posted Dec 31st, 2013 - It is not a big surprise that the Aerodyne French Girls have the lead after the first results of the latest poll for the unofficial world rankings in the female 4way category. The new French lineup made a stronger move than the Golden Knights did after both teams met at the World Cup 2013 and then attended their next competitions.

It also seems like Kaizen is considered to become a serious medal contender at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2014 in Prostejov, which is also not a big surprise. The question is whether the UK team can really challenge the Golden Knights.

It is time now for the last poll question, which is supposed to determine the unofficial world rankings in VFS 4way. There are not as many teams in contention for the medal rankings and the top position. However, the situation is not as clear as the 2013 scores and results might indicate.

4th DIPC 2013		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	VFS 4way	8,G,1	17,N,10	E,9,F,15	B,16,3	D,12,4	11,7,J	6,5,A	K,H,2,C	Total	Avg
1	Team4speed SD (FR)	32	16	19	27	20	25	23	22	184	23.0
4th DIPC 2013		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	VFS 4way	8,G,1	17,N,10	E,9,F,15	B,16,3	D,12,4	11,7,J	6,5,A	K,H,2,C	Total	Avg
1	Dubai Nexus (AE)	36	19	23	27	24	31	24	27	211	26.4
USPA Nationals 2013		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	VFS 4way	D,I,9,7	H,E,M,P,J	6,F,A,G	N,14,8	K,2,17	11,1,L	10,4,12	C,15,16	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Arsenal (US)	18	22	16	25	22	24	15	15	157	19.6
Canadian Nationals 2013		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	VFS 4way	D,I,A,10	11,K,N,7	L,3,12,G	16,9,8	3,B,E,14	H,C,2,17	-	-	Total	Avg
1	Evolution VFS (CA)	7	13	21	19	19	9	-	-	88	14.7

Team4speed from France is the reigning world champion, while Dubai Nexus has won all three of the meets this year where both teams competed directly with each other. Arizona Arsenal is still quite far behind the two top teams in the world, and Evolution's VFS lineup had a long break for Martin Lemay's shoulder recovery after the team's only outdoor meet this year in July.

Dubai Nexus increased the distance to Team4speed meet by meet and eventually won the 4th Dubai International Parachuting Championship 2013 by 27 points (26.4 - 23.0) after the 8-round meet. It could be an easy call just following those numbers.

The Sun Path Products NSL News eveluated the VFS 4way situation after the 4th DIPC 2013 on 8 December 2013, and it is not all as clear as it seems. The story headlined that the situation for Team4speed "is not hopeless".

The USA won the VFS silver medals at the last world meet, the Mondial Dubai 2012. SDC Standard XP discontinued, and Arizona Arsenal is the new national team. Gold and silver seem to be too far away for any other VFS 4way team in the world at the end of the 2013 season. However, there will be at least a race for the bronze medals.

Canada's three Lemay brothers plan to compete for world meet medals in 4way Open and VFS 4way at the same time. Katie Woods has the 4th slot in 4way Open, while Jean-Christophe Ouimet is training and competing in the VFS 4way lineup.

Arizona Arsenal focuses only on VFS 4way and may have an advantage there. The young Evolution lineup doesn't accept limits and wants to show that it can be done. It is a new way how to pursue double gold at a world meet. Only Mathieu Bernier from France has won two gold medals at the same world meet in Formation Skydiving history, in 4way and 8way in Menzelinsk 2010. Evolution is going for double medals for the first time in 4way Open and VFS 4way.