posted Apr 2nd, 2013 - The Paraclete XP Outdoor Championship 2013 was once again the small version of a World Meet, with teams from ten different countries competing in DeLand.

One of several interesting battles at different parts of the leaderboard took place between China and the VAF Warriors from Denmark. The young team from China is still in DeLand for a long training camp that began shortly before the competition.

The average age is 21 years, and coach Solly Williams reported that the team members are very athletic and have a fast learning curve. It is not the same team that represented China at the Mondial Dubai 2012. However, the lineup in DeLand might catch up with the official national team very soon.

China (CN)	VAF Warriors (DK)

Paraclete XP Outdoor 2013		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	6,17,15	B,11,16	18,N,22	9,4,F	J,E,C,3	K,O,12,M	5,D,8	Q,13,14	G,7,H,10	1,20,21	Total	Avg
11	China (CN)	10(-1)	14	10	16(-2)	17(-1)	14(-1)	12	10(-2)	12(-1)	11	126	12.6
12	VAF Warriors (DK)	12(-1)	13	10(-1)	17	16(-2)	11(-3)	12(-2)	10	10(-4)	9(-2)	120	12.0

The VAF Warriors from Denmark ended up six points behind China after winning two and matching three of the Chinese scores for a round. The difference was mostly created by a total of 15 point deductions, while China lost only nine points.

Gilles Dutrisac was filling a slot for the VAF Warriors who were missing their Point Henning Skov. The Danish team will compete with the complete lineup at the World Challenge 2013.

Center Outside Martin Soeby Mikkelsen reported that his team even managed to make a few training jumps in Denmark. It was still cold in the northern part of Europe, but the team was eager to start the 2013 outdoor season with the complete lineup and before the trip to Bedford this week.

China (CN)	Bodyflight Voluntas (DK)

Mondial Dubai 2012		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	5,12,E	6,D,B,K	O,8,7	N,13,18	10,21,M	19,H,11	C,G,1,A	20,9,15	Total	Avg
16	Dubai Asaar Red (AE)	16	20	16	12	15	16	18	13	126	15.8
17	China (CN)	7	21	15	14	14	15	21	16	123	15.4
18	Spain (ES)	16	21	16	13	9	13	21	10	119	14.9
18	Lize (CZ)	13	21	17	12	17	11	17	11	119	14.9
20	Bodyflight Voluntas (DK)	15	21	17	10	13	11	18	12	117	14.6

China and Denmark had battled it out at the Mondial Dubai 2012 with similar results. Denmark was also represented by a different team in Dubai, and VAF Warrior Martin Soeby Mikkelsen had to accept the Chinese 4way strength with Bodyfligth Voluntas in December 2012.

It was also a 6-point difference that separated China and Denmark after eight rounds in Dubai. Spain and the Czech Republic filled the gap between China and Denmark, and China tried to keep up with Dubai Asaar Red at the same time.

The Chinese team in DeLand and the VAF Warriors both finished below the meet averages of the national teams in Dubai. However, the slow competition draw and sharp judging were in the way to post meet averages that would be closer to the teams from the same countries in Dubai. The young Chinese team will probably catch up quickly, and the VAF Warriors will also soon be much closer to the Voluntas average in Dubai.