Day 6 & 7 Recap
Day six of the USPA National Championships started early — and ended early.
With just three artistic teams competing, there was plenty of work to do. All seven rounds were completed in a single day.
In Freestyle, Team Aura wowed the judges with precise, technical flying, finishing with 54.3 points to take the gold medal. Local athletes also took the opportunity to compete, forming the pickup team Last Minute Legends. With limited competition experience, the team used the event as a training ground for future competitions — and still managed to earn a silver medal with 19.3 points.
In Freefly, Perris Breezy had a different challenge: competing against their own performance from last year. The team showed clear improvement, finishing with 51.5 points and another gold medal to add to their collection.
At the end of the day, the MFS teams gathered for their official briefing and competition draw. And then, it was time to get back in the air.
The MFS competition started at first light, with teams boarding the plane as soon as the sun came up. Five open teams, three advanced teams and eight intermediate teams made for a busy day, with the competition aircraft turning load after load.
In Intermediate, the competition was incredibly close. After all six rounds, Hail Mary and Air Force Vertigo were tied for first with 62 points apiece. That means one thing: a tie-breaking jump. The two teams will go head-to-head tomorrow morning to determine who takes the top spot. Air Force Odyssey will claim the bronze medal with a total of 56 points.
In the Advanced category, Air Force High Noon currently leads the field, with a top round of 28 points. The Air Force Jokers sit in second with a top round of 22, while Corn Devils are in third with a top round of six points, and in Open, the competition is shaping up to be one of the closest in years.
The legendary team Flightshop has historically been a tough team to beat, but this year, the competition is closing the gap. Natalie’s Wonderhogs currently sit in second with 83 points.
SDC Matrix is just two points behind with 81, while SDO New Shoe Crew is right behind them with 79. With more competition still to come, those standings could change quickly.
Tomorrow brings a tie-breaking jump, final rounds and, ultimately, the National Champions.
It all comes down to the next jump few rounds.
Follow the scores as they come in at IntimeScoring.com.
