posted Aug 23rd, 2008 - The most current scores on the NSL leaderboard came from Russia. They will soon be replaced by new results of this weekend's events. However, Black Cat's 22.1 average after ten rounds and the scores of several other Russian teams are well worth a closer look.

Black Cat's performance at the Russian Cup 2008 has a special aspect for two reasons. First of all, the team is constantly challenging the Sky Panthers for the top spot in Russian 4-way competition, and the Sky Panthers just competed at the World Meet 2008 in Maubeuge.

Even more importantly, Black Cat posted the 22.1 average last week with a new lineup. Alexander Golovkin, who has been the alternate for the Russian team since 2007, competed in Alexei Minaev's slot last week. It looks as if the former alternate is ready to become a full member.

Alexander Golovkin had very little experience in Formation Skydiving competition before he joined Black Cat as the alternate. He was well known as a top freeflyer, and he also filmed the 4-way teams Kolomna Quik Blu and Wings. He was born in 1981, made his first jump in 1998 and has now a total of over 5,000.

Alexei Minaev is one of the most experienced 4-way and 8-way veterans in Russia who was a member of the famous Russian 8-way team that battled over many years with Arizona Airspeed for the top position in the world. He won the 8-way silver medal in Australia 1999, then gold medals in Spain 2001 and France 2003 before he switched to 4-way competition.

Next he won a 4-way bronze medal with the Sky Panthers at the World Meet 2004 in Croatia and then joined Black Cat in 2005. Alexei Minaev has competed with Black Cat (Vasiliy Korotkov, Alexandr Kvochur, Evgeniyy Stashchenko and Vadim Niyzov on camera) ever since. Aleksander Golovkin became the official alternate in 2007. The original Black Cat lineup still competed this year at the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2008 where they posted a 23.6 average after nine rounds.

The 22.1 average last week at the Russian Cup 2008 is probably a dream start for Alexander Golovkin if Black Cat plans to include him as a full member now. With his 27 years of age he will decrease the team's average age significantly. Black Cat member Alexandr Kvochur is only in the early 20s and is already a world-class competitior, as well.

The Sky Panthers won the last and most important showdown with Black Cat this year, the Russian Nationals 2008 in June, by four points (24.3 - 23.9) and qualified as the Russian national 4-way team for Maubeuge. The Sky Panthers have had the upper hand every year so far ever since the 2-team battle began in 2005, and Michail Kuznetsov, Vladimir Pavlenko, Oleg Shalamykhin and Sergej Shenin competed for Russia in Germany 2006 and France 2008.

However, Black Cat has not given up and obviously continues to prepare for the next showdown. The team has competed at World Cups and other major events and consistently scores on world-class level. Nevertheless, the Black Cat members are still missing the attendance at the prime event in 4-way Formation Skydiving competition: the World Championship.

Time will tell what the Sky Panthers are planning for the near future and whether Alexander Golovkin will continue to compete for Black Cat as a full member. He now has a 22.1 average under his belt for a start.

Cross Road and the new team Ocean 5 had a fierce battle for the second place (195 - 194). The new Russian shooting star Kaktus Hunter (Egor Gusev - Inside Center, Andrei Kharitonov - Outside Center, Katya Kharitonova - Point, Anna Panasyuk - Tail, Oksana Klyueva on camera) finished with an 18.7 average in 4th place.

Kaktus Hunter competed with this team name but a different lineup for the first time at the USPA Nationals 2006 and finished with a 12.3 average. Egor Gusev, Anna Panasyuk and Katya Kharitonova competed with Sergey Romanyuk by then. By the way: Alexander Golovkin was filming the team in Eloy...

The new Kaktus Hunter lineup with Katya Kharitonova's brother Andrei Kharitonov finished with a 16.0 average at the Russian Nationals 2007. Last week's 18.7 average brings Kaktus Hunter once again closer to the top level in Russia and keeps up the motivation.

Kaktus Hunter will continue with training jumps this fall. Windtunnel training is scheduled for the cold time of the year. Airspeed's new 4-way world champion Andy Delk will work with the Russian team at the Paraclete XP windtunnel in February 2009.

Kaktus Hunter will again compete at Bodyflight Bedford's World Challenge where the team posted a 22.2 average this March. All Russian 4-way meets of 2009 are on team agenda, as well. It looks as if Kaktus Hunter will catch the attention of the NSL News once again on a regular basis next year.