posted Aug 18th, 2012 - The German Nationals 2012 are over, at least in 4way. The last two rounds in 8way still need to be completed and will offer as little surprises as the 4way competition did. The only news, and that was not good news, was the absence of Germany's promising female 4way team ISB Air Remscheid, who had to cancel in the last minute, as the NSL News reported earlier.

Paratec-Saar walked away once again with the 4way title, even though their 8way partners of EADS were challenging the national team here and there. The German 8way lineup eventually captured the 8way title and took the first two places in 4way. Gamma Ray Kassel, with former members of the German national 4way and 8way teams, had no problem securing the bronze medals ahead of the Usual Suspects, who were also very safe in 4th place.

The Usual Suspects scored higher than at the July meet, while Gamma Ray matched the team's July average, but it was still not enough for Usual Suspects to get close to the 4way and 8way veterans in the bronze medal position.

German 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 AAA/Open Class	8,G,L,3	15,9,11	M,H,A,12	22,F,7	Q,D,5,21	2,J,P,14	O,17,8	N,4,6	1,13,E	K,10,16	Total	Avg
1	Paratec-Saar (DE)	18	17	24	19	20	19	19	17	18	15	186	18.6
2	EADS (DE)	16	17	23	17	19	17	19	18	16	16	178	17.8
3	Gamma Ray Kassel (DE)	15	16	19	17	17	17	13	13	13	14	154	15.4
4	Usual Suspects (DE)	13	12	15	15	15	13	13	15	13	13	137	13.7
5	Zero Gravity (DE)	12	10	14	14	15	11	11	13	11	11	122	12.2
6	Neva (DE)	10	11	15	12	15	13	11	11	9	12	119	11.9
7	Wolf Pack (DE)	10	11	14	12	9	12	11	12	9	11	111	11.1
8	Last Minute (DE)	10	10	14	11	10	10	9	9	9	10	102	10.2
9	Black Moon (DE)	10	10	14	9	11	12	6	10	9	9	100	10.0
10	Schmetterding (DE)	7	8	10	10	9	10	9	8	6	8	85	8.5

Paratec-Saar at the German Nationals 2012 - Footage by Alexander "Dude" Hau

The most exciting competition took place at the bottom of the leaderboard where Last Minute and Black Moon tried to stay away from the last place.

Schmetterding had a separate leaderboard in Germany with only one team on it.

This leaderboard was for the female 4way category where ISB Air Remscheid would have been the second team and on the top of it.

The AA Class competition was very exciting, as well. The two teams on the top of the leaderboard after ten rounds, Skynamite and Paradox Kassel, were tied and had to add a jumpoff round.

The German A Class teams had a battle for the second place, which ended with a 1-point advantage for Kiwis Kassel.

German Nationals 2012		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Total	Avg
Rank	8way AAA/Open	19,13,20	B,C,14,4	K,H,F,J,G	Q,22,8	P,17,M,5	N,21,D,9	O,7,11	10,A,1	Total	Avg
1	EADS 8 (DE)	13	17	17	13	12	16	12	13	113	14.1
2	Südwest 8 (DE)	10	12	14	10	10	11	9	8	84	10.5
3	Wolf Pack NeVa (DE)	6	6	9	7	8	6	6	7	55	6.9
4	ParaYUU 8 (DE)	4	3	4	4	3	3	3	2	26	3.3

EADS at the German Nationals 2012 - Footage by Alexander "Dude" Hau

Paratec-Saar won the 4way title once again and has now dominated 4way competition in Germany since 2007, the 8way competition together with EADS members in different combinations for the same time period.

The same question will now come up again that has kept the German top 4way and 8way competitors busy in the past. What to do at the World Meet this year?

The scores at the German Nationals 2012 do not offer any perspectives as of defending the World Cup 4way bronze medals of 2011.

Arizona Airspeed, Aerodyne Aerokart and NMP-PCH Hayabusa compete in their own league. The unofficial amateur championship is always an exciting part of the world meets and might be exciting enough for the Paratec-Saar members.

Then there is also the 8way option. There are always underdog chances to win a bronze medal, as Italy has shown years ago. All it takes is a weak year for any of the 8way powerhouses from France, USA and Russia. Finally, there is also the French way by competing in both events, as Russia will probably do, as well. Decisions, decisions...