posted Jul 4th, 2023 - One of the earlier previews of the FAI Outdoor World Cup 2023 introduced the U.S. delegation on June 1st. It was not the complete U.S. delegation that was covered at that time. The NSL News knew by then that at least the three national teams in horizontal Formation Skydiving competition, Arizona Airspeed - XPG4 - XPGK8, would travel to Voss in Norway, together with a few additional U.S. teams (SDC Rhythm XP, SNE Fly Girls, Prison 9).

This alone was an extraordinary situation, as the update pointed out. It has never happened in the history of Formation Skydiving competition since 1985 that so many U.S. teams traveled to an outdoor world cup that is not hosted by the United States.

The most recent and updated preview leaderboards are now showing a total of nine U.S. teams in the same three categories. Skydive Midwest NEXT and Lightspeed XP are bringing the 4-way Open Class contingent to the maximum number at a world cup, and one more U.S. 8-way team (Bra Nok XP) has also registered for the event.

The same early update also pointed out that it seems to be impossible to stop the U.S. delegation from sweeping the three horizontal FS events and provide a preview of the situation at the next outdoor world championship in Israel 2024. Arizona Airspeed, XPG4 and XPGK8 seem to be too far ahead of the rest of the field in their respective categories.

FAI Outdoor World Cup 2023			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Total	Avg
Rank	NSL Power Rankings 8-way Open		TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Total	Avg
1	XPGK8	US	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2	Qatar Falcons	QA	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3	Prison 9	US	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4	Bra Nok XP	US	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4	Mojo Annecy-Clermont	FR	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
6	Ap8thy	UK	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
7	Deton8	UK	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

The most recent NSL Power Rankings in 4-way Open are still showing the world's Top 4 teams in their own category of medal contenders, and no other U.S. team is expected to move up to the medal level at this point in time. The 5th place is one again the most contested ranking position with several contenders, including two of the other U.S. teams (SDC Rhythm XP, Skydive Midwest NEXT).

The situation of the U.S. teams could even be better in 8-way Open. The first NSL Power Rankings in this event are showing Prison 9 in 3rd place behind XPG8 and Qatar Falcons. Emmanuel "Manu" Sarrazin is back with a new French 8-way Mojo lineup, which will probably perform on a similar level as the one that competed in Eloy last year and finished at the bottom of the 8-way leaderboard. The new Airbus bronze medalists from Germany are not registered for the event with the new lineup.

Manu Sarrazin's Mojo 8-way team even has to watch out for the third U.S. 8-way team, Bra Nok XP, who will put pressure on the French team for the 4th place behind the expected medal contenders. The two British 8-way teams will probably have their own duel at the bottom of the 8-way leaderboard. Deton8 and Ap8thy have not met each other yet on the same leaderboard. Deton8 competed in British Skydiving's Intermediate Class as "Micro Climb Out" at last year's national outdoor championship, while Ap8thy finished in 3rd place on the 8-way Open leaderboard.

FAI Outdoor World Meet 2022			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		20,16,B		P,D,21,13		17,K,11		E,A,19,22		2,9,M		C,14,F,12		3,6,18		4,10,1		8,Q,O,H		5,7,J		Total	Avg
1	Paraclete XP8	US	25	-1	20		20	-1	18	-1	18		19	-1	23		26	-1	16	-2	20	-2	205	20.5
2	Qatar Falcons	QA	21	-1	14	-2	16	-1	17		16		15	-1	19	-1	20	-1	14	-1	12	-4	164	16.4
3	Airbus	DE	18		14		14		13		4	-1	12	-2	16		16		12		14		133	13.3
4	MicroClim8	UK	16		9	-2	12		10		11	-1	7	-3	15		16		11		12	-1	119	11.9
5	Mojo Annecy-Clermont	FR	15		10		11		10		11		10	-1	8	-5	13		9		10		107	10.7

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Paraclete XP8 - Qatar Falcons - Mojo at the FAI Outdoor World Meet 2022 - Video Footage Courtesy of FAI/ISC and OmniSkore!HD

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As for Prison 9, the outdoor world cup is a convenient opportunity for Bra Nok XP to compete in 4-way and 8-way both. The Prison 9 lineup in Voss, Norway, includes four SDC Rhythm XP members this time (Doug Parron, Keith Conner, Chris Webb, videographer Charlie McGee) and NEXT members Gorka Amian and Greg Oldendick, regulars of Prison 9.

Lightspeed XP's James Hall, Brandon Kashani and Matthew Hunt had Jeana Billings in their 4-way lineup at the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship 2023, who will neither be available for Lightspeed XP nor for Bra Nok XP. However, the 8-way team also had Anna Brunner, Michelle Karamon and Brenn Richards in the lineup at Paraclete XP in February. The three XPG4 members will be in Voss and compete for the gold medals in 4-way Women, together with Jeana Billings.

Morgan Womble, Kim Hollander and Carl Kallgren completed the Bra Nok XP lineup at the indoor event, and they may complete the 8-way lineup once again. There are also Shannon Catalano and Chris Normandeau who competed for Bra Nok XP at the USPA Nationals 2022. They would be eligible to compete for the U.S. delegation in Norway. Bra Nok XP has options, and the NSL News will follow up with the final lineup.

Three U.S. 8-way teams could be in the Top 4 and add two sets of medals to the collection of the U.S. Formation Skydiving delegation. It would be the first time that two U.S. 8-way teams win medals at an outdoor world cup.

USPA Nationals 2022			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		12,4,E		20,13,L		1,H,A,D		17,18,16		J,M,2,9		14,N,5		Q,C,3,7		22,19,15		O,K,G,21		F,10,11		Total	Avg
1	Paraclete XP8	US	24	-1	21		28		22		20		21		24		22		19	-1	21		222	22.2
G	Qatar Falcons	QA	21		13	-2	24		15	-1	13	-3	16		18		18		17	-1	17		172	17.2
2	Airspeed 8	US	17	-2	13	-4	19		15		15		16		18		18		17		15	-1	163	16.3
3	Prison 9	US	11	-2	13		17		12	-1	13		12		10	-3	12	-1	12		11	-1	123	12.3
4	Bra Nok XP	US	12	-1	11		12		12	-1	7	-4	11		9	-2	12		11		11		108	10.8
5	Disturbance 8	US	10	-1	7	-2	10		11		9	-1	6	-3	11		12		8	-1	9		93	9.3
6	Monster XP	US	7		5	-1	6	-2	8		2	-1	7		8		3	-3	6		7		59	5.9

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Paraclete XP8 - Prison 9 - Bra Nok XP at the USPA Nationals 2022 - Video Footage Courtesy of USPA and InTime

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