posted Dec 2nd, 2011 - Four rounds are complete on both Formation Skydiving events at the 3rd Dubai Championship 2011, and the last round must have brought back some hope for NMP-PCH Hayabusa. Aerodyne Aerokart had won each round so far, before and after penalties, as the extended leaderboard shows.

NSL News correspondent Max Thiele saw the jump live on DZ-TV in Dubai and was impressed: "Hayabusa really had an incredible Round 4. It was a perfect jump, probably one of the best meet jumps for the team in a long time."

He said that France had a good round too but was slower with Block 2. Both teams were caught with one infringement each, which were difficult to detect, Max Thiele added. He said that Qatar head coach Solly Williams approved Hayabusa's more aggressive approach: "You have to if you are five points behind after three rounds..."

3rd Dubai Championship 2011		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	4way Open	L,C,P,20	K,M,6,15	G,19,H,11	2,10,E	13,9,5	O,7,3	B,21,16	4,1,22	Total	Avg
1	France Aerodyne Aerokart	33 (-1)	26 (-2)	26	20 (-1)	-	-	-	-	105	26.3
2	Belgium NMP-PCH Hayabusa	32 (-1)	23 (-1)	25 (-1)	22 (-1)	-	-	-	-	102	25.5
3	SDC Rhythm XP	28	24	23	18	-	-	-	-	93	23.3
4	USA Perris Fury	28 (-1)	19 (-4)	21	17 (-1)	-	-	-	-	85	21.3

The point deductions between Aerodyne Aerokart and NMP-PCH Hayabusa are evenly shared, and it is completely different between SDC Rhythm XP and Perris Fury. Rhythm has only clean sheets so far, while Fury lost a total of six points. However, even before penalties Rhythm would still be up by two points. The re-match after the dramatic finish at the USPA Nationals 2011 is going well for Rhythm so far.

The interesting aspect between the two US teams is the fact that Perris Fury is officially the national team, which only is eligible for the prize money. Fury has the $20,000 just as much secured as the three teams in the female 4way competition who don't have to worry whether they will win money or not. SDC Rhythm XP might win the bronze medals but would still travel back home with empty pockets. Fury will surely try to change this situation in the second half of the meet.

Max Thiele confirmed that the French Aerodyne Deep Blue Defenders have an advantage at the technical rounds. However, he added that the French team may not be ready to handle the pressure well enough. There was hardly any serious competition for the team at the World Cup 2011, and the previous lineup was even more dominant in this event. UK's Team Blue 4way experts have put France and coach Marin Ferre into an unknown situation.

3rd Dubai Championship 2011		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	4way Women	L,C,P,20	K,M,6,15	G,19,H,11	2,10,E	13,9,5	O,7,3	B,21,16	4,1,22	Total	Avg
1	UK Team Blue	21 (-1)	22	16 (-1)	16 (-1)	-	-	-	-	75	18.8
2	France Aerodyne DB Defenders	19 (-1)	20	20	15	-	-	-	-	74	18.5
3	Russia Illusions	19 (-1)	18 (-1)	14 (-4)	14	-	-	-	-	65	16.3

Max Thiele reported that the Defenders did not pull the complete exit formation in Round 4 and missed the completion of one Block 2 maneuver. That was enough to give away the round to the strong UK team with quick moves and an aggressive approach. Max Thiele said that Team Blue is in the easier position as the challenger. However, he still expects the French team to turn around the situation in the upcoming rounds.

He added that the Russian Illusions are reminding him on the World Cup in Germany, as well: "They go back and forth between very impressive performance and average. They are also going full speed all the time, as they have to, and that has been costly here and there." Illusions lost four points just in Round 3.

The same 21way, with Max Thiele in the lineup, practiced the "40" one more time when Round 4 was completed and before it would be shown live during the celebrations on Friday afternoon. This time, the numer was mirror imaged, so that the spectators can read the number from the ground.