posted Mar 28th, 2016 - The audience seems to be convinced that NMP PCH Hayabusa will defend the 4-way title successfully at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving this year. Only 35% believe that Arizona Airspeed still has great or at least 50-50 chances, to win gold medals after the results at the Shamrock Showdown 2016.

However, Airspeed's domestic situation is very different so far. The Golden Knights might currently be the strongest opponent, as SDC Rhythm XP ended up behind the U.S. national 4-way team in 4-way Women at the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship 2016 and far behind Arizona Airspeed at the Shamrock Showdown.

The Golden Knights are behind their training and meet schedule and will most likely not be able to get closer to Airspeed this year. This will not be the same for SDC Rhythm XP, who have planned a very busy training schedule for the 2016 season.

Shamrock Showdown 2016			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class		3,13,9	G,6,21	10,20,11	18,4,B	F,1,14	19,5,7	P,Q,16,A	C,15,M,12	J,L,K,2	E,O,22,17	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	US	23	24	19	22	24	24(-1)	29	25	29	24	243	24.3
2	Aerodyne French Girls	FR	21	22	17	21	23	20	27	21	27	22	221	22.1
3	Qatar Tigers	QA	19	22	16	21	19	19	29	20	28	22	215	21.5
4	SDC Rhythm XP	US	19	19	15	19	21	20	26	19	25	21	204	20.4
5	Satori XL	UK	19	18	16	20	19	20	26	18	24	22	202	20.2
6	TurBu 2.0	US	15	19	15	15	19	20	24	15	21	20	183	18.3
7	Teiwaz	US	11	13	12	13	12	13	16	11	17	12	130	13.0

SDC Rhythm XP is in fact the only team this year who will complete the annual 3-stop Spring Tour: Raeford - DeLand - Bedford. The World Challenge 2016 is coming up this week, and Rhythm will make the trip to Bedford for the 6th time.

JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz traveled together all six times. Rob Radez and Thiago Gomes were in their Rhythm lineup at the first attendance in 2010 (25.3) and came back a year later (25.7) for the World Challenge 2011. Thiago Gomes and Chris Farina were in the travel group of 2012 (24.7), Christy Frikken and Mikhail Markine in 2013 (24.6). The same lineup skipped the 2014 event and then posted a 27.3 average last year.

New Rhythm members Andrew Happick (Point) and Doug Barron (Tail) make the trip to Bedford for their first time this week.

The new Rhythm lineup seems to be better prepared for the next indoor competition. The 26.8 average at the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship 2016 was an impressive result and promises chances to get close to the medal and cash positions in Bedford.

SDC Rhythm XP was not able to challenge Arizona Airspeed more seriously at the Shamrock Showdown due to the lack of enough outdoor training with the new lineup so far. Airspeed, on the other side, has dedicated the 2016 season mostly to outdoor training and competition, which became obvious in DeLand.

Rhythm's first outdoor scores of the 2016 season may not look very impressive, however, this will most likely chance very soon when the three Rhythm members with new exit slots have completed more outdoor training. Airspeed has three members in familiar slots, and only Mikhail Markine has a new assignment (Tail to Point). Round 1 of the World Challenge 2016 is scheduled for Friday morning.