posted Sep 13th, 2022 - The 8-way competition of the USPA Nationals is in full swing, after two days of patiently waiting for Round 1. Meet Director Melissa Nelson is determined to complete as many rounds as possible, which could mean a total of all ten rounds on Tuesday.

Similar to the 4-way Open Class competition, the field of 8-way teams at Skydive Chicago includes two medal contenders for the FAI Outdoor World Meet 2022. Paraclete XP8 and Qatar Falcons are very likely to take the two top spots in Eloy next month.

It took only three rounds until it was also very clear that the U.S. 8-way world champions of 2021 will defend their title successfully, as they had created a 15-point lead after Round 3. There is no other 8-way team in the world that could challenge either XP8 for the gold medals or the Qatar Falcons for the silver medals.

In fact, it is a small field of 8-way teams for the world meet in October, and there seems to be an opportunity for possibly unexpecting teams to compete for the bronze medals. The 8-way powerhouse of Russia will not have a lineup in Eloy, and France is sending a team that will probably only be in contention for the bronze medals. The three teams behind XP8 and Falcons (France - Germany - Great Britain) could be in a battle for the third set of FAI world meet medals. German or British 8-way teams have not won 8-way medals yet in the history of Formation Skydiving competition since 1985.

---

FAI Outdoor World Meet 2022			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open Power Rankings		TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Total	Avg
1	Paraclete XP8	US	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2	Qatar Falcons	QA	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3	Mojo Pamiers	FR	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3	MicroClim8	UK	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3	Airbus	DE	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

---

NSL-TV Unfiltered: USPA Nationals 2022 8-way Round 1

---

The settled situation for XP8 and Falcons at the world meet does not take away specific goals that both teams have for themselves. Qatar coach Jeremie Rollett still wants to lead the team to the highest average in the country's Formation Skydiving history. The FAI silver medals would also be a step up after the 3rd place in Australia 2018.

Paraclete's XP8 members have their own goals, as well, and not only for the world meet. Team members have mentioned in earlier interviews with the NSL News that they are eager to set new standards for 8-way competition and improve the highest scores that the Golden Knights have posted in the past.

The U.S. Army's 8-way lineup of 2016 posted the highest outdoor average in history (23.9) at the FAI World Meet 2016. It happened at the same location, as Skydive Chicago hosted the event that year. Current XP8 member Matt Davidson was in the 2016 lineup of the Golden Knights and has two opportunities this year to increase his own record average, first at the USPA Nationals, followed by the FAI Outdoor World Meet.

The XP8 members have no doubt that their team has the potential to set new records, even if it means the completion of ten rounds on one day. XP8 was standing at 24.3 after Round 3...

---

FAI Outdoor World Meet 2016			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		12,A,16		18,15,O		1,F,E,C		17,B,14		10,2,20		21,11,G		J,5,19		L,M,K,7		D,8,4		3,13,Q		Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights	US	31		25		26	-1	22		20		22		19		26		24		24	-1	239	23.9
2	France	FR	22	-1	20	-1	25		18		16		19		17		23		19		20		199	19.9
3	Tanay	RU	23		19		25		17		14	-1	16		16		21		20		19		190	19.0
4	Qatar Falcons	QA	19		16		20		15		7	-2	10	-4	13		16	-1	15		15		146	14.6
5	Microclim8	UK	15		14	-1	16	-1	14		11		13		13		14	-1	13		17		140	14.0
6	Airbus München	DE	16		15		17		11		11		13		12		14		12		15		136	13.6
7	Australia	AU	13		13		14	-1	12		9	-1	13		12		15		10		14		125	12.5
8	Divergence	CA	11		10	-1	9	-2	11		8		10		8	-1	10		11		11		99	9.9
9	Brazil	BR	11		8	-1	10		9		5	-2	9		9		11		8		13		93	9.3

---

Highest average in 8-way history: Golden Knights at the FAI Outdoor World Meet 2016

---