posted Jan 9th, 2010 - The first scores have been posted in Dubai, and there were no big surprises anywhere. In fact, the competition in the female 4-way category turns out exactly as expected. There is no competition for any of the three medal positions.

Aerokart Deep Blue Maubeuge is winning and currently matches the Open Class scores of Black Cat in 5th place with an 18.0 average after two rounds. Germany's Chicas will take home the $15,000 for the 2nd place and are holding the 6th place in the Open Class with a 14.5 average. The 9.5 average of Spain's Empuria Gatas will win $10,000 in Dubai.

The competition is naturally much more exciting in the Open Class, as some of the best teams in the world are competing for the same total amount of $45,000 cash. However, there is also no surprise so far, as the three medal winners of the World Meet 2008 in France are in exactly the same spots after two rounds as they were a little over two years ago in Maubeuge.

Canada Evolution Surprise

There is one difference though. Canada's LeMay family 4-way team Evolution is much closer to the top spots compared to the last World Meet.

Evolution was eight points behind Hayabusa after two rounds in 2008. Right now, there is only a 1-point difference between France Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge, Hayabusa Defence and the Canadian team. Arizona Airspeed is already three points ahead of the competition after two rounds.

These four teams will battle for the $45,000 in Dubai. It seems as if the Russian 4-way champion of 2009, Black Cat, will not be able to keep up with the competition for the first three places. This is actually no surprise, as the team has not trained since August 2009, neither indoor nor outdoor.

Black Cat with Alternate

Black Cat is also not competing with the original lineup. Alexander Kvochur cannot compete in Dubai. He is busy in pilot school and in training to get his commercial pilot license. Black Cat is now competing with two center insides in Dubai, Aleksander Golovkin and alternate Alexey Minaev.

Airspeed had a smooth start into the competition, as the videos show which are posted on Airspeed's Facebook page. Craig Girard told the NSL News already earlier that his team launched a Stairstep Diamond (B) successfully and liked it.

Airspeed continued with the Stairstep Diamond as the exit formation in the first two rounds and then quickly moved to the first formations of each sequence. It was obviously once again a successful strategy that Airspeed had already applied at the World Games 2009.

Smooth Start for Airspeed

The reigning world champions completed the highest number of points in both rounds despite taking the extra time for the Stairstep Diamond.

The 27 points within working time in Round 2 were reduced to a 26-pointer on the scoreboard after the judging procedure.

The NSL News mentioned already earlier that France is missing original Point Mathieu Bernier. Former 4-way world champion and coach Marin Ferre is filling the slot in Dubai, and he is obviously not holding back the French team too much. However, chances are still little to keep close enough to Airspeed, and it will soon become increasingly difficult to hold off Hayabusa.

Bad Luck for Hayabusa

The Belgian team had bad luck so far and would be closer to Airspeed under better circumstances.

The complete luggage of team videographer Danny Jacobs got lost on the air travel, including his camera equipment, and it has not been found so far.

Hayabusa was desperately looking for an alternate videographer and ended up with a freeflyer from Spain who was recommended for the camera work and who agreed to do the job. Of course, he needed to get used to the exit from the Bell 212 helicopter and the team and had only Round 1 to go to school. It was no big surprise that the judges deducted two points due to the camera angle in Round 1.

However, videographer Pilon learned so quickly that he had everything in frame already in Round 2, and Hayabusa tied Airspeed's 26-pointer highscore. The Belgian team is launching a Side Body (P) as the exit formation, which seems to work just as well as Airspeed's Stairstep Diamond.

Thomas Hughes...!!!

Hayabusa and France both apply a right-hand pattern from a left-hand door and do the same from the helicopter in Dubai. Hayabusa's Roy Janssen said that his team is so used to this situation now that it does not seem to be a disadvantage any longer.

Other than that, the 4-way competitors in the Canopy Piloting competition had a good start into the competition, as well. One round of the distance category was completed today, and new top contender Thomas Hughes is currently in 1st place. Shannon Pilcher is not far behind in 3rd place, and Ian Bobo has the 13th place in the field of 38 competitors. The winner of each of the three categories (Speed, Distance, Accuracy) collects $5,000 cash.

All of the feedback from the competition site includes mentioning of the incredible scenery in Dubai. South African 4-way competitor Alex Jordaan provided a few freefall photos of his team over Dubai. It surely is a unique view. Many more photos are actually posted at the CYPRES Facebook page.

Dubai Championship
Who will win the 4-way Open Class?	Arizona Airspeed Hayabusa Defence Canada Evolution France Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge
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