USPA 2012 silver medals for SDC Rhythm XP

posted Nov 9th, 2012 - SDC Rhythm XP's team story is a long one and has been covered by the NSL News numerous times and from the very beginning. The young and new team project has made headlines year after year and moved from the grassroots to the 4way top level as if there were no limitations and obstacles.

But there were obstacles, plenty of them, and the latest Rhythm news break puts another one in the way of the 4way shooting star to the top of the leaderboard. Rhythm founders JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz just posted a good-by note to Thiago Gomes and Chris Farina who are leaving the team: "Rhythm wishes Thiago and Chris the best as they move on to new things. Thank you for being such great teammates. Rhythm is currently recruiting. Contact JaNette or Steve if you're interested."

It's a short and dry message with a strong impact on the Rhythm plans. The team's 2012 lineup had just won USPA silver medals in the Open Class for the first time, and only Arizona Airspeed was left between Rhythm and the number one position in the United States and potentially in the world.

USPA Nationals 2012		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	4way Open Class	3,B,K,H	F,7,22	O,4,D,13	A,M,11,8	N,P,G,19	L,20,1	5,16,J	6,21,12	18,17,10	E,C,Q,15	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed (US)	30	28	24	23	34	22	28	19	20	37	265	26.5
2	SDC Rhythm XP (US)	30	24	23	24	25	21	25	17	19	30	238	23.8

SDC Rhythm XP scoring progression

SDC Rhythm XP was also consistently catching up with the US team that has been dominating 4way competition in the United States since 2007. Rhyhtm was formed at the end of the 2006 season, just at about the same time when Arizona Airspeed recruited a new lineup after DeLand Majik's and DeLand Fire's time was over.

Rhythm competed for the first time at the USPA Nationals 2007 when Airspeed won and qualified as the US national team. Airspeed would move on to win the 4way gold medals at the World Meet 2008 in France, while Rhythm was still competing in the Advanced Class at the USPA Nationals 2008.

JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz had their vision and high goals and were not discouraged by the long distance between the 2008 world champions (24.2) and their own performance level (16.9) in 2008 and at any time. They just moved forward every year, which required personnel changes on a regular basis.

	SDC Rhythm XP's 2011 lineup

Even the personnel changes did not keep Rhythm from making progress year by year, and the distance to the very top of the Open Class leaderboard became shorter with the same consistency. Finally, the 2011 lineup turned Rhythm into a full time project. Rob Radez and Thiago Gomes trained and competed with JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz for a very successful 2011 season.

Rob Radez left at the end of his second year, and Perris Fury's world class Center Inside Chris Farina completed the rear piece with Tail Thiago Gomes, and the 2012 season became even more successful than any other previous Rhythm year. The distance to Arizona Airspeed was as small as never before at the USPA Nationals 2012, and Rhythm's new 2012 lineup outscored Airspeed's 2011/2012 lineup for the first time in a round. The USPA silver medals rewarded the impressive Rhythm efforts.

The scoring progression indicated that it seemed to be only a matter of time when Rhythm would eventually be able to give Airspeed a competition for the top spot. Then came the recent news of new personnel changes.

Getting closer: Direct competition with Arizona Airspeed

The "new things" for Thiago Gomes and Chris Farina that the recent Rhythm announcement relates to are still open at this point in time. Both are probably not planning to retire.

JaNette and Steve Lefkowitz can move forward in the meantime. They are used to similar situations and will probably find a way once again to fill the gaps successfully. SDC Rhythm XP is recruiting, and the NSL News will probably cover a new tryout very soon.

Arizona Airspeed has other topics at the moment that are more important. NMP-PCH Hayabusa and Aerodyne Aerokart are ready to demand Airspeed's full attention and energy at the Mondial 2012...

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