posted May 31st, 2012 - New scores have arrived from Russia and a competition that was completed at the beginning of May. The skydiving center in Kolomna has hosted the season opener in Russia in the past years with an early meet in April/May. It was a very small field this year, however, the scores are impressive and promising.

All three teams have appeared on NSL leaderboards in the past, at different times though. Sunny Heaven goes way back in time and had posted a 13.6 average at the Malevsky Cup 2005. That's seven years ago. The 2012 lineup now posted 15.6 average after ten rounds in Kolomna.

Vertical started with a 13.3 average in May 2010 and posted 15.5 at the Russian Nationals in a very fast competition draw with a Super Sequence. Vertical came back with the same 13.3 average in May 2011 and finished with 15.1 at the Russian Nationals last year. Once again, the draw included a Super Sequence in Round 3. Vertical now started the 2012 season with a 15.5 average - without a Super Sequence.

Russian Nationals 2011		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	21,6,7	5,L,8	H,Q,P,J,E	G,13,19	1,C,18	B,16,O,14	A,D,17,M	3,15,10	9,2,4	F,22,11	Total	Avg
1	Sky Panthers Barkli	22	22	54	19	21	23	34	19	22	22	258	25.8
2	Black Cat	21	19	48	19	21	22	30	17	21	18	236	23.6
3	Gradient Alpha	20	22	41	19	18	20	28	19	21	19	227	22.7
4	SportLoto	19	19	43	19	16	20	30	17	19	17	219	21.9

The Kolomna season opener last year was also the first outdoor competition for SportLoto, a new Russian top team that the NSL News introduced with the story on 4 May 2011. SportLoto launched the team career with a 19.8 average and then took the same advantage of the fast competition draw at the Russian Nationals 2011 for a 21.9 average.

SportLoto's first competitions in 2011 and 2012 were the World Challenge. The Super Sequence in 2011 allowed for a 25.5 average in Bedford. The slower competition draw this year stopped the Russian team at a 19.9 average after eight point deductions.

SportLoto now followed up with an impressive 21.5 average at the beginning of May in Kolomna. It is very unusual that a team scores higher at an outdoor competition compared to previous indoor results. That's the main reason why the scores are catching special attention. SportLoto might be ready to challenge the other Russian top team this year.

Russia - May 2012		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	Q,E,7,D	15,3,5	16,L,1	H,21,B,2	N,14,20	4,17,8	22,9,J	6,19,G	O,M,13,A	11,P,F,C	Total	Avg
1	SportLoto (RU)	30	18	20	23	18	16	21	20	23	26	215	21.5
2	Sunny Heaven (RU)	20	13	14	17	15	12	16	12	19	18	156	15.6
3	Vertical (RU)	20	13	14	17	12	13	16	13	17	20	155	15.5

The team's first outdoor scores of the 2012 season came only a month after the World Challenge 2012. SportLoto could not have trained that much in April, at least not in Russia, and the NSL News has no information of a training camp at a different location.

However, no matter what happens later this year in Russia, Sky Panthers Barkli is sanctioned as the Russian national team in both events for the World Meet 2012 in Dubai. Black Cat, Gradient Alpha, SportLoto and Sky Panthers will still have their own 4way battle at the World Cup 2012 in Prostejov, Czech Republic, where Gradient Alpha also plans to challenge the Sky Panthers 8way lineup.

The Russian teams may have another training competition at the beginning of August.