posted Jun 15th, 2026 - SDC Rhythm XP is one of the longest-standing 4-way teams in the United States and has been featured in NSL News headlines many times over the years. The pinnacle of the team's competitive success came with its 4-way Open Class victory at the USPA Nationals 2019, earning the team the USPA Championship title. That achievement also secured a place in the U.S. delegation for the FAI Tanay Mondial in August 2021, where Christy Frikken, Doug Barron, Andrew Happick, Steve Lefkowitz, and videographer Justin Wageman won silver medals behind NMP PCH HayaBusa.

The 2021 season marked the third and final year for Rhythm videographer Justin Wageman. Following his retirement after the world meet, Charlie McGee stepped into the camera slot in 2022 and went on to set a new team record with four seasons filming for Rhythm.

Both Justin Wageman and Charlie McGee were relatively new to elite-level 4-way competition when they took on the camera position for SDC Rhythm XP. McGee has now also concluded his tenure with the team, and his successor arrives with a very different level of experience. SDC Rhythm XP recently announced the addition of Elliot Byrd as the team's new videographer, while expressing its gratitude to Charlie McGee for his "great and memorable four years on SDC Rhythm XP."

SDC Rhythm XP lineups between 2007 and 2026

---

New team videographer Elliot Byrd is one of the most experienced 4-way and 8-way videographers in the United States. In fact, he already has two world championship titles to his name. He was on camera for Paraclete XP8's 2020/2021 lineup when the team won the FAI 8-way gold medals at Tanay 2021, and he successfully defended the title a year later in Eloy 2022.

Elliot Byrd's 4-way camera career began when his wife, Lauren Byrd, joined the 4-way Women team Phoenix XP in 2017. Together, they earned the team's place in the U.S. delegation at the USPA Nationals 2017 and narrowly missed the FAI bronze medals by just two points at Australia 2018. The pair went on to win bronze medals in 4-way Women at the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2019 before Phoenix retired following the event.

Elliot Byrd had already joined XP8 as the team's videographer while he was still filming Phoenix, balancing commitments in both 4-way and 8-way competition. However, he did not have double duties at Australia 2018, where the Golden Knights captured the 8-way gold medals for the U.S. delegation. His sole responsibility at that event was filming Phoenix and keeping the 4-way Women team—and his wife Lauren Byrd—in frame. Between 2018 and 2022, he trained and competed with XP8, the period during which he earned his two FAI 8-way gold medals on camera.

FAI World Meet 2018			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Women		21,L,B,G		22,18,17		19,7,O		J,16,12		10,A,D,15		Q,M,F,C,N		H,20,P,13		6,14,11		E,2,5		4,1,3		Total	Avg
1	Aerodyne Weembi Girls	FR	29	-1	20		24		22		25		56	-1	23		18	-2	22		18	-1	257	25.7
2	NFTO	UK	20	-3	15		22	-1	19		18		38	-2	18		17		19		16		202	20.2
3	Team X	SE	17	-3	10	-3	18		16		14		36	-3	15	-3	13		18		12	-1	169	16.9
4	Phoenix XP	US	17	-2	12		17		14		15	-1	37		16	-1	12	-2	14	-2	13		167	16.7
4	Boomerang Betty	AU	19	-1	11	-1	18		14		15		32	-2	15		13		17		13		167	16.7
6	Fuzion Voltige	CA	17	-1	9	-2	18		14		15	-1	34	-2	14	-2	13	-2	14	-2	13		161	16.1
7	Skynamite	DE	19		12		16	-1	14		14	-1	27	-1	13	-3	12	-1	15		12	-1	154	15.4

---

Phoenix at the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2018

---

However, Elliot Byrd did have double duties in both 4-way and 8-way during the 2018 training season. While Phoenix was preparing for the Outdoor World Championship in Australia, XP8 was training for the USPA Nationals 2019, which would serve as the qualifier for the next FAI Outdoor World Championship in 8-way. Those dual responsibilities continued when Lauren Byrd joined Skydive Midwest NEXT in 2020 and Elliot Byrd took the camera slot. The couple trained and competed with their new team through the USPA Nationals 2022, where Skydive Midwest NEXT finished in fifth place, 11 points behind SDC Rhythm XP.

Elliot Byrd first became teammates with Greg Oldendick during their time at Skydive Midwest NEXT. Greg Oldendick joined the team at the same time as the Byrds and remained with NEXT until the team concluded its run at the end of the 2023 season. However, the 2022 season marked the final campaign for Lauren and Elliot Byrd with SDMW NEXT. Oldendick was subsequently recruited by SDC Rhythm XP for the 2024 season, and now his former NEXT teammate returns to the camera slot, once again tasked with keeping him in frame.

The Rhythm lineup in front of the camera remains unchanged. With Elliot Byrd now behind the lens, SDC Rhythm XP will look to successfully defend its 4-way Open bronze-medal position and close the gap on Golden Knights and Arizona Airspeed at the national championships in September.

USPA Nationals 2025			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		O,4,5		21,12,22		6,J,H,G		N,2,20		L,13,A,F		7,19,M		1,14,18		9,10,15		17,E,8		C,3,P,K		Total	Avg
G	Aethers Lille	FR	23	-1	19		33		23		34		26		18		21		23	-1	30	-1	250	25.0
1	Golden Knights	US	21	-3	19		29		22		36		26		19		19	-2	26		28		245	24.5
2	Arizona Airspeed	US	24		17		27		19		29		23		15		17		22		23	-1	216	21.6
3	SDC Rhythm XP	US	19		14	-1	27		19		26	-1	22		15		16		19		19	-5	196	19.6
4	Elsinore Elevate	US	17	-1	14		23		17		26		21		15		16		19		21		189	18.9
5	Inertia AZ	US	16	-1	14	-1	24		16	-1	25		20		14		16		12	-5	20		177	17.7
6	The OGs	US	17		9	-3	21	-1	15	-1	21	-2	18		13		12	-2	16	-1	18	-2	160	16.0
7	Redline XP	US	14	-1	10	-1	18		14		22		13	-3	12		12		17		15	-1	147	14.7
8	Ranch TNT	US	13	-3	11		21		13		18		16	-1	11		12		14		12	-2	141	14.1
8	Double Trouble	US	14		11		18		12	-1	18		15		12		12		13	-1	16		141	14.1
10	Rhetirement Rhedux	US	10	-2	7	-3	16		11	-1	17		14	-1	9	-1	8	-2	10	-1	14		118	11.8
11	XP Angels	US	11	-1	9	-1	15	-2	11	-2	16	-1	13		10		7	-2	13	-1	12		117	11.7

---

SDC Rhythm XP at the USPA Nationals 2025

---