posted Nov 7th, 2011 - The last video of the NSL News coverage at the USPA Nationals 2011 has been uploaded, and it is one of the most interesting ones. The live NSL Talk with SDC Rhythm XP after the completion of the 16way event comes along with all ten competition rounds, courtesy of USPA and Skydive Arizona.

The rollercoaster event for the youngest top team provided an experience that could be very helpful when Rhythm will eventually compete for the top spot of the USPA leaderboard one day. This will happen with a different lineup though. Center Inside Rob Radez announced that he will take a break, and Rhythm is recruiting a new team member. The NSL Talk reveals more of the details.

The USPA Nationals 2011 was still not the last competition for Rhythm with Rob Radez. As planned, the team will compete at the Dubai Championship and has a rematch opportunity with one of the teams that took away the USPA medals from Rhythm at the last second, Perris Fury. However, Rhythm's recruiting process has begun.

USPA Nationals 2011		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	M,5,13	21,14,22	12,20,D	11,Q,16	O,C,10,K	P,L,19,8	18,6,2	15,9,G	7,F,17	A,B,N,J,3	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	25	19	19	22	26	24	21	26	31	30	243	24.3
2	Golden Knights Gold	18	17	18	21	24	23	19	21	29	28	218	21.8
3	Perris Fury	20	17	16	21	26	22	15	21	29	29	216	21.6
4	SDC Rhythm XP	22	17	18	21	24	20	19	22	26	26	215	21.5
5	Paraclete XP4	21	16	16	20	23	19	17	22	26	28	208	20.8

Rhythm grabbed the silver medal position in Round 1 and held on to it through Round 8. The trouble started in Round 9 when Golden Knights and Perris Fury picked up the pace. They stood with the back to the wall, and it was easy for them to go for it with only two rounds left to win medals. The fast sequences of Round 9 and Round 10 offered the perfect opportunity for an attack.

At least in Round 9 Rhythm still did not look "young and nervous". It was actually bad luck that caused a 3-point loss to Knights and Fury in Round 9. Two of the three judges did not see a perfectly executed exit and subterminal procedure for Block 7 (Side Buddies - Side Buddies). Only former world champion Eric Heinsheimer approved how Rhythm presented the two pieces accurately separated from each other in perfect synch. It wasn't enough, as the other two judges overruled the former Golden Knight.

One additional point would have been enough for Rhythm to force a jumpoff round with Perris Fury, and another questionable point was lost in the judging room in Round 10. It was a similar situation, as Eric Heinsheimer once again approved a correct transition from the Unipod exit to a good looking Stairstep Diamond that was busted by the two other judges. Two more penalties followed later in the jump, and Rhythm eventually collected more penalties in the last two rounds than in all previous eight rounds. Golden Knights and Fury came from behind and stole the open medal positions at the very end.

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It was still a very impressive performance by SDC Rhythm XP that earned a lot of respect by all teams, competitors and the audience. Rhythm missed the goal of a medal position and a 22.0 average but had no reason to be disappointed. In fact, the team seems to be more motivated than ever to make the next step towards the top position in the USA after the last meet with Rob Radez in Dubai.

JaNette Lefkowitz pointed out during the NSL Talk how impressive the career of Rhythm's Center Inside has been. Three years ago, Rob Radez had posted a 13.1 average with R4 to win the Intermediate Class competition of the USPA Nationals 2008 in Eloy when Rhythm won the Advanced Class competition at the same event with a 16.9 average. By the way: Rhythm videographer Jason Imamura was also filming R4 in 2008.

Rob Radez then took the Center Inside slot for Rhythm in 2009 and moved up to an 18.1 average in the Open Class a year later. Thiago Gomes joined the team as the Tail in 2010, and Rhythm posted a 20.5 average at the USPA Nationals. Rob Radez has now fueled the Rhythm engine to a 21.5 average, which might not even be the peak yet. The Dubai Championship 2011 could be the real peak for his 4way career, at least for now...