posted Oct 27th, 2011 - The first part of the special NSL-TV feature of the slowest sequences between 2002 and 2011 has enjoyed great interest by the audience, and the second part has now been uploaded. Original plan was to cover it all in only two parts, which turned out to be too much and too long. The second part now covers the 2009 and 2010 season, and the third part with the 2011 season will conclude the story.

The NSL News will also follow up with additional features. XL and Sinapsi member, veteran coach Pete Allum suggested a vote for the slowest sequence that the current dive pool could generate. After the definition of the ultimately slowest sequence teams will have the opportunity to test the most challenging sequence in the dive pool and provide the videos. Judges and audience will then decide who mastered the mother of the slow sequences best.

The second part of the special NSL-TV video features the time period between the World Cup 2009 and the USPA Nationals 2010.

World Cup 2009		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	8,19,A	7,L,12	10,14,9	22,N,J,G	C,6,5	D,O,4,Q	15,13,18	21,2,20	1,H,17	3,B,M,K	Total	Avg
1	Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge	23	24	21	26	23	30	20	20	22	31	240	24.0
2	HayaBusa Defence	21	23	19	24	22	29	16	19	25	31	229	22.9

The World Cup 2009 was the event where the French national team of 2009, Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge with the world champion lineup of 2010, finally joined the 20-pointer elite club. France had to master three 3-block sequences in Prostejov to earn the club membership. Hayabusa missed the magic numbers of 20 and higher in all three rounds at the same event, together with all other Top 5 teams.

USPA Nationals 2009		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	13,20,18	D,10,3	16,15,K	G,Q,L,8	B,17,21	A,N,H,P,O	1,14,M	19,12,J	5,11,C	22,9,E	Total	Avg
1	Airspeed Odyssey	20	21	24	28	26	44	21	21	23	23	251	25.1
2	Spaceland Force XP	18	23	23	25	24	45	21	20	23	22	244	24.4
3	Perris Fury	17	21	22	27	24	43	22	19	23	25	243	24.3

Airspeed Odyssey had only one 3-block sequence in the competition draw of the USPA Nationals 2009 a few months later and scored a 20-pointer for 13,20,18 in Round 1. No other team was able to score only 20-pointers and higher. Rounds 7 and 8 were the other slower rounds of this meet where Spaceland Force XP posted a new 4way world record in Round 6.

The 2010 season began for Airspeed at a very small Valentine's Meet. Airspeed was on the way to the next 20-pointer meet before the 3-block sequence of Round 10 (4,21,20) stopped the run with an 18-pointer.

Aerodyne Aerokart and NMP-PCH Hayabusa both also missed the same benchmark a month later at the Shamrock Showdown where Airspeed was absent this time. France mastered the 3-block sequence in Round 6 (20,16,17) with a 21-pointer but had already missed in Round 4 (C,4,18) with a 19-pointer that Hayabusa won with 22 points. The Belgians were below 20 points in three other rounds.

Next stop was the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010 where all top contenders came together again.

World Meet 2010		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	10,7,12	3,11,5	J,M,Q,P,L	19,1,13	N,18,20	K,17,8	2,15,H	4,D,6	O,E,9,G	22,B,16	Total	Avg
1	Aerodyne Aerokart	21	22	56	20	22	24	22	24	40	26	277	27.7
2	Arizona Airspeed	22	21	53	23	20	24	23	25	40	23	274	27.4
3	Sky Panthers	19	21	56	21	19	21	23	22	41	21	264	26.4

The meet in Menzelinsk began with two 3-block sequence in the first two rounds. Aerodyne Aerokart, Arizona Airspeed and NMP-PCH Hayabusa had a great start and mastered both rounds with 21 points for the lowest score of all three teams. Bronze medal winner Sky Panthers Barkli missed the 20-pointer membership by one point in Round 1. Aerodyne Aerokart and Arizona Airspeed continued strongly, and France missed the 21-pointer membership by one point in the next 3-block sequence (19,1,13) of Round 4. Airspeed had the team's lowest score in Round 5 (N,18,20) with a 20-pointer.

USPA Nationals 2010		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	16,21,11	3,L,K,10	6,22,1	12,20,4	Q,M,2,N	H,D,9,G	19,5,13	F,E,17,O	C,8,7	A,18,14	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	21	23	15	15	32	42	23	40	25	19	255	25.5
2	Perris Fury	21	22	18	16	25	38	22	36	23	20	241	24.1

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The toughest competition draw came apparently at the end of the 2010 season, at least for Arizona Airspeed and the other teams in the AAA/Open Class of the USPA Nationals. Arizona Airspeed and Perris Fury mastered the 3-block opening sequence in Round 1 (16,21,11) without a problem. The next two 3-block sequences in Round 3 (6,22,1) and Round 4 (12,20,4) were too much for both teams.

Additional point deductions brought the scores down to a level that was surprising for the teams and the audience. Fury had the highscore in Round 3 with an 18-pointer and even took the lead over Airspeed who also lost points to the other top teams with a 15-pointer.

It became even tougher in Round 4, which seems to be the slowest sequence of all leaderboards so far. Fury's 16-pointer after penalties was again the highscore for the round. Airspeed was now three points behind Fury, and the second 15-pointer in Round 4 was a wakeup call. It was time to get serious, and Airspeed came back with vengeance from then on to win the gold medals.