posted Dec 23rd, 2013 - The year is soon coming to its end, and it is a good time for a review of the 2013 competition season.

The International Parachuting Commission (IPC) of the International Air Sports Federation (FAI) has posted the latest world rankings in Formation Skydiving competition. The current FAI rankings were updated after the World Cup 2013, which was officially the only FAI 1st Category Event this year.

The 4th Dubai International Parachuting Championship 2013 was not rated the same by the FAI, and the results did not have an impact on the official world rankings.

The official FAI rankings do not reflect the situation in the Formation Skydiving categories very realistically, as only the results of the national teams at the 1st Category Events count.

Any scores and results at other meets, including national championships, don't find their way into the ranking system.

The 8way world rankings are probably the worst example for the inaccuracy of the applied criteria. The Golden Knights, US national team and reigning 8way world champion of 2012, are currently far ahead of any other 8way teams in the world.

However, the USA are ranked in 5th place, mostly due to the fact that the Golden Knights did not compete at the World Cup in Banja Luka.

France (Aerodyne Maubeuge - 1st) and Russia (Barkli - 2nd) are the leading 8way nations, which is an accurate statement disregarding the situation of the Golden Knights.

The United Arab Emirates are officially in 4th place after placing 5th with Dubai Asaar's 8way lineup in Banja Luka. The Sun Path Products NSL News came to the same conclusion after Dubai Asaar's 8way victory at the 4th DIPC 2013.

Great Britain is holding the 3rd place in the official 8way rankings, which is not very realistic. Germany (EADS - 6th) and Switzerland (VIVA - 7th) fell behind Dubai Asaar, however, they would be ahead of any UK 8way team at the moment.

The FAI world rankings are probably closest to the truth in 4way Women where USA (Golden Knights - 1st), France (Aerodyne French Girls - 2nd) and Great Britain (Kaizen - 3rd) are in the first three places. However, France should actually have the current top spot after winning the gold medals at the World Championship 2012 in Dubai, fending off the Golden Knights charge at the World Cup 2013 and setting new scoring standards at the 4th DIPC 2013.

Great Britain has a new national team with Kaizen, who will still be able to compete for the bronze medals next year. Norway is ranked in 5th place despite the impressive Polaris comeback at the 4th DIPC 2013. Russia is still holding the 4th place in 4way Women.

The FAI world rankings are significantly off in VFS 4way where Dubai Nexus has taken the top position for the United Arab Emirates in the world this year. Dubai Nexus (2nd) defeated Team4speed from France (1st) at three meets in 2013, including the World Cup 2013, which counts for the official FAI world rankings as a 1st Category Event.

The 1st place for Nexus in Banja Luka and the direct victory over Team4speed did not have any impact though since the French world champions of 2012 collected the same 500 ranking points for the 1st place in the European Championships, which was exactly the same competition. Dubai Nexus added 500 ranking points to the UAE account for the 1st place at the World Cup at the same place and the same time, and both results together neutralized the Nexus victory for the world rankings.

Great Britain is in 3rd place, while the USA is in 6th place - after placing 3rd with SDC Standard XP at the World Championship 2012 and with Arizona Arsenal as the new national team. Canada finished in 4th place with Evolution last year and is ranked 7th in the world by the FAI. Belgium and Germany are in 4th and 5th place.

The official rankings for the 4way Open Class were not available. Arizona Airspeed was in 17th place last year and may have made it into the TOP 10 in 2013...