posted Oct 29th, 2012 - Seven rounds have been completed in all three 4way Formation Skydiving competition categories at the USPA Nationals 2012, and it is exciting and interesting all around.

SDC Rhythm XP managed to win a round over Arizona Airspeed, and it was the first time that this happened between those two teams in Round 4. It required some help by Airspeed who lost four points, which is very unusual too. Rhythm was still clean all the way through Round 4.

Airspeed answered once again without hesitation and left Rhythm far behind and in the dust 90 minutes later. The 34-pointer in Round 5 was like from another planet. The NSL News will follow up with this Airspeed video and a few Rhythm jumps later. DNR is still successfully holding the USPA bronze medal position, and the Golden Knights keep putting pressure on DNR. By the way: It is the female lineup of the Golden Knights in the top rankings of the Open Class leaderboard...

The NSL News had the opportunity to get a quick explanation of the Fastrax disaster in Round 1. Center Outside Gilles Dutrisac explained that it was a double malfunction of two cameras. The prime camera lost power after capturing the Side Flake Opal out the door for the 1-point score. Fastrax videographer Ray Dutch then checked his backup camera and had to find out that it was out of focus. Bad luck...

Another team had to go through an even worse experience. Cosmic Debris was the AA/Intermediate Class leader after Round 4 and then had to eat a 0-point score in Round 5, as there was no video footage available after the team landed. Cosmic Debris has shown an incredible comeback and is tied in 1st place after two more rounds.

Tail Alissa Olson is competing for the first time at national skydiving championships and is obviously going through a rollercoaster, together with her more experienced team mates. Cosmic Debris was fortunate that the other top contenders on the Intermediate Class leaderboard took turns in giving up points in other rounds. It's a horse race, and Cosmic Debris is back in it.

The NSL News also caught Golden Knights 8way team captain Sean Sweeney at the right time. He kept himself busy on the basketball court while he was waiting for the team briefing and competition draw of the 8way event. He dunked the ball years ago for the NSL News at the same place and still knows how to do it, as the NSL Reality TV clip shows.

The Advanced Class leaderboard needs some explanations to separate the USPA medal contenders and the guest teams. Vibe member Mikhail Markin is from Russia, even though he has been living in the USA for a while. Dubai Asaar Red, with Craig Girard filling a slot, is in 2nd place and cannot win USPA medals, and the same counts for Dubai Asaar Gold with Eliana Rodriguez.

The two Air Force teams, Paradigm and Legacy, are winning the USPA gold and silver medals at the moment after leading the field from Round 1 on forward. It's the first year that the Air Force teams are competing in the AAA/Advanced Class after winning several USPA medals in the AA/Intermediate Class in the past years. The NSL News asked Coach Bill Wenger for some feedback, and the answers are live on NSL Reality TV.