posted Aug 2nd, 2013 - This weekend's events in four different countries (Finland, Norway, Lithuania, United Kingdom) prepare the Sun Path Products NSL News audience carefully for the upcoming international week in Banja Luka, Bosnia, where Formation Skydiving teams will compete in all four categories at the World Cup 2013.

It is a high quality field in Banja Luka, and there will be exciting world class competition in each category. France, Russia, United Kingdom and Dubai will visit with full delegations and have registered even more than one team in some of the categories.

The two teams from Lithuania (Magic 4, SolarFlakes) are first competing at their national championships this weekend, and some of the UK teams will probably also attend this weekend's competition at Hibaldstow before getting ready for the trip to Banja Luka and the World Cup.

The most competitive events for the top position in the world will probably be 4way Women and VFS 4way. NMP-PCH Hayabusa is expected to be quite far ahead of the other 4way Open Class teams, and the French national 8way team, competing with the lineup of the past years, will walk away more or less with the gold medals, as well.

The situation is different in 4way Women and VFS 4way.

The French Team4speed VFS world champions have changed their minds and continue with a slightly different lineup, while Dubai Nexus, silver medalist at the Mondial 2012, is coming back with the same lineup and well prepared.

The world's two top contenders in the female 4way category are also competing in Banjaluka. France's Aerodyne Deep Blue Defenders won gold in Dubai last year, and two of the team members (Perrine Sanchez, Laurence Herve) try to defend the top position with two new members (Sophia Pecout, Christine Malnis). Remy Grandcler is still filming the new French national lineup, Aerodyne Feminin.

Mondial Dubai 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 Women	5,12,E	6,D,B,K	O,8,7	N,13,18	10,21,M	19,H,11	C,G,1,A	20,9,15	16,F,P,Q	2,J,4	Total	Avg
1	Aerodyne DB Defenders (FR)	18	28	19	16	18	19	21	19	30	19	207	20.7
2	Golden Knights (US)	19	27	21	15	18	19	21	17	26	18	201	20.1
4	Bodyflight Langar (UK)	10	20	15	13	12	14	18	14	23	14	153	15.3
7	Fire (SE)	10	16	14	12	12	14	16	11	17	-	122	13.6
10	Illusions (RU)	15	21	14	11	14	12	17	13	0	-	117	13.0
12	Dubai Asaar Ladies (AE)	11	16	12	8	11	9	13	11	-	-	91	11.4

The biggest challenge is coming from the only team that represents the United States at the World Cup 2013, the Golden Knights.

The US Army team is coming back with the same lineup that won the silver medals behind France in December last year. It was a horse race by then, and the Golden Knights will only be stronger with the same lineup and more training.

There is also the team that plans to win medals at the World Meet 2014 in Prostejov. Bodyflight Isis has made it no secret that the 2014 medals are the main goal. Isis has competed at three meets this year, and the scores have been very promising.

The results in Banjaluka will define the distance to the top level in female 4way competition at this point in time. The same counts for Sweden's team Fire and Russia's dark horse in Banjaluka.

Three additional UK lineups are loaded with the best female 4way competitors who try to follow the successful UK tradition in this category. Last not least, the female Dubai Asaar lineup has changed. The NSL News will follow up later with information of the very interesting and colorful combination of United Arab Emirates citizens and residents.