posted Oct 12th, 2013 - The Sun Path Products NSL News mentioned during the previews of the USPA Nationals 2013 that the focus of the 4way world, especially in Belgium (NMP-PCH Hayabusa), Russia (Barkli), Canada (Evolution) and France, will be on the Arizona Airspeed scores.

The two top contenders at the Mondial Dubai 2012 never met each other this year in direct competition, which is very unusual. Only the scores at the different meets allow speculation on where the two best teams of 2012 are situated at this point in time.

The chart that has shown Hayabusa's pursuit of the US national teams over the years has no new numbers for the 2013 season. NMP-PCH Hayabusa was planning to compete at the Paraclete XP Outdoor Championship 2013, but Andy Grauwels' recovery from a surgery at the beginning of the year did not allow the Hayabusa attendance at the early outdoor competition where Airspeed competed for the first time with the new lineup.

Paraclete XP Indoor 2013

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

18,O,2

19,9,13

A,8,D,J

10,F,Q,22

M,C,4,B

3,L,20

17,12,5

11,1,E

N,16,14

21,K,H,6

Total

Avg

1

Arizona Airspeed

23

26

31

25

33

23

25

23

23

29

261

26.1

Paraclete XP Outdoor 2013

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

6,17,15

B,11,16

18,N,22

9,4,F

J,E,C,3

K,O,12,M

5,D,8

Q,13,14

G,7,H,10

1,20,21

Total

Avg

1

Arizona Airspeed

21

23

19

28

33

20

22

19

25

19

229

22.9

USPA Nationals 2013

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

G,9,C,P

F,5,15

1,E,8

4,M,7

H,N,B,O,3

14,20,L

Q,K,12,17

11,16,19

10,A,18

2,22,D

Total

Avg

1

Arizona Airspeed

38

28

22

26

33

23

25

20

19

21

255

25.5

The numbers of the 2013 season are showing that Arizona Airspeed started on a lower level with the new lineup (22.9) compared to the previous world champion lineup (24.9) in March 2011. However, Airspeed's 2013 lineup caught up quickly in the team's first year and scored higher at the USPA Nationals than the 2011 lineup.

NMP-PCH Hayabusa was still quite far ahead after the difficult competition draw at the World Cup 2013, and the Belgium team is currently the top favorite after coming back with the same lineup this year. Hayabusa's 26.7 average in Banja Luka is identical with the outdoor average after the team's three outdoor meets last year.

The Airspeed members are probably not too worried at this point in time. The scoring numbers of the past years are also showing that the second year of the world champion lineup was the strong one. Mark Kirkby and Thomas Hughes were in both lineups and know how the progression works over time.

World Challenge 2013

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

O,E,J,K,3

M,Q,A,14

4,6,16

8,18,N

H,19,12

2,7,13

11,C,P,9

15,D,10

L,F,17,G

20,1,22

Total

Avg

1

NMP-PCH Hayabusa

40

37

25

28

28

25

37

25

42

20

307

30.7

World Cup 2013

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

O,4,H,3

9,17,P

L,1,G,12

7,10,21

16,E,A,15

8,2,B

18,5,Q

F,14,K,N

M,C,D,13

20,J,19

Total

Avg

1

NMP-PCH Hayabusa

27

33

23

22

29

22

26

28

33

24

267

26.7

The situation was still different in 2011 and 2012. Hayabusa and Airspeed both had a very similar progression with the same lineups, and Airspeed ended up one single point ahead at the right time. It could have been the other way around already in Dubai.

The new 2-year time period began with both teams on very different scoring levels, and the Belgians had the head start. The difference has shrunken in 2013, even though both teams have not competed at the same meet and with the same competition draw, and the second year is coming for the new Airspeed lineup.

There is still one opportunity this year where the two best teams of 2012 can challenge each other directly. NMP-PCH Hayabusa will compete at the 4th Dubai Cup, while Arizona Airspeed had not finalized the plans after the USPA Nationals for the last top competition of the year...