posted Jan 17th, 2014 - The first scores of the 2014 season have been entered into the new database, and they are probably some of the highest that will be on any leaderboards this year.

The Sun Path Products NSL News reported on 10 January 2014 that Arizona Airspeed and NMP-PCH Hayabusa will face off for the first time this year at the Wind Games 2014, a new indoor competition in Empuriabrava, Spain.

The first six rounds were completed today, and Hayabusa has a 4-point lead.

Five of the six teams in the 4way Open Class competition are standing above 20-average.

Thunder, unofficial amateur world leader of 2013, is fending off a challenge by an international world class pickup team with Pete Allum, Italy's Ex3mo member Ivan Quadrio and the French Ferre brothers Martial and Marin.

Wind Games 2014		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	C,20,17	16,A,D,7	J,P,13,L	N,21,22	M,8,15	K,3,6	F,4,1	B,G,H,O,10	5,18,9	Q,2,12	Total	Avg
1	NMP-PCH Hayabusa (BE)	29(-1)	36(-1)	33	27	31	30(-1)	-	-	-	-	186	31.0
2	Arizona Airspeed (US)	32	35	30(-4)	27	32	26(-2)	-	-	-	-	182	30.3
3	Thunder (BE)	26	26	27	22	24	23	-	-	-	-	148	24.7
4	EXL3Maubeuge (INT)	22	25	27	18	22	22	-	-	-	-	136	22.7
5	FlyZone Espoirs Saumur (FR)	20	24	23	19	18	19	-	-	-	-	123	20.5
6	Monaco Vitalsea (MC)	13	16	18	14	15	13	-	-	-	-	89	14.8

Pete Allum reported from Empuriabrava that "Day 1 was done and dusted", and he provided some feedback after observing the performances of the two top contenders:

"Both Hayabusa and Airspeed suffered from busts, but at the end of the day Hayabusa are on top. In fact, Hayabusa's last round was a real pleasure to watch, super tight and fast."

He added that his direct opponent for the 3rd place and 3,000 Euro cash, Thunder, is clearly in 3rd place after a smooth and consistent performance. Airspeed and Hayabusa compete for 8,000 Euro (1st) or 5,000 Euro (2nd) on the top of the leaderboard.

The 4-point lead for NMP-PCH Hayabusa is smaller than expected by the Hayabusa fans at this point in time, and it could be even smaller. Airspeed suffered six point deductions, while the Belgian team lost only three points.

It could become the first meet where Hayabusa is the cleaner one of the two top teams.

Wind Games 2014		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	C,20,17	16,A,D,7	7,P,13,L	N,21,22	M,18,15	K,3,6	F,4,1	B,G,H,O,10	5,18,9	Q,2,12	Total	Avg
1	Aerodyne French Girls (FR)	21	26	27	20	24	21	-	-	-	-	139	23.2
2	Kaizen (UK)	18	24	23	15	21	21	-	-	-	-	122	20.3
3	EmpuriaGatas BBD (ES)	17	17	18	17	17	17	-	-	-	-	103	17.2

The Sun Path Products also mentioned on 8 January 2014 that UK team Kaizen and the Aerodyne French Girls will face off at the same event.

Kaizen is breaking the 20-average, as the Sun Path Products NSL News expected it as a possible result in the same story. However, the new lineup of the French world champions is far ahead and strong enough to outscore the team in 4th place of the 4way Open Class.

Kaizen coach Pete Allum said that Kaizen is looking smooth: "They are still finding their feet on the bigger stage." The home team from Spain, the Gatas, are the third team in the female 4way category.

The teams will be back in the flying chamber for the remaining four rounds at 10:30 AM on Saturday morning.