posted Dec 29th, 2013 - The first results of the new poll that indicates the unofficial world rankings in Formation Skydiving competition at the end of the 2013 season are no big surprise at all. NMP-PCH Hayabusa, Belgium's national 4way team, has a strong lead in the eyes of the online audience.

Arizona Airspeed is in 2nd place, as it could be expected, as well. France (Aerodyne Maubeuge) and Canada (Evolution) share the 3rd place at the moment. Barkli from Russia has no following yet, as well as UK team Satori. The poll offers multiple choices, which is supposed to also define the rankings behind the leaders.

The 4way Open Class top teams attended enough meets this year to make the decision easier for the audience, even though this does not count for UK's national champion Satori with only one meet. It is more difficult to vote for a team in 8way competition.

USPA Nationals 2013

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

T.

Avg

Rank

8way

22,2,21

19,A,5

N,E,H,B,Q

O,G,1,J

9,F,3

20,K,15

M,D,P,11

17,16,14

6,10,7

C,4,13

T.

Avg

1

Golden Knights

17

18

27

25

26

26

22

20

19

23

223

22.3

World Cup 2013

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

T.

Avg

Rank

8way

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

T.

Avg

1

Aerodyne Maubeuge

29

18

23

17

30

18

19

22

21

18

215

21.5

World Cup 2013

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

T.

Avg

Rank

8way

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

T.

Avg

1

Barkli

23

14

20

13

19

12

17

19

20

16

173

17.3

4th DIPC 2013

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

T.

Avg

Rank

8way

11,H,12

F,15,10

A,N,E,Q,8

K,4,L,6

M,C,20,5

13,O,16

3,17,18

21,7,1

G,22,14

P,19,9

T.

Avg

1

Dubai Asaar

15

17

14

17

16

13

15

14

16

14

151

15.1

Nationals 2013

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

T.

Avg

Rank

8way

B,7,11

P,C,4,6

J,D,O,21

6,18,15

1,L,2

M,9,K,13

19,N,Q,12

G,22,14

E,H,A,8

F,20,3

T.

Avg

1

EADS

13

16

15

13

12

16

15

7

16

12

135

13.5

Mondial Dubai 2012

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Rd. 3

Rd. 4

Rd. 5

Rd. 6

Rd. 7

Rd. 8

Rd. 9

Rd. 10

T.

Avg

Rank

8way

N,21,B,5

14,C,13

22,M,20

17,H,16

J,E,12,4

7,19,15

G,K,8,2

O,L,F,P,A

10,11,18

9,Q,D,1

T.

Avg

1

VIVA

13

13

15

15

14

11

12

17

13

13

136

13.6

The TOP 3 teams in the world (USA - Golden Knights, France - Maubeuge Aerodyne, Russia - Barkli) never competed together at the same time and at the same place. This is not much different compared to NMP-PCH Hayabusa and Arizona Airspeed. However, the 8way teams also attended only one meet each, except Barkli who added three rounds at the national championships after the World Cup in Banja Luka.

The Golden Knights lost their retired team captain Brian "BK" Krause after winning the 8way gold medals at the Mondial Dubai 2012, while France had a complete makeover of the 8way lineup this year. Barkli had a few personnel changes, as well.

It becomes even more difficult to define the world rankings behind the three 8way powerhouses in the world, as Germany (EADS), Switzerland (VIVA) and The Netherlands (M8trix) did not compete at any international competition this year. The same counts actually for the Golden Knights, as well.

Only Dubai Asaar's 8way lineup competed at the World Cup 2013 and then at the 4th Dubai International Parachuting Championship 2013 after visiting at the USPA Nationals 2013, as well.

The Sun Path Products NSL News reported on 13 December 2013 that Dubai Asaar has taken the #4 spot in the world after winning the 8way competition at the 4th DIPC 2013. However, the online audience will now make the final call.

EADS from Germany and VIVA from Switzerland have battled hard for the 4th place in the world in the past years, and Germany had the upper hand at the Mondial Dubai 2012. Both national teams will now have to work hard to defend their positions against the Dubai Asaar challengers guided by Craig Girard. M8trix from The Netherlands will try to be involved in the battle for the 4th place in the world rankings next year.