Team History
CSC Rhythm was originally formed in 2006 by JaNette Lefkowitz, Laurent Beaudouin and
Steve Lefkowitz with the goal of becoming the highest-scoring 4-way team the Midwest
skydiving league has ever seen. On a cold and wintry night in December '06, we met with
CSC DZO Doug Smith and his wife Carolyn to talk through a plan for doing just that. With
strong support from Doug, we were able to hire player-coach Robert Chromy
as our mentor and inside center. For the final touch, we asked Andy Metcalfe to do video, and he agreed.
We had a team!
Focused heavily on the fundamentals - individual flying skills, communication, clean block and
random technique - the team's plan included 20+ hours of wind tunnel and close to 300
training jumps. Under Chromy's excellent guidance, we improved from a 10.9 average in the
intermediate class in mid-March to a 14.5 average (3rd place) at USPA Nationals in
advanced. With the best score any Midwest league team had ever achieved, and a season
that exceeded all our expectations for both fun and learning, we reached our goal.
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JaNette Lefkowitz
Position: Oustide Center
From: Chicago, IL
Hometown: New Smyrna Beach, FL
Birthday: 8/15/1978
First jump: November 2001
# Jumps: 1,100+
Tunnel Time: 76h
Former teams: CSC Sirens (2006)
Susan Crowe, Barbra Carqueville, Karyn Rees, Brad Vancina (video),
Good Vibrations (2003-2005)
"Smooth" Eric Smith, Aimee Wienkers,
Jerry Mulchrone, Kevin Naftzger (video)
GV teammates: Mark Sherman, Dave Bird
Skydiving Influences: Chromy, Airspeed, Steve & Laurent
Hobbies / Activities: Boating, Classical Piano, Swimming, Yoga
Occupation: Supply Chain Consultant
Education Degree: Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from MIT
Competition history:
- 2007: CSC Rhythm - 3rd place USPA Nationals Advanced
- 2007: CSC Rhythm - 1st place Midwest Skydiving League AAA
- 2006: CSC Sirens - 2nd place Midwest Skydiving League AA
- 2005: Good Vibrations - 2nd place Midwest Skydiving League AA
- 2004: Good Vibrations - 2nd place Midwest Skydiving League AA
How I got into Skydiving: My uncle Hal took me for a tandem.
Team Nickname: none, but for the record Laurent is Kneepads McGee and Andy is Stinky Frijoles
What I like best about 4-way: It's always challenging
What I like best about CSC Rhythm XP: My awesome teammates. I like that we're able
to put so much hard work into training and still have lots of fun with each other on the
ground and in the air.
Favorite moments with the team: Any competition, but particularly this years nationals.
It was so great to see all of our training and teamwork come together. And then of course,
Superman – Banana!
Outside of Skydiving, one day I hope to: Sail around the carribean with Steve
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Steve Lefkowitz
Position: Point
From: Chicago,IL; hometown: New York, NY
Birthday: 5/27/1978
First jump: March 2005
# Jumps: 1,000+
Tunnel Time: 71h
Former teams: CSC Rubicon (2006)
Brian Darnell, Rich Madsen, Laurent Beaudouin, Kevin Naftzger (video)
Skydiving Influences: Chromy, Airspeed, Majik
Hobbies / Activities: Running, weight lifting, eating, reading, thinking about where I'm going to eat, Go, etch-a-sketch, dancing with the stars
Occupation: Strategic Sourcing Consultant
Education Degree: MIT (BS in Chemical Engineering), Ardsley High School
Competition history:
- 2007: CSC Rhythm - 3rd place USPA Nationals Advanced
- 2007: CSC Rhythm - 1st place Midwest Skydiving League AAA
- 2006: CSC Rubicon - 1st Place Midwest Skydiving League AAA
How I got into Skydiving: JaNette convinced me to get in the Orlando wind tunnel
Team Nickname: Old Iron Thumbs
What I like best about 4-way: It's great fun to move around in freefall, and it feels good to see yourself improving at it. It's fast,
like a race, and the points are clear cut, so you can quantify how you do. Plus, the challenge to your focus,
attitude, agility, stamina, teamwork, coordination and communication is very rewarding. The more you improve,
the better you want to get.
Favorite moments with the team: In the landing area, giving the thumbs up to my teammates, and getting a
smile and a thumbs up back.
