posted Jan 18th, 2016 - It's a fact now: Arizona Airspeed has a new lineup.

The Sun Path Products NSL News reported on January 9th that Arizona Airspeed canceled the trip to the Wind Games 2016.

The 2015 lineup had decided not to continue after the World Air Games 2015 and parted with inside center Chris Farina.

Thomas Hughes, Niklas Hemlin, Thiago Gomes and Justin Price (video) could not find and train a new team member quickly enough to make the trip to Spain this week.

The first training camp of the year took place with Mikhail Markine, while Airspeed was also waiting for a decision from 2012 world champion Josh Hall, who was the top candidate for the open slot.

Josh Hall will not be able to commit to the full training schedule that Airspeed needs this year, before the next showdown with NMP PCH Hayabusa at the Mondial 2016.

Mikhail Markine was in the point slot at the first training camp, and he will keep it for the whole year.

Thomas Hughes will be his piece partner in the front piece and provide him with all the tricks that the new Airspeed point needs to know. Niklas Hemlin moves from the point slot back to inside center and also has a new piece partner with Thiago Gomes. Mark Kirkby was the Airspeed tail in 2012.

Chris Farina left the team surprisingly, and the Sun Path Products NSL News was interested in the reasons behind the recent decision.

It has been a turbulent time period for Arizona Airspeed between the USPA Nationals 2015 and the turn of the year. Thomas Hughes announced during the Clash of Champions 2015 that he will retire from the active lineup after the Mondial 2016.

In the meantime, Mikhail Markine and Christy Frikken had decided not to continue with SDC Rhythm XP, and Airspeed recruited Mikhail Markine for the open slot after the Mondial 2016. Airspeed then lost once again the duels with NMP PCH Hayabusa, first at the Clash of Champions 2015 and then at the World Air Games 2015.

It was only a 4-point difference at the outdoor competition in Dubai. That was still enough for the team to take action and try to change the pattern of defeats against the Belgian world champions.

World Air Games 2015			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		B,C,17,2	N,19,4	13,14,F	6,E,O,L	7,1,A	D,18,P,22	M,H,5,15	16,9,12	21,K,G,Q	11,20,3	Total	Avg
1	NMP PCH Hayabusa	BE	29	26	23	36	28	23	31	24	27	22	269	26.9
2	Arizona Airspeed	US	29	27	22	36	28	19	29	25	30	20	265	26.5

Chris Farina leaves the team after three years in Airspeed's inside center slot. He had first been on Airspeed's trail with Perris Fury and came very close to catch the U.S. top team. He continued with the pursuit of the same goal when he joined SDC Rhythm XP in 2012, and his new team once again began to move closer to Airspeed.

Airspeed then recruited Chris Farina and Thiago Gomes both for their own new lineup after the Mondial Dubai 2012. Airspeed, with Thomas Hughes, Niklas Hemlin, Chris Farina, Thiago Gomes and Justin Price on camera, won the USPA Nationals in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and silver medals at the FAI World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2014.

Neither the Airspeed lineup of 2013 and 2014, nor the new one with Niklas Hemlin back in the team for Mark Kirkby, were able to get ahead of the reigning Belgian 4-way world champions with their previous lineup (2011 - 2014) or with Jeroen "Bob" Nollet in the tail slot. Airspeed now tries again with the third different lineup in four years and eight months of time...