed	US	48	30	27	37	27	31	25	33	36	28	322	32.2
3	IFS-Moscow	RU	44	29	26	33	27	29	23	33	34	31	309	30.9
4	Qatar Tigers	QA	44	29	26	35	24	29	24	31	32	31	305	30.5
5	SDC Rhythm XP	US	46	28	24	32	25	29	24	31	35	27	301	30.1
6	Airheads	CH	44	28	22	36	24	27	19	29	33	26	288	28.8
7	Weembi Unicorns	FR	43	28	23	32	23	28	19	28	33	26	283	28.3
8	ISR FireFlash	BE	40	26	24	33	24	25	19	25	28	26	270	27.0
9	NFTO	UK	35	25	24	29	24	25	20	27	30	24	263	26.3
10	Odin Parachute Systems	FR	35	28	21	29	22	25	20	25	29	25	259	25.9
10	Chimera	UK	36	24	21	27	23	27	21	25	29	26	259	25.9

Qatar Tigers and SDC Rhythm XP at the World Challenge 2019

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The changes in the Airspeed XP8 lineup, which give Steve Lefkowitz and Andrew Happick the freedom to focus only on their main event, make the situation for the Qatar Tigers much more challenging, at least in the pursuit of FAI silver medals.

SDC Rhythm XP now have the opportunity to train much more compared to the previous situation, when Steve Lefkowitz and Andrew Happick would have had to split up their available training time between 4-way and 8-way. The new U.S. 4-way champions will now be able to match the training schedule of their direct opponents, most likely the Qatar Tigers in the race for the 2nd place.

Both teams know each other well and have competed with and against each other at several indoor and outdoor meets. However, they never battled for FAI indoor or outdoor medals, and the FAI Outdoor World Meet 2020 will probably be the most important event in both teams' histories.

The history of this duel began in 2011 when Qatar's young Formation Skydiving delegation visited the USPA Nationals. Tigers (14.0) and Falcons (13.0) both competed in the 4-way Advanced Class and joined forces for the Qatar Knights in 8-way Intermediate. SDC Rhythm XP posted a 21.5 average in 4th place on the 4-way Open Class leaderboard.

Qatar Tigers versus SDC Rhythm XP between 2011 and 2019

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SDC Rhythm XP and Qatar Tigers at the Shamrock Showdown 2018

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Nine years later, Qatar Tigers and SDC Rhythm XP will most likely battle for silver medals at the FAI Outdoor World Meet in Tanay. It will be the first world meet for the U.S. team, while the Qatar Tigers competed for their country in Dubai 2012 (13th), Ottawa 2016 (5th) and Australia 2018 (4th).

The Qatar Tigers are still training and competing with the same lineup that attended the team's first world meet in 2012, while SDC Rhythm XP had several different lineups in the same time period, around JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz. Andrew Happick and Doug Barron have been Rhythm members since 2016.

The Qatar Tigers have been moving closer to SDC Rhythm XP year by year, first with French coach Jeremie Rollett, then recently with Gary Smith. They have won the last two indoor duels with Rhythm, at the Wind Games and at the World Challenge this year. Rhythm still have the upper hand at outdoor meets, even though the Tigers outscored Rhythm at the Shamrock Showdown 2016.

Next goal for the Qatar Tigers with Gary Smith is to copy the situation in outdoor competition, and the Shamrock Showdown 2020 will offer the next duel, this time as a preview and outdoor test for the battle for silver medals at the world meet next year...