Favorite Movie: My Blue Heaven
Outside of Skydiving, one day I hope to: Have a great family, beat my personal best in the 5K, get good at the tenor sax
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Laurent Beaudouin
Position: Tail
From: Chicago, IL (in the US since 2001)
Hometown: Arles, France
Birthday: 3/18/1972
First jump: 1996 with the French army then June 2002 in the US
# Jumps: 2,000
Tunnel Time: ~55h
Former teams: CSC Rubicon (2006)
Brian Darnell, Rich Madsen, Steve Lefkowitz, Kevin Naftzger (video),
CSC 4-Play (2005)
Dina Kafenshtok, Brian Stupec, Neill Gresham, Andy Metcalfe (video)
Hobbies / Activities: Various cardio exercises, strength training, some yoga. Now I'm trying
to get into meditation.
Occupation: Consultant (Cost Reduction of Industrial Products and Processes)
Education Degree: Master of Science in Mechanical and Industrial engineering, ENSAM (Paris, France)
Competition history:
- 2007: CSC Rhythm - 3rd place USPA Nationals Advanced
- 2007: CSC Rhythm - 1st place Midwest Skydiving League AAA
- 2006: CSC Rubicon - 1st Place Midwest Skydiving League AAA
How I got into Skydiving: After 6 military jumps I made with the French army in 1996,
I always had this in the back of my mind. When I turned 30 in 2002, I decided it was time to try again, but this
time with a canopy that lands nicely!
Team Nickname: None so far, even if my teammates try to give me one
What I like best about 4-way: I like best the challenging aspects, both physical and mental.
A 4-way team is also a mini enterprise with 5 people with all its aspects (human contacts, organization, expected results, finance,...).
Best moments with CSC Rhythm XP: Well, there was Nationals 2007 with 10 great jumps to conclude our season. Everything came together at the right time.
The other moments would be when Chromy smacked me on the helmet for the first time after I stole a key (I always thought tail
should key everything!!), when I smacked the wind-tunnel wall like a fly after Steve cut me off (that's what I think) while I was trying to exit fast,
when Steve and JaNette argue about their grips management (it's quite entertaining).
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Brian Ball
Position: Inside Center
From: Houston, TX
First jump: September 2004
# Jumps: 1,300+
Tunnel Time: ~100h
Former teams: Ranch Pulse (2006-2007)
Hobbies / Activities: Soccer, Playing with my Dogs
Occupation: Simulation Engineer
Education Degree: PhD in Computational Mathematics; BS Physics & Mathematics
Competition history:
- 2006: Ranch Pulse - Gold Medal USPA Nationals Intermediate
How I got into Skydiving: Went with some friends to do a tandem. I'm the only one who made another jump...
Team Nickname: ?? do I want to know ??
Best moments with CSC Rhythm XP: In the door on our very first exit as a new team and my first jump as IC
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Kevin Naftzger
Position: Videographer
From: Albany, IL
Hometown: Albany, IL
First jump: 1985
# Jumps: 3,000+
Former teams: CSC False Religion (2007); CSC Rubicon (2006); CSC Steele Breeze (2005); Good Vibrations (2004-2005); Dred Dogs (2003)...
Hobbies / Activities: Hunting, Fishing
Occupation: Electrician
Competition history:
- 2007: CSC False Religion - 1st Place Midwest Skydiving League AA
- 2006: CSC Rubicon - 1st Place Midwest Skydiving League AAA
- 2005: Good Vibrations - 2nd place Midwest Skydiving League AA
- 2004: Good Vibrations - 2nd place Midwest Skydiving League AA
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Andy Metcalfe
Position: Videographer
From: Chicago (IL) via Toronto, Canada
Birthday: 5/30/1974
First jump: 1999, near Buffalo NY
# Jumps: 1,500+
Tunnel Time: 3h
Former teams: CSC Sirens - Alternate (2006), CSC 4Play (2005)
Former 4-way coaches: Robert Chromy
Former canopy coaches: Brian Germain
Other skydiving activities: Windy City Skydiving Team - Demo and CRW team
Hobbies / Activities: Skydiving, Skiing, Kayak
Occupation: IT Consultant
Education Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Competition history:
- 2007: CSC Rhythm - 3rd place USPA Nationals Advanced
- 2007: CSC Rhythm - 1st place Midwest Skydiving League AAA
How I got into Skydiving: Fullfill a lifelong dream. "One of those things I always wanted to do"
Team Nickname: I don't have one! ;)
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