posted Mar 4th, 2013 - The NSL News reported the scores of the Freezone indoor competition last weekend and focused mostly on the two top teams, Sky Panthers Barkli and SportLoto, who gave each other an exciting race for the 1st place.

However, there were other Russian teams who came back from the 2012 season with impressive performances. UFO's 21.0 average in 4th place comes after a 16.5 average at the national championships last year. UFO outscored the new a.team4way lineup by then who finished in 4th place.

a.team4way took the 3rd place away from UFO last weekend and finished as the most improved team in Moscow. The two top teams may get company on their top level pretty soon if a.team4way continues with the impressive progression.

Freezone 2013		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	G,10,N,O	14,K,2	8,18,22	7,15,E	M,17,A,21	13,J,20	L,11,F,9	3,C,16	Total	Avg
1	Sky Panthers Barkli (RU)	27	23	20	30	31	22	30	25	208	26.0
2	SportLoto (RU)	27	24	20	27	28	22	31	26	205	25.6
3	a.team4way (RU)	20	20	17	25	24	20	30	22	178	22.3

A closer look at the previous a.team4way scores last year shows how quickly the team has moved from an average indoor performance level beyond the 20-average benchmark. The work by coach Thomas Hughes has obviously accelerated the progression.

The same a.team4way lineup launched the team project with a 16.4 average at the World Challenge 2012 and finished last weekend with a 22.3 average after the 8-round meet. a.team4way is traveling to Bedford again this year and might even increase the difference to last year's indoor scoring level.

The Russian team, with Katya Kharitonova's and Andrei Kalugin's 4way experience, will first visit Florida to compete at the Paraclete XP Outdoor Championship 2013. Coach Thomas Hughes will also be present with Arizona Airspeed.

World Challenge 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

D,Q,9,10

17,P,11

2,21,7

14,J,O,M

A,L,18,16

N,H,20,G

C,E,19,22

1,8,4

K,6,3

12,F,5

Total

Avg

27

a.team 4way (RU)

20

15

15

25

15

18

11

15

15

15

164

16.4

Russian 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

AAA Class

20,F,D,16

P,B,18,K

6,21,G

12,M,9

E,17,3

O,Q,H,13

2,10,C

11,J,22

8,1,4

5,L,N,14

Total

Avg

4

a.team 4way (RU)

16

18

16

16

16

19

13

14

13

15

156

15.6

Freezone 2013		Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	G,10,N,O	14,K,2	8,18,22	7,15,E	M,17,A,21	13,J,20	L,11,F,9	3,C,16	Total	Avg
3	a.team4way (RU)	20	20	17	25	24	20	30	22	178	22.3

It will be interesting to see how well a.team4way will be able to keep up with the team's own standards at the first outdoor competition of the 2013 season.

The new Russian team posted a 15.6 average at the Russian Nationals 2012. It is difficult to imagine that the first outdoor numbers could match the indoor progression. However, the team has scheduled another outdoor training camp with Thomas Hughes before the trip to DeLand, and nothing is impossible.

By the pure numbers, a.team4way would finish with a 21.2 average if the progression was the same. The difference between indoor and outdoor scoring is usually larger, and the 20-average level is probably the team target for the Paraclete XP Outdoor Championship at the moment. Breaking the 20-average at an outdoor meet would still be very impressive and a big step, no matter what. The competition in DeLand begins in 11 days.