posted Dec 27th, 2012 - It has been an overwhelming response by the NSL News audience so far, and the poll has been well attended. The current results are very much representative, and Thunder is the main favorite for the unofficial title of the world's best amateur team in 2012. The poll is still open and will remain so until the turn of the year.

It seems as if the new unofficial amateur world champion for the first time will be a team that did not compete at the World Championship of Formation Skydiving and was only a guest team at the World Cup. It does not mean at all that Thunder did not compete enough. In fact, Thunder was one of the busiest teams this year and attended seven different meets.

The results at those meets provided more than enough evidence and gave the audience the opportunity to compare the candidates directly and indirectly. Satori was only shortly behind Thunder after attending six meets. Ex3mo competed at four meets, and SportLoto at three.

World Cup 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

1,19,2

14,18,15

N,16,20

E,6,J,A

C,K,9,13

F,8,11

Q,22,L,21

B,17,H,P

12,D,0,4

G,10,7

Total

Avg

2

Thunder (BE)

20

17

20

24(-6)

27

20

20(-1)

31

20

19

218

21.8

USPA Nationals 2012

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

Total

Avg

Rank

4way Open Class

3,B,K,H

F,7,22

O,4,D,13

A,M,11,8

N,P,G,19

L,20,1

5,16,J

6,21,12

18,17,10

E,C,Q,15

Total

Avg

4

DNR (US)

26

22

19

22

22(-2)

17(-2)

23

15

17

24

207

20.7

There is also a US team that could have been in the mix for the unofficial world amateur title. DNR re-wrote the US amateur story at the USPA Nationals 2012, as the NSL News reported on 11 November 2012.

However, it would be very difficult to compare the team with the other candidates, directly or indirectly. DNR attended only the USPA Nationals 2012 where none of the other teams competed.

The 20.7 average in Eloy indicates that DNR might have been in a race with Ex3mo and Satori, possibly with SportLoto too. Thunder was too far away from all other candidates, which is probably one of the reasons why the NSL News audience favors the team with the international lineup.

It will be difficult for any other "amateur teams" to catch up with Thunder next year, as the Dutch/Belgian combination has already announced plans for the 2013 season. Thunder will still continue with the schedule of a recreational team.

The biggest competition for Thunder could come from Russia where SportLoto is also planning for the 2013 season. Satori and Ex3mo have not announced their plans yet.

Several indoor and outdoor events next year will once again offer all teams the opportunity to compete, such as the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship, the Paraclete XP Outdoor Championship 2012 with the annual Shamrock Showdown Skins Game, and the World Challenge 2013 at the beginning of the season. The NSL/ESL Network continues throughout the summer with meets almost everywhere on the planet. The FAI World Cup in August then offers each nation the opportunity to send up to four teams to Banjaluka in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The host can also accept guest teams. There is no lack of opportunities to attend the most exciting and funnest part of the sport - the competitions...